2008 Toyota Prius Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
90/100
#3 most-complained of 21 Prius years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2008 Toyota Prius ranks 3rd worst out of 21 model years with a complaint index of 90 and 1,497 complaints, earning an Avoid verdict. Owners most often reported electrical system issues (49% of complaints) and brake problems (28%), with four recall campaigns covering steering, fuel system, tires, and accelerator pedals.
- Complaints
- 1,497
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 152 / 6
- Injuries / deaths
- 71 / 7
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 46
- 48 city / 45 hwy
Top 2008 Toyota Prius problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System731 (49%)
- Brakes418 (28%)
- Engine214 (14%)
- Structure & Body80 (5%)
- Other60 (4%)
- Fuel System58 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain54 (4%)
- Airbags41 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires19 (1%)
- Steering18 (1%)
What owners report
- Brakes fail to reduce speed when the pedal is depressed, leading to rear-end collisions at low speeds around town.
- Airbags fail to deploy in frontal and side-impact crashes, sometimes resulting in serious head, neck, or chest injuries.
- The accelerator appears to surge or launch the vehicle forward unexpectedly at low speeds, even when the brake pedal is applied.
- Steering loses traction and the vehicle hydroplanes on wet residential roads during gentle turns at low speed.
- Dealers sometimes tell owners that no defect is found in the brakes despite repeated stopping failures.
2008 Toyota Prius recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 12V537000Nov 14, 2012Steering669,705 vehicles
Steering:gear box:shaft sector
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.
- NHTSA 12V536000Nov 14, 2012Fuel System350,662 vehicles
Hybrid propulsion system: inverter
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.
- NHTSA 10V036000Feb 3, 2010Other153,418 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
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.
2008 Toyota Prius fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 48 MPG
- Highway
- 45 MPG
- Combined
- 46 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,400
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other Prius years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Toyota Prius reliable?
- Compared with other Prius model years, the 2008 ranks poorly. It has a complaint index of 90, the third-highest among 21 model years, and carries an Avoid verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Toyota Prius?
- NHTSA complaints show the Electrical System as the top problem area, accounting for 49% of complaints, followed by Brakes at 28% and Engine at 14%.
- Does the 2008 Toyota Prius have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists four recall campaigns for the 2008 Prius, covering the steering intermediate shaft, the electric water pump in the fuel system, a tire label compliance issue, and accelerator pedal entrapment by floor mats.
- At what mileage do problems tend to show up on the 2008 Prius?
- NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage at failure of 51,566 overall, with electrical failures around 60,000 miles and brake complaints around 34,000 miles.
- How does the 2008 Prius compare to newer Prius years?
- The 2008 model's complaint index of 90 is far above later years like 2018 and 2019, which carry Best verdicts with complaint indexes of 5 and 10 respectively.