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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 17 of 17

Mar 26, 2013Visibility & wipers

THIS PRIUS HAS FOGGINESS IN THE WINDSHIELD WHICH APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT CAUSED DURING THE TEMPERING PROCESS OF THE GLASS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10504630

Mar 19, 2013Speed controlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A WOODEN STAIRCASE. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY IN REVERSE, COMING TO A STOP IN THE STREET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. AN ENGINEER WAS DISPATCHED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE RESULTS WERE MAILED TO THE CONTACT, STATING THAT THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 899.

NHTSA ODI 10503606

Dec 18, 2012Seats

I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER A MAJOR COMPLAINT ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE HEADREST. IT PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD AT SUCH AN ANGLE THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SIT COMFORTABLY IN THE SEAT. IN ORDER TO HOLD MY HEAD UP STRAIGHT I MUST TILT THE SEAT BACK BEYOND WHAT IS SAFE OR DESIRABLE FOR DRIVING AND EVEN THAT IS NOT COMPLETELY SATISFACTORY FOR THE ANGLE OF MY HEAD. PLEASE REQUIRE CAR MANUFACTURERS TO PROVIDE ADJUSTABLE OR ALTERNATIVE HEADRESTS WHICH CAN ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT DRIVERS MORE SAFELY. IF NTSB IS REQUIRING THE CURRENT DESIGN, THEY'VE MADE A BIG MISTAKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10489105

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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 →