2014 Toyota Prius C

NHTSA 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 NHTSA.gov 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, NHTSA 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 NHTSA 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 NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

The brakes failed while driving at a high speed (55 MPH) on the highway along with failing when braking at a low speed (15 MPH) near a major intersection. This occured with no warning other than the Brake, ABS, and Traction Control appearing as the failure was occuring. The warning light when away after the first occurance and the brakes began working again within a few moments. It then reoccured and the lights did not turn off and the car began beeping. My safety, along with my passengers safety and the safety of those who were in the area was put at risk. The highway failure occured in a high traffic area which was also a construction zone so workers were at risk. It has been confirmed by an independent service center that the Power Brake Booster and Brake Master Cylinder Assembly failed. There were no sypmtoms or warning prior to this dangerous failure. After researching this issue, I have found that this is a common issue but no recall has been issued, only a Customer Support Program Bulletin, of which I never received. This is extremely troubling due to the nature of brake failure at both high and low speeds can put not only the driver at risk but those who are near the vehicle experiencing the brake failure. Repairs are currently in process at the cost of approximatly $3,200.

NHTSA ID

11771074

Incident

Oct 6, 2026

Brake actuator assembly known issue in Prius C, Toyota refuses to do anything about it. Part is not cheap.

NHTSA ID

11724852

Incident

Mar 16, 2026

While driving, suddenly all brake lights and warning lights went on, and brakes stopped working normally. It became difficult to brake (brake took a while to engage - had to press pedal to the floor). After diagnostics at the dealership it looks like the brake booster failed. Apparently Toyota knew about this issue as they did an extended warranty through a Customer Support Program, but unfortunately my issue occurred just past the expiration of that warranty. Since brakes are such a critical component of vehicle safety, if they don't operate well or as expected, it endangers the driver and everyone else on the road. It is wild that Toyota is aware of this issue but that there has been no recall yet.

NHTSA ID

11700832

Incident

Nov 13, 2025

I was told that my Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump Assembly needed replaced. I had specifically asked my dealership in the past if there were any issues with my car and was told that there was nothing, which was untrue. I called Toyota and was told that I was mailed something back in 2018, but I do not remember receiving it. Now I am told that this has expired. I wanted to know if I had any recourse or extension time on this program 21 TE01. I am afraid that my brakes will not work, as the lights go off and on. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11679204

Incident

Mar 13, 2025

Cruise Control Not Working. Traction Control Light Active, Brake Light Active, And Light Active The cause was diagnosed by Toyota of Paris. TSB for C1391 Code abnormal leak in accumulator. The corrective action is to replace brake booster assembly with Master cylinder and Brake Booster pump Assembly.

NHTSA ID

11673351

Incident

Jun 10, 2025

We were driving on a city street about 25-30mph and the car jerked suddenly and the lights on the dashboard illuminated and the "Check Hybrid System" message came up as well. The car was able to coast to a nearby parking lot. We attempted to drive the car home and the car stalled in the middle of the street. We were able to push the car off the road and then get it towed. The presented a potentially very dangerous situation as the car had a complete failure while driving in the middle of the road. The Toyota service department ran a diagnosis which returned DTC P0A94. All of this indicates that the car should be covered under the CUSTOMER CONFIDENCE PROGRAM 23TE03 however that program seems to only cover the 2010-2015 Prius and 2011-2017 Prius V models and not the Prius C. There are several reports of this same issue happening on the Prius C as well though so it doesn't make sense that it is not covered.

NHTSA ID

11667479

Incident

Jun 15, 2025

2014 Toyota Prius C with 220k miles. Four warning lights came on while driving. Brakes became not responsive unless you press down very hard. Regenerative braking, went away. The Brake pump can be audibly heard turning on every few seconds.

NHTSA ID

11665317

Incident

Jun 5, 2025

My 2014 Toyota Prius C experienced a complete hybrid inverter failure. The part number of the inverter is the same as the one covered under Toyota’s inverter recalls (such as Recall J0V), yet my VIN is not included. The failure created a serious safety concern, as the vehicle lost power while in motion. Toyota’s recall appears to be too limited in scope and may need to be expanded to cover Prius C models that share the same faulty part. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue, as it appears to involve the same hardware defect acknowledged in other Prius models.

NHTSA ID

11659113

Incident

Apr 29, 2025

OBSOLETE NOTICE February 13, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0009-26.

This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries. This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year Repair Manual while performing a rescue charge. The GRX-5100 should be used wherever the Repair Manual references the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) charger.

Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manual and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines.

The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.

Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on the paint surface that resemble hard water spots. Unlike water spots however, acid rain damage cannot be removed by regular washing procedures. Also, because acid rain can etch and soften the paint, normal buffing or polishing repair procedures should not be attempted. This can cause further damage and result in visible depressions in the paint surface. The following are the three major categories of acid rain damage: •Minor damage: requires only buffing to repair. •Moderate damage: usually requires neutralizing, color sanding, and buffing. •Severe damage: extending beyond 1/2 mil of clearcoat on a pearl, metallic, or solid color, requires neutralization, sanding, and repainting. In cases where acid rain damage is minor, neutralization and buffing with a liquid-type paint finessing product may provide an adequate repair. Only specially formulated products outlined in this bulletin should be used for that purpose. Unfortunately, other than minor damage, there is no simple method of determining the actual extent (depth) of acid penetration other than color sanding a representative affected area until there is no visible etching or depressions, followed by measuring the amount of paint removed with either a magnetic or digital-type film thickness gauge. The procedures in this bulletin are intended for use by qualified body/paint technicians and should not be attempted by inexperienced personnel. It is the dealer’s responsibility to protect and maintain the quality of the vehicle’s paint finish after receipt at the dealership prior to the first sale. Perform frequent vehicle washing, as often as daily, during high heat and humidity periods to minimize the potential for paint damage due to acid rain exposure. This is especially important in geographical areas known for high frequency and concentration of acid rain and industrial fallout.

To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.