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Toyota Prius CModel year report

2018 Toyota Prius C Problems

Complaints
6filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
10,228miles, 4 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
46 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl · hybrid FWD · 48 city / 43 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 Toyota Prius C (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2018 Toyota Prius C. The part named most often is other or unknown, with 3 complaints (50% of the total), followed by electrical system (1) and engine (1). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 10,228 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 169 technical service bulletins for this model year. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 32 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: “While driving on the freeway with no other vehicles around me the moonroof unexpectedly exploded showering the interior with razor sharp shards of glass which inflicted a splinter. After contacting Toyota, I was informed that moonroofs are not covered under warranty I have pictures on my phone of these shards...”

NHTSA complaint #11133378, filed 2018-10, 10,233 miles

Electrical system: “Certain 2018+ and all later Toyota Prius C modes have a 12V battery for which there is currently no OEM or aftermarket replacement. The battery has a form factor (shape and size) that is exclusive to these vehicles and not used in any other car sold in North America. Vehicles with failed batteries (like mine) cannot be operated. Toyota should retrofit these cars to accommodate the battery used in early (pre-2017) model cars which is electrically identical and available as an aftermarket replacement item.”

NHTSA complaint #11442218, filed 2021-12

Engine: “I entered a large, strip mall parking area and was driving at the vastly reduced speed one would use in such a situation. My intention was to park my car to enter a store in the mall. I turned a corner to park on the side of the building (parking options were limited). As I entered a parking space (moving at the speed one would drive to do so; essentially INCREDIBLY slowly; moving forward into the space at almost 0 MPH and already applying the brake). Suddenly and with no warning, the car violently lurched forward at a vastly increased speed. …”

NHTSA complaint #11530344, filed 2023-07

Steering: “Ireceived the warning that pre-collision system malfunction while I was driving on the highway this morning. The warning message asked me to stop the car at a safe place and visit the dealer. As soon as I got off the highway, the car stopped itself, and the steering was locked. The car was completely disabled. After turn off the car completely for a few minutes, I can restart the car with the warning message persists. While I was looking for a safe place to park the car, the car gradually stopped itself again, and the wheel steering locked itself again. …”

NHTSA complaint #11361389, filed 2020-09, 24,578 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 10,222 and 10,233 miles.

25%0–1075%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 (4 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 10,228 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

201822019202020212023
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 2018 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 2018 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2017: same overall rating; 2019: 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 2018 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 · hybridCVT484346$1,450

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

Recall details for the 2018 Toyota Prius C → · Check a 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. 169 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 169 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 2018 Toyota Prius C have?

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2018 Toyota Prius C as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2018 Toyota Prius C is reported most often?

Other or unknown is named most often, in 3 complaints (50% of the total), followed by electrical system with 1.

Has the 2018 Toyota Prius C been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2018 Toyota Prius C do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2018 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 2018 Toyota Prius C get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Toyota Prius C (Prius c, 1.5L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 46 mpg combined, 48 city and 43 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,450 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2018 Toyota Prius C reported?

Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 10,228 miles and the middle half falls between 10,222 and 10,233 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 27, 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.