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Model-year record

2016 Toyota Prius c
Image: Wikimedia Commons contributor · See source file

2016 Toyota Prius c

See the complaints, recalls, crash rating, and fuel economy in the public record. Then check the mileage and history of the car you found.

This page shows records, not a buy or avoid call.

The same model year can include a well-kept car and a neglected one. Use these records to plan what to check. Use the specific-car check when you know the mileage.

Complaints filed

12

Reports to NHTSA, 2016

Safety recalls

0

NHTSA campaigns on record

NHTSA crash test

Overall NCAP rating

Combined MPG

50

EPA estimate

Known issues

Tires issues lead owner complaints (25% of 12 reports), followed by electrical system (17%).

Tires25% · 3 reports
Electrical System17% · 2 reports
Service Brakes17% · 2 reports
Unknown Or Other17% · 2 reports
Exterior Lighting8% · 1 report
Vehicle Speed Control8% · 1 report
Visibility/Wiper8% · 1 report

Share of all 12 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11609943, ODI 11607627, ODI 11681053.

Individual complaint reports(12)

Showing the 12 most recent reports
Service BrakesJun 2026 · ODI 11741935Details +

My name is [XXX] currently active duty military stationed in San Diego. Can you please check if my car VIN number [XXX] 2016 Toyota Prius C 103k miles still covered for brake booster malfunction code 1391. I have told they are extended warranty up to 10 yrs less 150k. Toyota dealer here seems not seeing any warranty coverage issues. Please help me look into this issues thank you. My contact number is [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Reported
Jun 2026
Incident date
Jun 2026
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11741935 at NHTSA →
TiresAug 2025 · ODI 11681053Details +

P 175/65r15 I was driving on a slight curve on the I-10 in El Paso, TX when the rear bumper exploded. The car started swaying and swerving then I pulled over. I then realized that the tread on the tire was gone floating across the highway. The trie was bare with no tread with the bumper around the tire was gone. The explosion also caused the tail light to break.

Reported
Aug 2025
Incident date
Jul 2025
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11681053 at NHTSA →
TiresAug 2024 · ODI 11609943Details +

See attached document for complaint

Reported
Aug 2024
Incident date
Jul 2023
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11609943 at NHTSA →
TiresAug 2024 · ODI 11607627Details +

Prinx HiCITY HH2 175/65R15 84H Bought this tire in November 2022. About 15000 miles into it, on Aug 6, 2024, the passenger front tire just busted. After swapping with the spare tire, and upon inspection, there was no nail nor it hit the curb, but the side wall is busted. This is a manufacturing quality issue.

Reported
Aug 2024
Incident date
Aug 2024
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11607627 at NHTSA →
Visibility/WiperOct 2022 · ODI 11490244Details +

The original windshield has a “rippling distortion” where the windshield has ripple/bubble from defective glass or installation mistakes, making seeing traffic signs or streets very hard. I just bought this vehicle and noticed the problem. It created poor road vision, especially at night. Toyota needs to recall and replace all these windshields before it causes more accidents due to poor visibility looking through the glass.

Reported
Oct 2022
Incident date
Oct 2022
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11490244 at NHTSA →
Vehicle Speed ControlFeb 2019 · ODI 11181608Details +

WHEN I AM IN THE PROCESS OF BRAKING AND HIT A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD SUCH AS A POTHOLE, I ESSENTIALLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR FOR A SPLIT SECOND. IT FEELS JERKY LIKE IT LURCHES FORWARD OR SHAKES SIDE TO SIDE. ITS NOT VERY PRONOUNCED BUT ENOUGH TO MAKE ME FEEL UNSAFE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I AM BRAKING AND RUN OVER POTHOLES, SO ITS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT THAT ONLY HAPPENED ON ONE DAY, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW HARD I'M BRAKING OR HOW FAST I'M GOING UNLESS I'M BARELY MOVING (THEN IT DOESN'T JERK).

Reported
Feb 2019
Incident date
Feb 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11181608 at NHTSA →
Unknown Or OtherDec 2017 · ODI 11055096Details +

SINCE PURCHASE OF THE CAR, THE VEHICLE HAS SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL UPON BRAKING HARD. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR WILL NOT RETURN TO DRIVE WITHOUT TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. TOYOTA OF CARLSBAD COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE EVENT AFTER A FEW TRIES ON A TEST DRIVE, SO THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING A FATAL ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE EVENTS HAPPEN RANDOMLY.

Reported
Dec 2017
Incident date
Dec 2017
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11055096 at NHTSA →
Unknown Or OtherOct 2017 · ODI 11041440Details +

WITH THE AUXILIARY BATTERY WELL CHARGED THE GAS ENGINE WILL TURN OFF WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP. IN ORDER TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY IT IS NECESSARY TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE PARK POSITION. AT THE SAME TIME IT IS ADVISABLE TO SET THE PARKING BRAKE. IF DISTRACTED IT IS POSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE ELECTRIC ENGINE STILL RUNNING. THERE IS NO ENGINE NOISE AT ALL. THERE IS NO SIGNAL, AUDIO OR LIGHT, TO INDICATE THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. I HAVE HAD THIS OCCUR ON TWO OCCASIONS, ONCE DURING DAYTIME, WITH MY SON ACCOMPANYING ME, 09/07/2017, THE SECOND TIMEL ALONE, WHEN PARKING THE CAR IN MY GARAGE AT NIGHT, 09/13/2017. ON RETURN TO THE CAR, WITH MY SON, I SEARCH FOR MY KEYS AND FOUND THE CAR'S GAS ENGINE RUNNING, EMITTING THE NORMAL ENGINE NOISE, THE KEY NOT HAVING BEEN REMOVED AFTER PARKING. WHEN TURNING OFF AND REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, INSIDE LIGHTS AND DRIVE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO BE ON UNTIL THE DOOR IS CLOSED, AT WHICH TIME THE LIGHTS, INSIDE AND OUT, GO OFF AFTER A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. THE THREE ACTIONS, MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER, SETTING THE PARKING BRAKE AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION ALL REQUIRE USE OF THE RIGHT HAND, WITH THE MOVING OF THE SHIFT LEVER BEING MANDETORY. WITH NO AUDIBLE ENGINE NOISE IT IS EASY TO OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. AN AUDIBLE BEEP OR FLASHING LIGHT WOULD ALERT THE DRIVER TO THE FACT THAT SOMETHING IS AMISS. OF COURSE AN UNLOCKED PARKED CAR WITH ENGINE RUNNING IS ALSO AN INVITATION TO CAR THEFT. THE CAR'S DOORS CANNOT BE LOCKED WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BUT THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE DOORS HAVE NOT LOCKED WITHOUT TESTING THE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE. NOT HAVING SUCCESSFULLY LOCKED THE DOORS CAN ALSO BE EASILY OVERLOOKED BY A DISTRACTED DRIVER.

Reported
Oct 2017
Incident date
Sep 2017
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11041440 at NHTSA →
Electrical SystemAug 2017 · ODI 11011994Details +

THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TWICE. EVERY TIME I ATTEMPT TO TURN ON THE CAR, THERE IS NO POWER. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS THE BATTERY AND HE HAS CHANGED THE BATTERY TWICE. I AM AFRAID TO USE THE CAR AND GET STRANDED IN THE HIGHWAY.

Reported
Aug 2017
Incident date
Jul 2017
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11011994 at NHTSA →
Exterior LightingDec 2016 · ODI 10938581Details +

AT NIGHT ON DARK STREETS WITH NO OTHER LIGHTING, YOU CANNOT SEE TO DRIVE UNLESS YOU USE HIGH BEAMS. THERE IS A LINE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD; A HORIZON. YOU CAN SEE BELOW THAT HORIZON (A THIN AREA), BUT IT'S BLACK ABOVE IT, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO SEE. VISIBILITY IS ONLY A FEW FEET. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THE SALES AND MANAGEMENT TEAM CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. I CONTACTED SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL. THERE IS NO FIX. I AM DEMANDING THAT MY HEADLIGHTS BE AIMED HIGHER IN HOPES THAT I CAN SEE TO DRIVE. IF THIS DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, THIS CAR CANNOT BE DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH SUCH LOW VISIBILITY. I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY AND STILL FELT THAT I SHOULD HAVE JUST STOPPED. *TR

Reported
Dec 2016
Incident date
Dec 2016
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 10938581 at NHTSA →
Electrical SystemDec 2016 · ODI 10935533Details +

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS C. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A RUBBER ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT NO FAILURE WAS DETERMINED. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE "HYBRID COOLANT SYSTEM NEEDS SERVICE" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND THAT THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT FILTER SYSTEM NEEDED CLEANING TO PREVENT THE BATTERIES FROM OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

Reported
Dec 2016
Incident date
Nov 2016
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 10935533 at NHTSA →
Service BrakesAug 2016 · ODI 10897152Details +

BRAKES, I HAVE ANTI LOCK BRAKES, BUT IF I HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE THE LEAST BIT HARD IT LOCKS UP. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HE SAYS ITS NORMAL. THEY ALSO GRAB WHEN I PUT THEM ON. THIS IS MY THIRD PRIUS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO.IT MAKES THE CAR SKID . THANK YOU *TR

Reported
Aug 2016
Incident date
Jul 2016
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 10897152 at NHTSA →

Recalls

No recalls are listed for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change when NHTSA publishes new information.

A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.

Investigations

1 NHTSA investigation on record

Investigations are agency reviews, not findings that a vehicle is defective.

Pedestrian alert sounds

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

Crash-test ratings

2016 Toyota Prius C 5 HB FWD NHTSA source

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Fuel economy by trim

TrimEngineDrivetrainCityHwyCombined
Prius c1.5L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive534650

EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.

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Useful next checks

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Compare the year-by-year record

Open another year for its own evidence-gated decision. TireKick does not crown a best year from raw complaint totals.

2016 Toyota Prius c: frequently asked

What does the complaint record show for the 2016 Toyota Prius c?

Owners filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the 2016 Toyota Prius c. This is raw owner-reported complaint volume with no production or exposure normalization, so it is not a reliability score or a best/worst-year ranking.

What are the most common problems on the 2016 Toyota Prius c?

The most-reported problem areas are Tires (25% of complaints) and electrical system (17%).

How many recalls does the 2016 Toyota Prius c have?

No safety recalls are on record for the 2016 Toyota Prius c as of Jul 2026.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Toyota Prius c get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Toyota Prius c at 50 mpg combined.