Toyota Prius C Complaints (2012)

64 consumer complaints on file.

#11445845January 2, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
My brakes gave out while driving with my infant child luckily I was almost home and made it without hitting anyone or seriously hurting myself and my child. Had car diagnosed error code c1256. Local dealership won’t repair because I “missed “ recall and my car has salvage title. I cannot afford to fix on my own and I’m shaking as I drive with my child to work everyday praying to get there in one piece because I have to work…
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11437830October 22, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I was driving going 45mph when my car shut off and wouldn't start back up. It almost caused an accident from it stopping in the middle of the highway. The master warning light, brake system warning light, warning buzzer ABS warning light and the slip indicator light came on as also the message center reading to have the hybrid system checked immediately. I did have ot towed on for a diagnosis and it came back saying i needed a new inverter power module this will cost $2000 . i cant afford that. I read all over the internet how there is. Safety recalls. When i called toyota they said there are no recalls so now im stuck paying this. Not happy at all!!! If there are anymore 2012 prius with this problem please write a complaint so we can get this on recall and have the company cover the cost of repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11434167September 24, 2021
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
My wife hit a deer at highway speed. The airbags deployed. The drivers side lower airbag deployed in the footwell. The driver was unable to get to the break paddle to stop due to the airbag at het feet. She had to use the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. That worked, but she had limited vision of the road ahead and it took some time for her to think of using the emergency brake.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11432520September 10, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I was driving with my 10 year old son on local city streets. I was approaching a busy intersection while going approximately 35 miles when my car just turned off with an error message about the hybrid system failing. I stopped the car and put it in park while trying to turn the car back on, but I kept getting the same hybrid system error message. While the stoplight was red, I got my son out of the car and over to the sidewalk because this was a dangerous situation where anyone not paying attention could've slammed into my stalled car (see picture of black Toyota Prius). I called AAA to get it towed. About 20 minutes later, a cop car pulled up to block my stalled car and then got it pushed to the side of the road (picture attached) because of how dangerous it was sitting there blocking traffic at a major intersection. My car was taken to Cabe Toyota dealership where they diagnosed it with a failed IPM card, which would cost around $4,000 to replace. I did a simple Google search and found that 80,000 Prius from 2012 - 2014 have been recalled for this EXACT reason. There have also been class action lawsuits surrounding this IPM failure due to its extreme safety risks to anyone inside a car that will just die in the middle of driving it, especially when their fail-safe system does not get triggered with this particular IPM failure. As of right now, the car is available for inspection because it's still at Cabe Toyota. The invoice shows that the IPM card needs to be replaced. There were NOT any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the car shutting off while driving it. It had been running just fine.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11387227January 8, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2012 PRIUS C SUDDEN INVERTER FAILURE CAUSED CAR TO STALL ON BUSY STREET, PUTTING DRIVER AT SERIOUS RISK. CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED NEWER MODEL WITH MODERATELY LOW MILEAGE AND NO PRIOR ISSUES. CAR IS NO LONGER OPERABLE UNTIL INVERTER IS REPLACED. TOYOTA HAS HAD PRIOR LAWSUITS, COMPLAINTS AND RECALLS DUE TO INVERTER FAILURE. MY SPECIFIC VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, BUT SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL BULLETINS POSTED BY TOYOTA AND COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA.GOV WEBSITE. TOYOTA REFUSES TO INCLUDE MY VIN UNDER RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11365056October 18, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTION.DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH KEYLESS REMOTE OR BY RESTING MY HAND ON THE DOOR HANDLE WHICH SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY OPEN ALL DOORS. I TRIED USING ELECTRONIC UNLOCK BUTTON INSIDE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND ALSO WON'T OPEN.IT APPEARS TO BE A BAD DRIVERS SIDE UNLOCK ACTUATOR WHICH HAS SO MANY COMPLAINTS THAT ITS OBVIOUS THIS PART IS NOT BUILT CORRECTLY. IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE YOU CAN GET LOCKED INSIDE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11350503August 20, 2020
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 PRIUS C AND I'M MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC MY CAR LOST ITS POWER, THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PARK THE CAR. I GOT IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT'S THE INVERTER. I ADVISED THAT I HAD READ ON RECALLS ON THEM THEY SAID MY CAR DIDN'T HAVE A RECALL THEY ARE WANTING ME TO PAY 4K FOR A NEW INVERTER ( WHICH I KNOW IT'S THE SAME ISSUE OTHER 2012 PRIUS C HAVE HAD ISSUES TOO). IT'S UPSETTING THAT NO INVESTIGATION IS TAKING PLACE JUST SORRY AND OHH BY THE WAY THE EMPLOYEE AT THE DEALERSHIP HANDLING MY CASE OFFERED ME $200 FOR MY CAR SAID I WOULD NOT GET MORE THAN $400 IF I TRIED SELLING IT LIKE THAT. VERY UNPROFESSIONAL AND CAN'T EVEN TRUST MY OWN DEALERSHIP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11299250January 14, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
IGUALMENTE QUE LOS CARROS PRIUS REGULARES, EL CUAL HAY UNA GARANTIA EXTENDIDA, MI EL AUTO DAO LA BOMBA DE FRENOS, LO CUAL ES MUY COSTOSA, ESTA GARANTIA SOLO ES SOLO PARA PRIUS REGULARES IGUALMENTE UTILIZAN EL MISMO SISTEMA. SE DEBE VERIFICAR PORQUE NO CUBRE LOS OTROS AUTOS YA QUE TIENEN EL MISMO SISTEMA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11290962December 23, 2019
STEERING
INNER LEFT TIE ROD LOOSE, REVEALED WHEN ANNUAL INSPECTION CONDUCTED. TOYOTA HAS NO PART NUMBER FOR THE INNER TIE ROD (EST PRICE $30.00) SO MUST PURCHASE ENTIRE STEERING ASSEMBLY (PART COST = $1,000; LABOR ABOUT THE SAME).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11290670December 22, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2012 PRIUS C WITH 90,000 MILES BEGAN TO LOSE POWER/SPEED DRIVING WHEN CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING SUDDENLY CAME ON TONIGHT. IT WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO THE GAS PEDDLE, EVEN AT FULL THROTTLE. DID NOT ALLOW ENOUGH TIME TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF A BUSY ROAD BEFORE IT LOST ALL ABILITY TO DRIVE, LEAVING ME STALLED NEAR INTERSECTION. A STRANGER HELPED PUSH MY CAR OFF THE MAIN ROAD UNTIL AAA SENT A TOW TRUCK. HAD THIS OCCURRED ONE MILE LATER, I WOULD'VE STALLED ON THE 25 SOUTHBOUND FREEWAY GOING FROM LONE TREE TO DENVER AT A VERY BUSY TIME IN THE EVENING WITHOUT WARNING (SCARY THOUGHT). UPON ARRIVING HOME WITH THE TOWED VEHICLE, I ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, REMOVED KEYS, BUT A LOW SOUND I'VE NEVER CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. AFTER THAT, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. DASHBOARD WON'T LIGHT UP, NO WORKING HORN, POWER LOCKS, WINDOWS, ALARM. I NOW HAVE NO FUNCTIONING VEHICLE AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED MY CAR TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11290164December 19, 2019
POWER TRAIN
TRANSAXLE IS FAILING AFTER 100K MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING AND MAINTENANCE. SPOKE WITH BOTH A TOYOTA DEALER AND TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO SAID THE CVT FAILURE ON THIS MODEL YEAR AND THE FOLLOWING SEVERAL IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON OCCURRENCE. THIS IS A $5000+ REPAIR FAIRLY EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID THIS WAS DUE TO POOR INITIAL DESIGN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11255179September 12, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TAKATA RECALL FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE, VEHICLE PERFORMED UNPREDICTABLY. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND THAT THE HYBRID BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I DRIVE 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND ALL INDICATOR ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR WILL STALL. TOYOTA DOES NOT STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT. MY CAR GOES COMPLETELY DEAD. EVERY WARNING LIGHT TURNS ON AND ITS BLINKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11241674August 5, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE LIGHT BULB ON MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT CONSTANTLY OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. I HEARD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE WIRING HARNESS OF THE 2012 REGULAR PRIUS AND I'M WONDERING IF THE ISSUE HAS BEEN LOOKED AT IN THE PRIUS C MODELS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11170640January 17, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
FROM DATE OF PURCHASE, VEHICLE PERFORMED UNPREDICTABLY. TRANSITIONING FROM ELECTRIC TO MOTOR WAS ROUGH AND NOTICEABLE. AT 600 MILES, A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT WAS FELT DURING TRANSITION. DEALER FOUND NOTHING. BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE WENT THROUGH STOP SIGN AT LOW SPEED. ROUTE 44 TOYOTA INSISTED I NEEDED TO GET USED TO ELECTRONIC BRAKES. TOYOTA INSISTED BRAKES WORKED AS PRESCRIBED. RECENTLY, A AAA DRIVER DISCOVERED THE GROUND WIRE ON THE BATTERY WAS LOOSE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE NOW FUNCTIONS AS DESCRIBED, THE HILL HOLD FUNCTIONS AS DESCRIBED. NHTSA DID AN INSPECTION IN RESPONSE TO A DEFECT PETITION - VEHICLE DID NOT PERFORM AS DESCRIBED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER. BRAKE PEDAL IS NOW HIGH, AS IT WAS INITIALLY. THIS VEHICLE WAS SENT FROM THE FACTORY WITH A LOOSE BATTERY GROUND AND IT WAS COVERED UP BY EVERYONE FROM TOYOTA, DEALERSHIPS TO NHTSA WHEN THE CORRECTION WAS SIMPLE. TOYOTA DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11162799December 20, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS BOTH FAIL WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT. THE ROAD WENT TO TOTAL DARKNESS. I FEEL LUCKY THE HIGH BEAMS WERE STILL WORKING. I HAVE TAKEN THE PRIUS C TO THE SHOP AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY ON DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS HAVE MELTED. THE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11153679November 26, 2018
ENGINE
ROUGH START AT COLD START WHEN CAR IS LEFT FOR MORE THAN 12 HOURS. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM CANNOT BE DETERMINED AT DEALER DUE TO INFREQUENCY OF ISSUE, BUT HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES A MONTH. TOYOTA WAS UNABLE TO HELP ME AND SAYS THIS IS UNRELATED TO THE EXACT SAME ISSUE PLAGUING 2010-2013 PRIUS AND PRIUS V MODELS, EVEN THOUGH SYMPTOMS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11149973November 7, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR LOCK DOORS NO LONGER WORK AND MUST BE LOCKED AND UNLOCKED MANUALLY. WENT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED REMOTE BATTERY TO NO END. NOW ATTEMPTING TO ISOLATE THE PART THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM WITH ALL FOUR DOORS. SAFETY IS AN ISSUE BECAUSE, IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE DUE TO DOOR LOCKING MALFUNTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11130379September 20, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE REPLACED 5 EVAP CHARCOAL CANISTERS AT $590 PER CANISTER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11130403September 20, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
THE BACK BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY RELEASE AT 5 MPH WHEN DECREASING SPEED AND ONLY WHEN ITS WET OUTSIDE. THE CAR IS NOW AT 365,000 MILES AND IT IS STILL DOING IT 6 YEARS LATER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11111402July 15, 2018
SEATS
A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO MY WIFE PURCHASED A USED 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C AND LIKE ALL CARS I'M HEARING AFTER 2011 IT'S GOT YOUR CRAPPY HEADREST DESIGN TO SUPPOSEDLY AID IN SAFETY OF WHIPLASH, BUT MY WIFE HAS MINOR SCOLIOSIS AND WE HAVE TO TURN THE HEADREST AROUND BACKWARDS SO IT DOESN'T HURT HER. THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE IS DOING, SO YOU DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING, YOU MADE IT WORSE. THESE ARE NOT A GOOD DESIGN!? WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST MAKE ACTIVE HEADRESTS MANDATORY IN CARS INSTEAD OF PUSHING THEM PERMANENTLY FORWARD? YOU CAN'T TAKE ANY CARS WITH THESE HEADREST ON A LONG DRIVE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO STOP AND GET OUT AND MOVE YOUR NECK AROUND AND HAVE IT SOMETIMES CRACK BECAUSE IT'S IN A STIFF FORWARD POSITION. THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT SAFE AND DEFINITELY NOT COMFORTABLE. YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING NOW!? I HAVE A 2011 INFINITI G37S COUPE MY HEADRESTS ARE COMFORTABLE AND I AM NOT BUYING ANY CAR AFTER 2011 THAT HAS UNCOMFORTABLE HEADRESTS. WE'VE EVEN GONE AS FAR AS TO START SEARCHING JUNK YARDS FOR HEADRESTS THAT HAVE THE SAME WIDTH BETWEEN THE POSTS SO WE CAN SWAP THEM OUT IN HER CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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