YearToAvoid

2018 Toyota Prius C Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

43/100

#5 most-complained of 8 Prius C years

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

The 2018 Toyota Prius C has 6 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 43 out of 100 — #5 highest of 8 Prius C model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 17% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash and 3 injuries.

Complaints
6
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
46
48 city / 43 hwy

Top 2018 Toyota Prius C problems

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

  1. Other3 (50%)
  2. Electrical System1 (17%)
  3. Engine1 (17%)
  4. Steering1 (17%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain1 (17%)
  6. Visibility & Wipers1 (17%)
2018 Toyota Prius C complaints: complaints filed per month2Oct 2018Mar 2019Sep 2020Dec 2021Jul 2023
8 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2018 to Jul 2023; peak Oct 2018 (2).

2018 Toyota Prius C recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V491000Jun 26, 2019Fuel System464 vehicles

    Hybrid propulsion system

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Prius C vehicles. The DC-DC converter may fail resulting in the auxiliary battery no longer receiving power from the converter, which may cause a loss of drive.

    Risk: A loss of drive increases the risk of crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the DC-DC converter with a new one, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is K0K.

  2. NHTSA 18V176000Mar 15, 2018Other19 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Prius C vehicles sold in Puerto Rico. The front passenger air bag and recommended child occupant seating positions label may not have been attached during assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk: If the label is missing, occupants may not follow the proper restraint usage guidelines, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and will mail the removable labels to all known owners of the subject vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on April 11, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0L.

2018 Toyota Prius C fuel economy and fuel cost

City
48 MPG
Highway
43 MPG
Combined
46 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,400
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.

2018 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
2016Best1412050
2017No verdict292146
2018Good436246
2019No verdict00146

All Toyota Prius C years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Toyota Prius C a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 Toyota Prius C ranks #5 of 8 among Prius C model years (Complaint Index 43/100, verdict: Good). It has 6 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Toyota Prius C?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (1 complaints), engine (1 complaints), and steering (1 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 10,228 miles.
Does the 2018 Toyota Prius C have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2018 Toyota Prius C, most recently reported 2019, covering fuel system and other.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Toyota Prius C?
EPA rates the 2018 Toyota Prius C at 46 MPG combined (48 city / 43 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,400. 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.