2012 Toyota Prius C Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 2012 Toyota Prius C, and owners have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 2012 Toyota Prius C. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
63 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 Toyota Prius C have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA; 8 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 8 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 59,837 miles. Complaints peaked in 2016 with 7 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Prius C. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the message "Check Hybrid Status - Stop vehicle in Safe Place Immediately" was displayed. There were several warni”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 5, 2026 · Electrical system
“While driving 65 mph on the expressway on January 12th, 2026 under cruise control, I tapped my brakes to slow down. My brake warning light came on, along with the ABS warning light, and the anti-swerv”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 21, 2026 · Service brakes
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 Toyota Prius c. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 50 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 53 / 46 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (variable gear ratios) |
Compare Toyota Prius C model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota Prius C model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 Toyota Prius C | 0 | 63 |
| 2013 Toyota Prius C | 0 | 57 |
| 2014 Toyota Prius C | 0 | 32 |
| 2015 Toyota Prius C | 1 | 17 |
| 2016 Toyota Prius C | 0 | 12 |
| 2017 Toyota Prius C | 1 | 2 |
| 2018 Toyota Prius C | 2 | 6 |
| 2019 Toyota Prius C | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2012 Toyota Prius C
How do I know if my 2012 Toyota Prius C has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Toyota models
- Camry18,189 complaints
- Prius12,516 complaints
- Corolla11,739 complaints
- RAV49,385 complaints
- Sienna8,549 complaints
- Tacoma8,440 complaints
- Tundra6,922 complaints
- Highlander5,745 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.