Home · 2013 Toyota Prius C · Complaints

What 403 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota Prius C

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (403)Crash / fire / injury (50)Brakes (197)Electrical system (68)Engine (42)Speed control (23)Airbags (21)Fuel system (21)Lights (16)Transmission & drivetrain (16)Body & structure (15)Hybrid Propulsion System (13)

Newest first · 403 complaints · page 16 of 17

Nov 15, 2013Seat beltsChild Seat1 injury

WE PURCHASED A 2013 PRIUS V IN JULY. WHEN WE BOUGHT IT, I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE BACK SEAT MIDDLE BODY RESTRAINT BEING ATTACHED TO THE INSIDE ROOF BEHIND THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT. BUT MY BOYS ARE 6, SO FELT THEY WOULD BE OKAY. THIS WEEK, ONE OF THE BOYS GOT TANGLED IN THE SEAT BELT. WHEN HE TRIED TO RELEASE THE BELT, IT RACHETED UP AND TIGHTENED WITH THE BELT WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK. HE & HIS BROTHER TOLD US HE WAS CAUGHT & ASKED US TO STOP. WE WERE ON A HIGHWAY, & HAD TO TURN OFF & FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PARK. IN THE MEANTIME, HE BECAME MORE DISTRESSED, & SAID HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING. WE LOOKED BACK & HE WAS WRAPPED IN THE BELT, STRETCHED IN THE SEAT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE WERE VERY UPSET. WE STOPPED, & TRIED TO GET THE BELT LOOSE, BUT IT JUST PULLED TIGHTER. THE BELT IS PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THE LAP BELT SECTION, & COULD NOT BE RELEASED. WE WERE IN THE COUNTRY. NO ONE NEARBY. WE DON'T CARRY KNIVES. FORTUNATELY, I HAD BOUGHT YEARS AGO, A TOOL FOR BREAKING AUTO GLASS, WITH A CUTTER IN IT FOR SEAT BELTS. I WAS ABLE TO FIND IT, AND CUT THE BELT. IT WAS VERY TOUGH, & TOOK A LOT OF EFFORT. OUR SON WAS BRUISED, FRIGHTENED, BUT OTHERWISE OKAY. WE WILL NOT BE REPAIRING THE SEATBELT, AS THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. OUR SON WOULD HAVE HUNG IN THE BACK SEAT, IF HE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO TELL US HE WAS CAUGHT, & COULDN'T BREATHE WELL. THIS COULD HAPPEN TO A CHILD TOO YOUNG TO REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, AND BE FATAL. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD BE FIXED BY ALLOWING THE BELT TO BE RELEASED FROM THE LAP COMPONENT OF THE BELT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10552422

Nov 15, 2013

CAR WENT INTO REVERSE WHEN SHIFTER WAS PUT IN DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI 10552481

Nov 15, 2013

SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND CAR WENT TO REVERSE. THIS IS 4TH OCCURRENCE OF THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10552479

Nov 15, 2013Crash

CAR REVERSED WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE. CAR CRASHES INTO A PARKED JEEP SUSTAINING DAMAGE OF 2000.

NHTSA ODI 10552480

Nov 12, 2013Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS 5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER SHE WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND RADIO CONSOLE FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,900.

NHTSA ODI 10551864

Nov 1, 2013Visibility & wipers

I AM SEEING MULTIPLE LIGHT IMAGES ABOVE AND BELOW THE ORIGINAL LIGHT. FOR INSTANCE, IF I SEE A RED LIGHT, I SEE ONE GHOST IMAGE ABOVE, AND ONE GHOST IMAGE BELOW. AS I GET CLOSER TO THE LIGHT SOURCE, THE IMAGES CONVERGE. ANY LIGHT SOURCE AT NIGHT APPEARS TO HAVE THIS GHOSTING EFFECT AT DISTANCES 25' +. IT CAN BE VERY BLINDING WHEN SEVERAL CARS IN FRONT HIT THEIR BRAKES. IT IS ALSO BLINDING FROM THE HEADLIGHTS OF CARS TRAVELING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I DETERMINED IT WAS THE WINDSHIELD AFTER RIDING IN ANOTHER VEHICLE AT NIGHT, AND DID NOT HAVE ANY VISION ISSUES. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE THE PRIUS AT NIGHT AND EXPERIENCED THE GHOSTING, I LOOKED AT THE SAME OBJECTS FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND THEY WERE CLEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10550574

Oct 25, 2013Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH UPHILL, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF ILLUMINATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 11/15/13*CN

NHTSA ODI 10549461

Sep 24, 2013Seats

THE HEAD RESTRAINTS PUSH MY HEAD UNCOMFORTABLY AND DANGEROUSLY FORWARD. THIS MAKES DRIVING A LITERAL PAIN IN THE NECK. IT ALSO LIMITS MY ABILITY TO SEE STRAIGHT IN FRONT OF ME OUT THE WINDSHIELD (BECAUSE MY HEAD IS FORCED FORWARD AND DOWN) AND IT SEVERELY LIMITS MY ABILITY TO TURN MY HEAD TO SEE BEHIND MY VEHICLE OR TO THE SIDES OF THE CAR. NHTSA HAS MADE A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE "SAFETY" LAW AND TOYOTA AND OTHER MANUFACTURES HAVE IMPLEMENTED IT IN THE WORST WAY POSSIBLE. NOT ALL DRIVERS ARE BALD, 6-FOOT-TALL MALES. THE MANUFACTURES AND THE NHTSA NEED TO CONSIDER SHORTER DRIVERS AND DRIVERS WITH HAIR (HAIR STYLED IN BUNS, PONYTAILS, BRAIDS, FRENCH TWISTS, ETC. CAN EFFECT THE OVERALL DIAMETER OF THE HEAD) BEFORE INSISTING THAT THE HEAD RESTRAINTS LEAN RIDICULOUSLY AND DANGEROUSLY FORWARD. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10545175

Sep 10, 2013Electrical systemEquipment Adaptive/mobility

EVERY TIME I RECEIVED CALL ON MY CELL BLUETOOTH SEEMS LIKE VOICE BREAKING UP. IT IS NOT THE PHONE PROBLEM. I HAVE CHECKED THE SAME PHONE IN MY OTHER CARS AND WORKS FINE. THIS BLUETOOTH NEEDS SOFTWARE UPGRADE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10542900

Aug 25, 2013Visibility & wipers

THERE IS A SEVERE DIFFRACTION EFFECT THROUGH THE LAMINATED WINDSHIELD. BRIGHT LIGHTS ARE TRIPLED. THIS IS LIKELY CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE PLASTIC LAYER BETWEEN THE GLASS. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10537156

Jul 25, 2013Lights

MY 2013 PRIUS-V3, HAS A BUILD UP OF CONDENSATION IN HEADLIGHTS, DEALER REPLACED BOTH ONCE. CONDENSATION RETURNED, DEALER TOOK PICTURES AS TOYOTA CORPORATION WANTED. AFTER WEEKS, TOYOTA SAID THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO FIX PROBLEM UNLESS THERE WAS STANDING WATER IN THE HEADLIGHT. NOTE CONDENSATION SHOULD NOT EXIST, AND CONDENSATION WILL DAMAGE THE BULBS WHICH IN TURN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10531874

Jul 18, 2013Electrical systemEngineFuel system

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR--ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS--THE DASH LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATE AT ONCE, FOLLOWED BY UNRESPONSIVE CONTROLS FOR A FEW SECONDS. THEN THE DASH LIGHTS GO OUT (RETURN TO NORMAL) AND NORMAL CONTROLS AND ACCELERATION RETURN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10525574

Jul 18, 2013Electrical systemEngineFuel system

WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT THE CAR'S ELECTRONICS MADE A BEEPING NOISE, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, THE GAS GAUGE DISPLAYED A RAPIDLY DROPPING QUANTITY, THEN WENT BACK UP TO HALF FULL. A RED TRIANGLE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH DURING THIS TIME. DURING THIS TIME, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED AND UNABLE TO MOVE AND WAS SITTING IN THE INTERSECTION. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO RESTART THE CAR, THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, BUT THE CAR WASN'T ACTUALLY RUNNING OR RESPONDING TO PEDAL INPUTS. AFTER 7 MINUTES THE CAR FINALLY STARTED BACK UP AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. I LEFT THE CAR'S ENGINE RUNNING (EV MODE WHILE PARKED) AND THEY HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTER. THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN, TWO DAYS AFTER THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME MY CAR BACK (THEY KEPT IT THAT WEEKEND). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10525571

Jul 18, 2013Electrical systemEngineFuel system

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR'S DASH LIT UP AND THE CAR'S ENGINE DIED AND THEN RESTARTED. THE FUEL QUANTITY DISPLAYED, DECREASED BY THREE BARS BEFORE RETURNING TO IT'S NORMAL--ACCURATE--LEVEL. THE CAR THEN DROVE NORMALLY AND ALLOWED ME TO GET IT INTO THE DRIVEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10525572

Jul 15, 2013Electrical system

WHEN I PULLED UP OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE AND WENT TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH, I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE LOCK BUTTON. THE CAR THEN LOCKED - BUT WITH MY SMART KEY FOB AND MY 10-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER INSIDE OF THE CAR. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK THE CAR WITH THE KEY FOB INSIDE. I HAD NO WAY OF GETTING INTO THE CAR TO GET MY DAUGHTER OUT - I HAD TO CALL THE POLICE AND HAVE THEM BREAK INTO THE CAR FOR ME. AS THE CAR STARTED AND DROVE TWICE - FROM WORK TO MY SITTER'S, FROM MY SITTER'S TO MY HOUSE - THE KEY WAS DETECTABLE FROM ITS LOCATION IN MY CAR. THERE IS NO WAY IT SHOULD HAVE LOCKED WITH THE KEY FOB STILL INSIDE. AND I CAN'T EMPHASIZE HOW MUCH OF A SAFETY HAZARD THIS IS - MY 10-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR. WHAT IF IT HAD BEEN A REALLY HOT DAY? WHAT IF I HAD BEEN SOMEWHERE WHERE IT TOOK THE POLICE TIME TO GET TO ME? WHAT IF MY PHONE HAD BEEN LOCKED IN THE CAR? WHILE IT ALL TURNED OUT FINE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE SMART KEY SYSTEM ON MY CAR SHOULD NEVER ALLOW THE KEY TO BE LOCKED INSIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10524829

Jul 13, 2013Body & structureVisibility & wipers

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT I NOTICE THAT ON-COMING LIGHTS (BOTH FROM ON-COMING CARS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS) ARE DISTORTED SO THAT THERE IS A TRIPLE IMAGE, WITH DUPLICATE IMAGES BOTH ABOVE AND BELOW THE ACTUAL LIGHT SOURCE. THESE DUPLICATE IMAGES GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE ORIGINAL LIGHT SOURCE AS THE VEHICLE GETS CLOSER TO THE LIGHT SOURCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10524689

Jul 12, 2013Electrical system

WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE A LOUD BEEPING IS HEARD INSIDE THE CABIN. WE AREN'T SURE OF ITS PURPOSE AS THE BEEPING CANNOT BE HEARD OUTSIDE OF THE CAR IF THE WINDOWS ARE UP OR IF THE WINDOWS ARE DOWN AND THE RADIO IS ON. THE BEEP CAN ONLY BE FAINTLY HEARD OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IF THE WINDOWS ARE DOWN AND THERE IS NO OTHER NOISE. BECAUSE THE BEEPING IS SO LOUD IN THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER CANNOT HEAR SHOUTS, SCREAMS OR OTHER DISTRESS SIGNALS TO ALERT THEM OF A HAZARD WHEN BACKING UP. THE BEEPING IS LOUD AND CONSTANT AND IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE NEARNESS OF AN OBJECT, AS WITH OTHER VEHICLE BEEPING BACKUP SYSTEMS. THE LOUD BEEPING CREATES A HAZARD BY DISTRACTING THE DRIVER AND NOT ALERTING PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10524619

Jul 8, 2013Speed controlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 300. UPDATED 08/27/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HIT A BRICK POST. UPDATED 08/29/13

NHTSA ODI 10523653

Jul 5, 2013Speed controlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE BRAKES AND CRASHED INTO A NEARBY CEMENT POST. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS SEVERE BODY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

NHTSA ODI 10523319

Jun 19, 2013Seat beltsSpeed controlBrakes

I OWN A NEW 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS V-5. WHILE ON THE FREEWAY TAKING AN INTERCHANGE. I HAD CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 MPH, DISENGAGING IT AS I APPROACHED THE INTERCHANGE THAT SLOWS TO 35 MPH DUE TO THE CURVE. I WAS COASTING WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKE, INTERNAL WARNING LIGHT FLASHING, ALARM BEEPING AND SEAT BELT LOCKED UP. I WAS ALONE IN THE CAR (THANK GOD) WITH NO CARS BEHIND ME OR IN FRONT OF ME. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY WINDY DAY AND WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT IT IS POSSIBLE SOMETHING BLEW IN FRONT OF THE SENSOR. THAT IN ITSELF IS ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE. CAN I NOT DRIVE MY CAR ON A WINDY, RAINY OR SNOWY DAY, IN FEAR OF THE PRE COLLISION SYSTEM MISINTERPRETING WHAT IS IN FRONT OF THE SENSOR? I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD TODAY THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND THAT I AM MORE THAN WELCOME TO TAKE A DRIVE WITH THEIR TECHNICIAN TO SEE IF I CAN REPLICATE WHAT HAD OCCURRED. I INQUIRED IF THE EDR HAD RECORDED THE EVENT AND THEY TOLD ME NO. IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE EDR? SHOULDN'T IT HAVE RECORDED SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM (PCS) WOULD ACT AS IF IT WERE TRYING TO PREPARE FOR IMPACT IF THERE WAS NOTHING IF FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED OR LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10520768

Jun 15, 2013Lights

NEITHER MY WIFE NOR I CAN HEAR THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL INDICATOR (THE CLICKING) WHEN THE SIGNAL INDICATES A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING. THUS, WE DON'T TURN OFF THE INDICATOR WHEN WE FINISH TURNING. THEREFORE, WE ARE VERY OFTEN DRIVING WITH OUR DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS INDICATING A TURN WHEN WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF TURNING. WE CALLED THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD US THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO AUGMENT THE SOUND SO THAT IT IS AUDIBLE. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS CONDITION OF THE PRIUS IS HAZARDOUS AND TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10519961

Jun 11, 2013Equipment

A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION EXISTS IN THE NAVIGATION SYSTEMS, APPARENTLY IN ALL MODELS OF 2012 AND 2013 TOYOTAS EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY INSTALLED NAVIGATION SYSTEMS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SYSTEM FAILS TO PRODUCE A VOICE PROMPT FOR TURNS PERHAPS AS MUCH AS 50% OF THE TIME. FAILURE OF THE VOICE PROMPT MEANS THAT YOU MUST CONTINUALLY LOOK DOWN AT THE SCREEN IN ORDER TO KNOW WHERE AND WHEN TO TURN. I'M CERTAIN THAT THIS HAS CAUSED MANY, MANY ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES AS WELL. THERE IS A WARNING THAT COMES UP EVERY TIME YOU TURN THE SYSTEM ON SAYING THAT WATCHING THE SCREEN IS DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE TOYOTA DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE FAILURE TO THEM. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE VOICE PROMPTS ARE A SOMETIMES THING. AT MY REQUEST, THEY TESTED ANOTHER TOYOTA OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL, AND INFORMED ME THAT IT HAD FAILED AS WELL. I TESTED A NEIGHBOR'S 2013 PRIUS C AND FOUND IT TO FAIL THE PROMPTS AT THE SAME INTERSECTIONS. I ALSO TESTED A 2012 PRIUS, AND IT FAILED ALSO. THE TOYOTA SALESMAN TELLS ME THE THE SAME NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS USED IN ALL BUT A FEW 2012 AND 2013 TOYOTA MODELS; SO I'M ASSUMING THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS THROUGHOUT AT LEAST ALL 2012 AND 2013 TOYOTAS BUT FOR A FEW THAT USE A DIFFERENT SYSTEM. ALL FOUR OF THE TOYOTAS TESTED, INCLUDING THE ONE TESTED BY THE DEALER HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE VOICE PROMPTS AT THE SAME INTERSECTIONS.THESE ARE NOT NEWLY CREATED OR REMOTE INTERSECTIONS. ONE OF THEM IS A 6 LANE ARTERIAL (NE164TH AVE & SE 164TH AVE. IN VANCOUVER, WA).THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED ON FREEWAY EXITS AND IN OTHER CITIES (STEVENSON, WA, 54 MILES DISTANT, BEAVERTON AND PORTLAND, OR, AND LONGVIEW, WA.) AND IN CLEAR AS WELL AS OVERCAST WEATHER. I'VE USED GARMEN AND TOM TOM SYSTEMS EXTENSIVELY WITHOUT EVER EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10519364

May 20, 2013Electrical system

TOYOTA PRIUS EMITS A LOUD AND DISTRACTING BEEPING TONE INSIDE THE CABIN WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. THE TONE IS SO LOUD THAT A DRIVER MAY NOT HEAR SHOUTS, A HORN, OR OTHER EXTERIOR NOISE INDICATING A HAZARD WHILE REVERSING. TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS CHARGE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO TURN OFF THE INTERIOR BEEPING, DESPITE THE EVIDENT SAFETY HAZARD IS POSES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10512891

Apr 24, 2013Seats

AFTER BUYING A NEW 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS HEADREST WOULD WORK ITS WAY UP TO THE HIGHEST POSITION AT ANY SPEED, NOT JUST THE SPEED LISTED AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. MAKING THE A POTENTIALLY FATAL DESIGN FLAW, I AM CONCERNED THAT IN A FRONT OR REAR END COLLISION THIS DEFECT COULD EITHER SNAP, BREAK OR INCREASE THE POSSIBILITY OF EXCESSIVE INJURY TO MY NECK. I TOOK THE CAR BACK THE DEALER SHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. THE SERVICE MANAGER ([XXX]) IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE OWNED A 2008 PRIUS WITH NO PROBLEM, MY WIFE'S 2010 PRIUS HAS NO SUCH PROBLEM EITHER. I AM WANTING THIS DOCUMENTED SO THAT IF I AM INVOLVED WITH THE ABOVE MENTIONED ACCIDENT TYPE THAT SOMETHING MAY BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO RELEASE THE LOCKING LATCH AND PUSH THE HEADREST BACK DOWN. THIS OCCURS ON AVERAGE 5 TO 10 TIMES IN AN HOUR DRIVE OR LESS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10509383

Apr 5, 2013Visibility & wipers

PURCHASED 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS NEW, WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THERE IS A GHOST OR PRISM EFFECT THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THIS IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS OF OTHER VEHICLES, THEY ARE DOUBLED OR TRIPLED STACKED ON TOP OF THE ONE HEADLIGHT. ALSO VERY NOTICEABLE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. TRAFFIC SIGNALS, ESPECIALLY THE RED STOP LIGHT AND THE GREEN GO LIGHT, THERE WILL BE ONE LIGHT WITH A GHOST IMAGE ABOVE AND BELOW. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING, CREATES HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MAKES IT HARD TO ESTIMATE DISTANCES AND AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME (5-10 MINUTES) BECOMES A STRAIN ON THE EYES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10507269

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Working with the data? Download all 403 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 22, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Toyota Prius C verdict →