ToyotaPrius C2018Overview/toyota/prius-c/2018/base/

2018 Toyota Prius C

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 Prius C.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2018 Prius C is a passenger car with a 3.9-quart oil capacity requiring 5W-20 or 0W-20 viscosity, paired with an automatic transmission featuring variable gear ratios. Its EPA ratings of 48 city, 43 highway, and 46 combined mpg highlight its efficiency. With only six total owner complaints and two recalls, the 2018 model year recorded the fewest complaints in the 20132019 lineup, making it the most reliable year of that generation.

Model year202120202019201820172016201520142013

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.9 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 0W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy48/43/46 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI Hybrid: S34B20R · 270 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZN1. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI Hybrid: S34B20R · 270 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnCANHOEM · verified
Tire sizeP175/65R15, P195/50R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim5.0, 6.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZN1
Engine air filter1780121060
Spark plug9091901265
Battery2880021182 alt 2880021213
Front wiper blades8522252270 alt 8521252220
Thermostat1632647020 alt 1603121010
Cabin air filter8713950100 alt 8713907020

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length157.5 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height57.1 in
Wheelbase100.4 in
Curb weight2496 lb
Track (front / rear)57.1 / 56.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined48 / 43 / 46 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.9 qt of 5W-20 / 0W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.5
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantHOAT
Engine Oil5W-20 · API · 0W-20
Engine Oil Capacity3.9 qt
Power Steering FluidEPS

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts94.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)1000 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)1000 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerTOYOTA
Spark Plug Gap.028
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity0.98-1.10 lbs
Oil TypeND 11 Oil
Oil Capacity3.80-4.20 oz
Standard BCI Group NumberHybrid: S34B20R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance270 cca

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum44.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum50.0 psi
RPM44.0-50.0 @ Idle rpm
Residual Pressure21.0.
Engine Compression96

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 25
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 79
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .748
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .002
Maximum Drum DiameterParking Brake: 9.040

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAir Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Hybrid Inverter (inspect coolant)
Every 30,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 120,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2018 Toyota Prius C sits at the tail end of a generation defined by a steep, long-term decline in owner complaints, with federal filings falling from 403 in 2013 to just 6 in 2018 before reaching zero in 2019. While 2016 represented a temporary interruption—complaints rose to 162 and recalls spiked to 5—the broader arc shows a marked downward trajectory in complaints and technical service bulletins, with 2018 and 2019 posting the lowest figures of the run. Relative to its immediate predecessor, 2018’s complaint volume collapsed from 101 to 6, accompanied by 2 recalls, 1 investigation, and 169 TSBs, though the federal data does not specify root causes for these remaining reports. With only 1 crash-related complaint, 0 fire complaints, and minimal filings across powertrain, electrical, and steering categories, the 2018 model year reflects a mature platform with very low documented federal friction. Given its dramatically reduced complaint and recall volume compared with 2016 and 2017, and its place near the generational low point, the 2018 Prius C is a good year to buy.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
169
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
6
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 6 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Unknown Or Other2
Power Train,Vehicle Speed Control,Engine1
Electrical System1
Steering,Unknown Or Other1
Visibility/Wiper1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V491000Hybrid Propulsion SystemReported 26/06/2019

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Prius C vehicles. The DC-DC converter may fail resulting in the auxiliary battery no longer receiving power from the converter, which may… Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the DC-DC converter with a new one, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota…

18V176000Equipment:Other:LabelsReported 15/03/2018

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Prius C vehicles sold in Puerto Rico. The front passenger air bag and recommended child occupant seating positions label may not have… Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and will mail the removable labels to all known owners of the subject vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on April 11, 2018. Owners may contact…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 169 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-SB-0119-15 Rev22026-02-13EngineOBSOLETE NOTICE February 13, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0009-26.
T-SB-0009-262026-02-13EngineThis bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high…
T-SB-0055-24 Rev22026-01-07Unknown Or OtherSome 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
T-SB-0058-23 Rev12025-06-13Electrical SystemThe air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the…
T-SB-0035-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureAcid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Prius C. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2018 Prius C take?

3.9 qt of 0W-20API Preferred, 5W-20 API may be used in an emergency. Replace with 0W-20 at the next oil change, per the factory manual.

Does the 2018 Prius C have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Prius C get?

EPA figures are 48 city / 43 highway / 46 combined mpg.