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 help me look into this issues thank you. My contact number is [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The worst 2016 Toyota Prius C problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Brakes3
- Tires3
- Electrical2
- Acceleration1
- Fuel system1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes3
- Tires3
- Electrical2
- Acceleration1
- Fuel system1
- Lights1
- Visibility1
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Defect investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
the federal safety agency received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, the federal safety agency opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified the federal safety agency he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.
DP22005
Technical service bulletins for the 2016 Toyota Prius C 232
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Obsolete notice
- This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries
- Condition in which a musty odor is present
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air...
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical...
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used...
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix...
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal...
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad...
- This Customer Support Program provides coverage as it applies to Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump...
2016 Toyota Prius C fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4‑cyl Hybrid | FWD | 53 | 46 | 50 |
What 2016 Toyota Prius C owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
See attached document for complaint
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.
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 before it causes more accidents due to poor visibility looking through the glass.
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 isolated incident that only happened on one day, and it doesn't matter how hard I'm braking or how fast I'm going unless I'm barely moving (then it doesn't jerk).
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 do anything about it. I am concerned about having a fatal accident while driving on the freeway. The events happen randomly.
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 leave the vehicle with the electric engine still running. There is no engine noise at all. There is no signal, audio or light, to indicate the engine is still running. I have had this occur on two occasions, once during daytime, with my son accompanying me, 09/07/2017, the second timel alone, when parking the car in my garage at night, 09/13/2017. On return to the car, with my son, I search for my keys and found the car's gas engine running, emitting the normal engine noise, the key not having been removed after parking. When turning off and removing the key from the ignition, inside lights and drive lights continue to be on until the door is closed, at which time the lights, inside and out, go off after a brief period of time. The three actions, moving the shift lever, setting the parking brake and turning off the ignition all require use of the right hand, with the moving of the shift lever being mandetory. With no audible engine noise it is easy to overlook the fact that the engine is still running. An audible beep or flashing light would alert the driver to the fact that something is amiss. Of course an unlocked parked car with engine running is also an invitation to car theft. The car's doors cannot be locked with the key in the ignition, but there is no indication that the doors have not locked without testing the doors from the outside. Not having successfully locked the doors can also be easily overlooked by a distracted driver.
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.
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 they have never heard of such a thing. I contacted service and was told that this is normal. There is no fix. I am demanding that my headlights be aimed higher in hopes that I can see to drive. If this does not fix the problem, this car cannot be driving at night. It is not safe to drive with such low visibility. I was driving very slowly and still felt that I should have just stopped.
Compare the 2016 Toyota Prius C
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Questions about the 2016 Toyota Prius C
Is the 2016 Toyota Prius C reliable?
Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 2016 Toyota Prius C, fewer than a typical Prius C model year.
What is the 2016 Toyota Prius C year score?
The 2016 Toyota Prius C scores 82 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Toyota Prius C: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Toyota Prius C?
Brakes, with 3 complaints. Next is tires (3).
How many recalls does the 2016 Toyota Prius C have?
No recalls on record.
What year does the Toyota Prius C have bad brakes?
The Toyota Prius C model years with the most brakes complaints are 2012 (26 complaints) and 2013 (18 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Toyota Prius C get?
Official estimates for the 2016 Toyota Prius C range from 50 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.5L 4-cyl hybrid, FWD) gets 53 city and 46 highway.
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