2014 Toyota Prius c: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
205 NHTSA owner complaints · 0 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
No Prius c year rates AVOID; the one to be careful with is the 2013, a CAUTION at 56 on 399 complaints, 195 of them Service Brakes. Buy a 2014 or 2015, which score 81 and 89 on 205 and 132 complaints with no safety-critical recalls, or a 2018 or 2019 at 93 and 92 on 6 and 0 complaints, evidence low. Read the full note on the model page. 2014 specifically: a year the record favours — 205 complaints, score 81/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Toyota Prius, Prius c and Prius v: the years to avoid, including 2014 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 205 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 17.08
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
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 occurre…
My 2014 Toyota Prius (VIN [XXX] , 77,000 miles) displayed Brake, ABS, and Slip warning lights. A mechanic confirmed failure of the Brake Booster and Pump Assembly (DTC C1391). Toyota previously acknowledged this as a safety-related defect under Customer Support Program ZJB, but my coverage expired because I never received Toyota’s notice dated May 21, 2019. My car has been undrivable for weeks and Toyota refuses good…
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…
Recalls: 0 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 50 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $1,350
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Service Brakes80 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Electrical System36 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other29 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Engine21 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Vehicle Speed Control18 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
- Air Bags17 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
Other Toyota Prius c years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2014 Toyota Prius c?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Service Brakes (80 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2014 Toyota Prius c a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 81/100, computed from 205 NHTSA complaints and 0 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2014 Toyota Prius c's most common problem?
80 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2014 Toyota Prius c sit in the Service Brakes group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $580–$1,140 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2014 Toyota Prius c cost to run per year?
About $3,954 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $19,772 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Compare with
Other compacts of about the same age.
What will a 2014 Toyota Prius c really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 205 complaints, 0 recalls on record
- 205 NHTSA complaints on record (17.1/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (14.5/yr)
- 0 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems