KnownCarProblems2008 Toyota Prius Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 1,497 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Toyota Prius, most often about the lights (39% of complaints, typically around 56,500 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Prius model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2008 Toyota Prius problems
Lights
583 complaints · 39%Half of these problems showed up before 56,500 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
2008 Toyota Prius hid bulbs have failed intermittent take it to the dealer and they replaced the ecu for the hid's 2x but will not warranty bulb, they want $349.99 for bulb and 1 hr labor this is a safety issue as both can go off together if I turn headlights on then off they work I have been given warnings by the…
Tl contact owns a 2008 Toyota Prius. While driving at an unknown speed, the headlights failed unexpectedly. The failure occurs mostly in dark conditions. The dealer stated that they would investigate the issue. The contact found numerous complaints regarding the headlights and believes that this is a serious defect…
Brakes
318 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, pedals and linkages, antilock.
I own a 2008 Toyota Prius and it also has a problem when braking while driving over a rough surface or pot holes. The traction control light comes on and there is a 1-2 second delay before the real brakes kick in. I have learned to be aware of this issue and press the brakes harder until the brakes start to work.
I have a 2008 Prius and on three occasions while driving at slow speeds when I went to apply the brakes they just locked up on me and sent me lunging forward. Thank god I was wearing a seat belt. When I complained about this to the dealer they said they told me to take the floor mats out. Now I come to find out this…
Electrical
235 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 81,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, 12v/24v/48v battery, wiring, instrument panel.
My headlights will go out for no reason while I am driving or they will go dim while driving. I have been pulled over by the highway patrol on 2 different occassions because they though I was driving unsafely without 1 working headlight and each time I was able to turn the lights off and then turn them back on and…
The car warnings went on and displayed the symbol for brake systems failure. The car brakes went out and then the car sped up slightly until the brakes re-engaged. I was driving slowly and was near my home, so no one was hurt thankfully. We had to have it towed because the car manual said not to drive it more than 3…
Speed control
156 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 28,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control.
2008 Toyota Prius. On 11/18/09. 1) I was parked and ready to leave the parking spot when suddenly the car had an acceleration backwards. I couldnt stop the car but luckily I was in a tight parking spot and the car hit the object behind (like a tree) under the 45 degree angle which left the deep rear corner bumper…
While driving my employer's 2008 (or 2009) Toyota Prius several times in summer of 2009, I pressed the accelerator pedal to the floor to pass, and the pedal stuck in the wide open position. This happened several separate times during the summer of 2009. The car was sent to local Toyota dealership, where it was…
Service Brakes, Electric
77 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 18,000 miles.
My 2008 Toyota Prius slides when I brake on wet roads. It is very scary and I'm concerned this will cause an accident...especially because occasionally when my 77 yr. Old mother is driving it and is not accustomed to it.
Driving 2008 Toyota Prius, going around a round about when the car went over a small patch of ice. The brake was applied but the car did not seem to slow down or respond. The cars passenger front tire hit the curb and caused $2300 worth of damage to the vehicle. There were no other injuries or damage.
Body and structure
68 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
The rear hatch release button/cover has disintegrated into a mush of black gooey material that turns my hands black. I have read that many other people have had this issue but that there has not yet been a recall. It doesn't seem reasonable that a 6 year old car should have this happening to many people. Clearly it…
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Prius. While driving various speeds, the instrument panel failed to illuminate. The contact also stated that the rear hatch button melted. The vehicle was taken to south dade Toyota (29330 s dixie hwy, homestead, fl 33033, ([phone]) where it was diagnosed that the wire connections were…
Engine
65 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 95,000 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system, engine.
While driving down the road the instrument panel went black. I could not see driving speed or remaining fuel. I drove to Toyota dealer and could not shut down the engine upon arrival nor remove my key from the key slot. There are numerous online complaints about "Prius instrument cluster not working". Toyota quietly…
I had been driving the car for less than 10 minutes when the "red triangle" red problem light came on the screen. I immediately looked for a safe place to pull over when the car made a series of short dinging sounds and the car was automatically put in neutral and the brake engaged--in the middle of a busy…
Fuel system
55 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage.
I normally get about 450 miles out of one 11.9 gallon tank. Recently, I discovered my fuel gauge light going off at 300 miles. When I filled up my tank it only took 7 gallons, leaving 5 gallons that should have been in the tank. After filling it up, fuel gauge light went off just below 300 miles. When I took my…
2008 Prius headlamps intermittent hid problem. This is a known and common problem with Toyota Prius 2004-2009. No recall for it that I am aware of, however they light will go out randomly. The cost of repair can been extreme. Toyota was sued for this, but did not make an official recall…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Toyota Prius recalls
Hybrid system: inverter
Risk: The corroded coil wire may break and the water pump could stop. The corroded coil wire could cause a short circuit between coil wires and a possible open fuse, creating a stall-like condition of the hybrid system while the vehicle is being driven. This may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will replace the electric water pump, free of charge. The recall began on january 17, 2013. Owners may contact their toyota dealer or the toyota customer experience center at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 prius vehicles manufactured august 6, 2003, through march 30, 2009 and fchv-adv vehicles manufactured december 12, 2008, through september 13, 2011. During manufacturing, a scratch may have occurred inside of the electrically driven water pump at the coil wire. The coil wire may corrode at the scratched portion.
Steering: shaft sector
Risk: Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the extension shaft and replace it if it is one with insufficient hardness, free of charge. The recall began during december 2012. Owners may contact their toyota dealer or the toyota customer experience center at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 prius vehicles manufactured august 5, 2003, through march 30, 2009. The affected vehicles have a steering intermediate extension shaft assembly built with metal splines that complete the connection from the steering wheel to the steering gear. These splines may have been manufactured with an insufficient hardness.
Equipment: labels
Risk: A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota filed an amended defect report on november 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal. These changes address the risk of pedal entrapment due to interference with the floor mat. Redesigned accelerator pedals will become available beginning in april 2010 and dealers will replace any modified pedal with the new pedal if desired. Also, dealers will replace any genuine toyota or lexus all-weather floor mats with redesigned all-weather mats, or repurchase the previous mats from owners who do
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
Summary
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 matt
Intermediate steering shaft separation
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) received a january 2013 defect petition requesting that it open an investigation on model year (my) 2004-2009 toyota prius vehicles to address a possible manufacturing safety defect related to the steering column intermediate shaft.during the defect petition evaluation, odi: 1.reviewed the petition and its enclosures; 2.reviewed the subject steering system layout; 3.examined the petition vehicle?s history, including its repair history; 4.reviewed and followed-up potentially related consumer complaints; 5.assessed safety recalls 06v-188 and 12v-537; and, 6.requested and examined complaint, claim, field report, service history, and warranty information
Questions about the 2008 Toyota Prius
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Toyota Prius?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: lights (583 complaints, typically around 56,500 miles); brakes (318 complaints, typically around 45,000 miles); electrical (235 complaints, typically around 81,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Toyota Prius have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from November 14, 2012 (hybrid system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Toyota Prius?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Prius model year since 2000, with 1,497 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.