2016 Toyota Prius C problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (2) · Visibility/Wiper (1) · Vehicle Speed Control (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Prius C model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (232)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-02-13 · T-SB-0009-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on ni-mh high voltage (hv) batteries. this bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year repair manual while performing a rescue charge. the grx-5100 should be used wherever the repair manual ref
Engine 2026-02-13 · T-SB-0119-15 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
obsolete notice february 13, 2026: this bulletin is now obsolete. please see t-sb-0009-26.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-07 · T-SB-0055-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2005 – 2026 toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. the purpose of this service bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures
Electrical System 2025-06-13 · T-SB-0058-23 Rev1 · Service Campaign
the air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. the procedures outlined in this service bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Showing the 6 most recent of 232 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-06-03 · Service Brakes“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 hel…”
2025-08-16 · Tires“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 …”
2024-08-21 · Tires:tread/Belt“see attached document for complaint …”
2024-08-09 · Tires:sidewall“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.…”
2022-10-20 · Visibility/Wiper“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…”
2019-02-21 · Vehicle Speed Control“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 isola…”
2017-12-17 · Unknown Or Other · 19,700 mi“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…”
2017-10-30 · Unknown Or Other · 1,950 mi“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 leav…”
2017-08-01 · Unknown Or Other · 62 mi“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.…”
2016-12-29 · Exterior Lighting · 2 mi“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 the…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.