Model year guide

2015 Toyota prius c

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2015 Toyota prius c is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 52 on record.

2015 Toyota prius c — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2015 Toyota prius c at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints132
Overall safety4 / 5 ★
Combined50 mpg
Typical price$11,423

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2015 Toyota prius c recalls 1

Tires:pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems NHTSA Campaign #15V514000 · manufacturer #SET15E · 13/08/2015

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2015 Toyota Prius C vehicles manufactured April 20, 2015, to June 30, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) may be improperly calibrated and, as a result, the TPMS may fail to warn the driver that the tire pressure is low. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle …

Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will re-calibrate the TPMS, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET15E.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2015 Toyota prius c common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 132 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

2015 Toyota prius c safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★
Side — front seat★★★★★
Side — rear seat★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★

Rollover risk: 11.8% — NHTSA's estimated chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash (dynamic test: no tip).

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2015 Toyota Prius C 5 HB FWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2015 Toyota prius c MPG & running costs

Combined50 mpg
City53 mpg
Highway46 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$1,350
EPA size classCompact Cars
TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)
Engine start-stopYes
Passenger volume87 cu ft
Cargo volume17 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$5,250 less

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

What's a 2015 Toyota prius c worth?

Low
$10,000
Typical price
$11,423
High
$13,000

From 10 comparable 2015 Toyota prius c listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2015 Toyota prius c costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$6,750
Depreciation (5 yrs)$250
Total$7,000
Per mile$0.09

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($11,423) with the same model 3 model-years older ($11,276), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
157.5 in
Width
66.9 in
Height
57.1 in
Wheelbase
100.4 in
Curb weight
2,496 lb
Front track
57.1 in
Rear track
56.7 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2015 Toyota prius c. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 2

Pedestrian alert sounds Closed

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…

NHTSA #DP22005 · Electrical System · opened Jan 2023 · closed Aug 2023

Brake Actuator Valve Wear Closed

On September 19, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition from Mr. Roger Hogan requesting that the Agency investigate and recall certain Toyota Prius, Prius PHV, Camry Hybrid and Avalon Hybrid vehicles for a brake actuator valve wear condition covered under Toyota Customer Support Programs ZJB and ZKK (subject CSP’s). In support of his request, the petitioner identified 117 NHTSA com…

NHTSA #DP19004 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · opened Sep 2019 · closed Jan 2021

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 402

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 402.

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 shoul…

Bulletin T-SB-0009-26 · Engine · Feb 2026

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

Bulletin T-SB-0119-15 Rev2 · Engine · Feb 2026

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 p…

Bulletin T-SB-0055-24 Rev2 · Jan 2026

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.

Bulletin T-SB-0058-23 Rev1 · Electrical System · Jun 2025

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,…

Bulletin T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Structure · Dec 2024

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 th…

Bulletin T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Structure · Dec 2024

The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especiall…

Bulletin T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Structure · Dec 2024

Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to r…

Bulletin T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · Structure · Dec 2024

Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, r…

Bulletin T-SB-0062-23 Rev2 · Structure · Dec 2024

This Customer Support Program provides coverage as it applies to Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump Assemblies on Certain 2014-2016 Model Year Highlander HV and certain 2017 Model Year Prius V Vehicles. The specific condition covered by this program is relat…

Bulletin 24TE01 · Service Brakes · Nov 2024

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the PRIUS C FWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 1

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2015 Toyota prius c. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Electrical

Issue: This recall is for certain block heater kits installed on certain vehicles or sold as accessories at Toyota or Lexus dealerships. On certain vehicles, the engine block heater cable may not have enough heat protection and could be damaged by high temperatures. If this happens, the cable could short circuit while plugged in, and cause the wiring to overheat or melt. Note:…

Transport Canada #2021723 · Nov 2021

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Toyota prius c

The Toyota Prius c (c stands for "city"), also known as the Toyota Aqua (Japanese: トヨタ・アクア, Hepburn: Toyota Akua); "aqua" is Latin for water) in Japan, is a full hybrid gasoline-electric subcompact/supermini hatchback manufactured and marketed by Toyota. The Prius c is the third member of the Prius family, and combines the features of a Yaris-sized car with a hybrid powertrain. The Prius c is priced lower than the conventional Prius and has a higher fuel economy in city driving under United States Environmental Protection Agency test cycles. The Prius c was ranked by the EPA as the 2012 most fuel efficient compact car when plug-in electric vehicles are excluded.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2015 Toyota prius c trims & engines on record

Engines
1.5L 4-cyl 72 hp

2015 Toyota prius c vehicles on record

Other Toyota prius c model years

2015 Toyota prius c — frequently asked questions

Does the 2015 Toyota prius c have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2015 Toyota prius c. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2015 Toyota prius c?

Across all 132 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are service brakes, electrical system, power train.

What is the 2015 Toyota prius c safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2015 Toyota prius c an overall crash-test rating of 4 out of 5 stars (frontal 4★, side 4★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2015 Toyota prius c get?

The 2015 Toyota prius c has a U.S. EPA estimate of 50 mpg combined (53 city / 46 highway).

How much is a 2015 Toyota prius c worth?

Comparable 2015 Toyota prius c listings run roughly $10,000–$13,000, typically around $11,423 (from 10 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.