Worst 2008 Toyota Prius Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Toyota Prius.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 553 | 1 | — | 70,299 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 228 | 8 | 2 | 100,022 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 157 | 32 | 1 | 23,695 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 145 | 18 | — | 127,485 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 142 | 48 | 1 | 42,097 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC | 77 | 14 | — | 22,606 mi | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 50 | 1 | — | 100,456 mi | |
| ENGINE | 48 | 3 | 1 | 103,961 mi | |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 43 | 3 | — | 66,159 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN | 41 | 3 | — | 85,817 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 41 | 8 | 2 | 100,903 mi | |
| TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM | 40 | 4 | — | 26,106 mi | |
| AIR BAGS | 32 | 27 | — | 94,656 mi | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 29 | — | — | 40,070 mi | |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 27 | 5 | — | 103,478 mi | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 22 | 2 | — | 32,069 mi | |
| STEERING | 18 | 3 | — | 69,850 mi | |
| STRUCTURE | 18 | 1 | — | 64,759 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | 14 | — | — | 13,956 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 13 | 7 | 1 | 34,800 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 12 | 2 | 1 | 21,425 mi | |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 12 | — | — | 46,980 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 12 | 2 | — | 39,178 mi | |
| SEAT BELTS | 8 | 3 | — | 137,426 mi | |
| TIRES | 8 | — | — | 36,254 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 7 | 6 | — | 22,800 mi | |
| VISIBILITY | 7 | — | — | 42,606 mi | |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 7 | — | — | 94,340 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE | 6 | — | — | 47,817 mi | |
| WHEELS | 6 | 3 | — | 71,894 mi |
Recalls for 2008 Toyota Prius
5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~2,194,152 vehicles.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other Toyota Prius Years
Wider context: See the full Toyota Prius reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2008 Toyota Prius
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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