YearToAvoid

2015 Toyota Prius C Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

57/100

#4 most-complained of 8 Prius C years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2015 Toyota Prius C has 17 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 57 out of 100 — #4 highest of 8 Prius C model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is electrical system (5 complaints, 29% of the total). Complaints report 2 crashes and 1 injury.

Complaints
17
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
50
53 city / 46 hwy

Top 2015 Toyota Prius C problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other7 (41%)
  2. Electrical System5 (29%)
  3. Brakes3 (18%)
  4. Engine3 (18%)
  5. Structure & Body3 (18%)
  6. Airbags2 (12%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (12%)
2015 Toyota Prius C complaints: complaints filed per month4Jun 2016Mar 2017Jan 2018Oct 2018Sep 2019Oct 2022Jul 2025
25 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2016 to Jul 2026; peak Feb 2017 (4).

2015 Toyota Prius C recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 15V514000Aug 13, 2015Suspension, Wheels & Tires949 vehicles

    Tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2015 Toyota Prius C vehicles manufactured April 20, 2015, to June 30, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) may be improperly calibrated and, as a result, the TPMS may fail to warn the driver that the tire pressure is low. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

    Risk: If the vehicle is driven on underinflated tires, the tires may fail. Sudden tire failure increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will re-calibrate the TPMS, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET15E.

2015 Toyota Prius C fuel economy and fuel cost

City
53 MPG
Highway
46 MPG
Combined
50 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,300
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2015 compared with other Prius C years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020122013201420152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Avoid8657050
2014Caution7132050
2015Caution5717150
2016Best1412050
2017No verdict292146

All Toyota Prius C years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Toyota Prius C a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2015 Toyota Prius C ranks #4 of 8 among Prius C model years (Complaint Index 57/100, verdict: Caution). It has 17 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Toyota Prius C?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (5 complaints), brakes (3 complaints), and engine (3 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 18,000 miles.
Does the 2015 Toyota Prius C have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2015 Toyota Prius C, most recently reported 2015, covering suspension, wheels & tires.
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Toyota Prius C?
EPA rates the 2015 Toyota Prius C at 50 MPG combined (53 city / 46 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,300. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.