Introduced to the U.S. market in 2012, the Toyota Prius C was an immediate hit with those seeking a lower-cost Prius. Unfortunately, its aging hybrid system is the subject of at least three recalls.
Key Points
- Introduced as the Aqua in Japan, the Prius C landed in the United States for the 2012 model year in March of 2012.
- The earliest reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding the Prius c’s problems begin with the 2013 model year, however.
- Three recalls – all involving the hybrid system – and 230 complaints dog the city-sized Prius variant.
- Other problems include grabby brakes, headlight bulb burnouts, and air conditioner compressors prematurely failing.
2012 Toyota Prius C Makes for a Mostly Reliable, Fun-sized Variant for the City
Where once there was but one Prius, a total of four would be in U.S. showrooms starting in the 2012 model year. Aside from the original hybrid, the lineup grew to include the bigger Prius v, the plug-in Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and the city-sized Prius c.
The c variant was introduced at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, having already made a big splash as the Aqua in the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show.
By March of 2012, the 2012 Prius c landed in showrooms, immediately finding new homes with new and current Prius fans looking for a smaller, lower-cost version of the iconic hybrid. It also earned the Environmental Protection Agency’s praise when it was ranked by the government agency as the most efficient compact car excluding PHEVs for the 2012 model year; it would take second place behind the Chevrolet Volt when PHEVs and EVs were brought into the discussion.
Beware the First-year Woes, for the 2012 Toyota Prius C Has Big Hybrid Problems
We know the old saying: “Never buy a first-year model.” Though no one paid attention to that adage when jumping into their 2012 Toyota Prius c models at the time, the NHTSA certainly kept its eye on any problems that would come up.
Alas, the agency’s records begin with the 2013 model year, likely folding the late 2012 model year into the following year.
However, there are three major recalls for the 2012 Prius c, all involving its aging hybrid powertrain. The first, logged in 2014, concerns the inverter module’s heat-sensitive components failing, forcing the hybrid to either limp home or completely shut down. The latter two recalls in 2018 and 2020 also focus on the inverter module, though the issue is excessive voltage leading to the same scenarios.
No matter the cause, though, the final result on a busy highway or street is the same: the potential for accidents and fatalities.
Thus, Toyota asked 2012 and 2013 Prius c owners to bring in their compact hybrids to the nearest dealership for repairs of the inverter assembly, if not a full replacement, prior to a software update.
Side Barrier Impact Issues, Grabby Brakes, Burnt-out Headlights Other Concerns for 2012 Toyota Prius C
It’s not often the NHTSA informs owners of a given model of a safety concern alongside the recalls and complaints, but the 2012 Toyota Prius c has one attached to it: the side barrier impact test. In the event of an impact, the rear passenger(s) may experience thoracic injury due to the door panel striking the torso.
There are, of course, other problems with the 2012 Prius c consumers should know before making their purchase. The blog of Olathe Toyota’s parts section mentions a few common problems with the compact hybrid. One of them concerns wet weather and grabby brakes. As the brakes are used for power regeneration, the brakes are grabbier than those for non-hybrid applications. Yet, when a driver brakes in wet weather, there’s the possibility for skidding.
Another issue found with the 2012 Prius c? Burnt-out headlights. The original headlight housings were designed in such a way as to allow the plastic reflector to melt, causing the low-beam bulbs to burn-out. A few owners have had to do this more than a few times a year.
On Car Complaints, one scary issue involves the airbags. Nope, not the Takata saga. Instead, the airbags failed to deploy at all during an accident, leading to more than a few trips to the hospital.
Though Fuel Efficient, 2012 Toyota Prius C May Not Be the Right Hybrid to Purchase
Aside from the issues of working on an aging hybrid powertrain, those shopping for a 2012 Toyota Prius c also need to consider everything from the inverter recall to grabby brakes and defective airbag units. It’s possible to find an example with potential issues sorted out.
However, it may be best to go for a later model year of the one-generation compact hybrid. The final year of the Prius c was the 2019 model year, with a handful of models under recall for issues with the DC-DC converter.
Beyond this, no other recalls or complaints were noted by the NHTSA, meaning Toyota’s famed reliability finally caught up with this unique take on the Prius name.
Photos: Toyota
