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Toyota Prius CModel year report

2016 Toyota Prius C Problems

Complaints
12filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
4,475miles, 6 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
50 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl · hybrid FWD · 53 city / 46 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2016 Toyota Prius C (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2016 Toyota Prius C. The part named most often is other or unknown, with 4 complaints (33% of the total), followed by brakes (3) and tires (3). 6 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 4,475 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 232 technical service bulletins for this model year. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 9 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Other or unknown: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #11011994, filed 2017-08, 62 miles

Brakes: “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”

NHTSA complaint #10897152, filed 2016-08, 11,000 miles

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 light to break.”

NHTSA complaint #11681053, filed 2025-08

Electrical system: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10935533, filed 2016-12, 7,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 6 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 62 and 11,000 miles.

67%0–1033%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (6 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 4,475 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

201632017320192022202420252026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2016 Toyota Prius C. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Prius C · hatchback FWD★★★★☆4 / 4454 · 11.8% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2016 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning not available, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2015: same overall rating; 2017: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2016 Toyota Prius C version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Prius c FWD1.5L 4-cyl · hybridCVT534650$1,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2016 Toyota Prius C in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 232 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 232 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Prius C

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2018610,2282446—Not enough data
2016124,4750450—Not enough data
20151718,0001450—Stable
20143360,88404501 · FewerRising
20135766,000045050 · TypicalStable
20126454,0000—5066 · MoreRising

All Toyota Prius C model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016 Toyota Prius C have?

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2016 Toyota Prius C as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2016 Toyota Prius C is reported most often?

Other or unknown is named most often, in 4 complaints (33% of the total), followed by brakes with 3.

Has the 2016 Toyota Prius C been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2016 Toyota Prius C do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2016 Toyota Prius C 4 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Toyota Prius C get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Toyota Prius C (Prius c, 1.5L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 50 mpg combined, 53 city and 46 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2016 Toyota Prius C reported?

Among the 6 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 4,475 miles and the middle half falls between 62 and 11,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.