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2008 Toyota Prius problems

The most common problem on the 2008 Toyota Prius is lights, typically around 56,451 miles. It has 9.0 times the complaints of a typical Prius model year.

Year to avoid9.0x the typical complaints
Year score
5/100
Owner complaints
1,498
Recalls
4
Service bulletins
222
Worst area
Lights
Fuel economy
46mpg
Typical repair
$400

The worst 2008 Toyota Prius problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 2008 Toyota Prius

Headlights 553ABS 121Brake failure 72Sudden acceleration 53Jerking 38Fuel gauge 34Stalling 34No deployment 29Adaptive cruise 20Warning lights 15Check engine light 13Door locks 13Loss of power 12Oil consumption 11Backup camera 10Hesitation 10Slipping 10Won't start 8Overheating 7Engine failure 6Won't shift 6Grinding brakes 5Fire or smoke 5Tire blowout 5

Trouble codes owners of the 2008 Toyota Prius mention

C1256 9C1391 5U0100 2U0111 2

Recalls 4

Hybrid propulsion system: inverterReported November 14, 2012 · 350,662 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
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.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 12V536000 · Recall details

Steering: gear box: shaft sectorReported November 14, 2012 · 669,705 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 12V537000 · Recall details

Equipment: other: labelsReported February 3, 2010 · 153,418 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 10V036000 · Recall details

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedalReported October 5, 2009 · 4,445,056 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
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.
Remedy
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 not want the new ones. Additionally, software modifications will be installed on camry, avalon and lexus es 350, is 350 and is 250 models that will ensure that the brake overrides the accelerator in the event both brake and accelerator pedals are applied. Toyota will begin mailing letters to owners on december 31, 2009. Owners may contact toyota at 1‑800‑331‑4331, lexus at 1‑800‑255‑3987.

Recall number 09V388000 · Recall details

See all 4 recalls for the 2008 Toyota Prius

Defect investigations

Pedestrian alert soundsOpened January 27, 2023, closed August 7, 2023

the federal safety agency 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 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, the federal safety agency 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 the federal safety agency 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 the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.

DP22005

Intermediate Steering Shaft SeparationOpened February 21, 2013, closed April 8, 2020

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 from Toyota.ODI's review revealed that the petition vehicle had been recalled (Recall 06V188) to remedy a defect in the system identified in the petition with the remedy taking place prior to the failure that prompted the petition. Circumstances point to incorrect reassembly of the petitioner's vehicle by those who performed the recall remedy.ODI examined the issues raised by this petition to identify any related safety defect trend in the general subject vehicle population.That review identified a low rate of related consumer complaints (twenty-five over a eight year period from a population of over 600,000 vehicles) and no pattern that would identify either a safety defect not already covered by the two existing steering safety recalls by Toyota or a systematic problem with either recall remedy.Based on this evaluation, ODI does not believe that additional investigation will lead to a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists in the subject vehicles. Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize the federal safety agency?s limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is denied. The denial of this petition does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.For more information, see the Federal Register notice in the public file for this action select the federal safety agency ID, enter: DP13001)The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed on-line under the following the federal safety agency ID numbers:10407520, 10418710, 10429551, 10473654, 10478195, 10478053, 10437229, 10489425, 10510722, 10639984, 10648277, 10499778, 10712626, 10723196, 10787530, 10808124, 10838803, 11071646, 11098144, 11099507, 11102659, 11160767, 11192607, 11287550, 11287606

DP13001

Technical service bulletins for the 2008 Toyota Prius 222

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 222 bulletins for the 2008 Toyota Prius

2008 Toyota Prius fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
1.5L 4‑cyl HybridFWD484546

What 2008 Toyota Prius owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Nov 7, 2026 · Brakes · AR

ABS pump failure. This is a known issue for Toyota Prius owners. My Prius ABS pump is failing and I am losing power brakes.

Filed May 12, 2026 · Engine · CA

Water pump failed after replacement in 2013 with 30k miles, car had only 93k miles when failed again in 2016. The potentiometer part failed, there is corrosion in the part. Was in freeway when it failed. I have reported this to different representatives. I was charged more 1.5k for a replacement of a faulty part that should last more than 50k miles.

Filed Apr 22, 2026 · Airbags · OR

the cruise control was inop, technician said it was a clockspring failure, replaced the clockspring with a new part from walmart, then at times, the airbag failure light would come on, paid a technician to replace the replacement clockspring with an new one and the failure stopped, walmart is selling a part that could result in death

Filed Mar 18, 2026 · Brakes · CA

2008 Toyota Prius gen2 with 139k miles. ABS, Brake, parking brake, and Traction Control lights all illuminated while driving the other day. Potential is losing all electronically assisted braking function in the car. Problem has been confirmed by local independent service center. Independent service center pulled codes: C1256 Accumulator low pressure C1378 Capacitor Communication Malfunction C1391 Abnormal leak of ACC pressure all consistent with ABS accumulator failure. Recommending ABS modulator assembly replacement at $2742.66 Toyota had a warranty enhancement program that covered this component: Warranty Enhancement Program – ZG1 2006-2007 Model Year Highlander Hybrid & 2004-2009 Model Year Prius Vehicles Extension of Warranty Coverage for Brake Actuator Assembly This Warranty Enhancement Program provides enhanced coverage to the vehicle’s “New Vehicle Limited Warranty” as it applies to the Brake Actuator Assembly. The specific condition covered by this program are repairs related to an internal malfunction of the Brake Actuator Assembly. If the condition is verified, the vehicle will be repaired with a new Brake Actuator Assembly at no charge under the terms of this Warranty Enhancement Program. • The Primary Coverage offers warranty enhancement until December 31, 2017, regardless of mileage. • After the Primary Coverage end, the Secondary Coverage is applicable for 10 years from the date of first use, or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first

Filed Feb 1, 2026 · Brakes · WV

Brake pedal became hard and vehicle was difficult to stop. ABS warning light appeared on dashboard. This is a problem that Toyota has addressed previously by extending the warranty period to 10 Years/150,000 miles. My vehicle has 122,000 miles on it but the 10 year extended warranty has expired. I took the vehicle to a local repair shop and they confirmed that there was a problem with the brake actuator assembly. Now, Toyota says it would cost over $3000 to remove and replace their already defective part.

Filed Dec 20, 2025 · NY

In 2025 I decided to clean the hybrid battery fan. I removed the side panels and found that the fan to battery duct had never been installed. I am the original owner and no one had ever removed the inside panels or had reason to remove the duct. This has likely resulted in the overheated battery which now needs replacing even though I have only 161,000 miles on this car which I have always maintained without fail regarding oil changes and other maintenance tasks.

Filed Oct 1, 2025 · Electrical · CA

In the cars digital instrument cluster have problem on the same model many of cars because I know many of friends that have same model car and I get problem so I go to the mechanic and the mechanic says it is a manufacturing problem on that same model have same problem I repair it twice and now it again appears it's also a safety concern because the problem is the light is completely go out completely blank so we are not able to see the vehicle speed vehicles fuel gas and vehicles other information that shows on digital cluster so if we drive in this condition we don't know how much speed is on my car right now

Filed Sep 26, 2025 · Brakes · MO

The ABS brake booster/accumulator is going out and this has been a known issue with Toyota for years. Mine was purchased used a few years ago and had no issues until recently, as the pump is running more frequently.

Filed Aug 31, 2025 · Body, Electrical · MI

Trunk lock will not unlock or allow opening, back latch malfunctions, when car battery dies or car looses power《• you cannot open the trunk and access emergency tools/equipment and battery to jump car. •》You have to access by climbing through the front of the car if you are able-bodied too. There is no opening handle from the inside of the trunk to be let out, scariest and one of the most important major safety concerns, theres no emergency exit from inside vehicle. Water/snow/ice also falls down into the vehicle when opening hatchback, it slides inward from hood of car or slides back from rear windshield and door, causes water to be pooled up in my battery compartment.

Filed Aug 31, 2025 · Acceleration, Electrical · MI · crash

Randomly my instrument panel goes blank while in motion and can only be retrieved by hard turning the car off when stopped, you loose your speedometer, lights, and all until reset. Other issue with speedometer readings that are consistently off between 5-15mph with no fix, resolutions or repairs.

Used buying checklistWhat to check on a 2008 Toyota Prius before you buy

Compare the 2008 Toyota Prius

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Questions about the 2008 Toyota Prius

Is the 2008 Toyota Prius reliable?

Owners have filed 1,498 complaints about the 2008 Toyota Prius, 9.0 times a typical Prius model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.

What is the 2008 Toyota Prius year score?

The 2008 Toyota Prius scores 5 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Toyota Prius: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2008 Toyota Prius?

Lights, with 583 complaints, typically around 56,451 miles. Next is brakes (391).

How many recalls does the 2008 Toyota Prius have?

4 recalls, covering hybrid propulsion system, steering and equipment.

What year does the Toyota Prius have the most lights problems?

The Toyota Prius model years with the most lights complaints are 2007 (1,061 complaints), 2006 (941 complaints) and 2008 (583 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 2008 Toyota Prius get?

Official estimates for the 2008 Toyota Prius range from 46 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.5L 4-cyl hybrid, FWD) gets 48 city and 45 highway.

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