NHTSA has 1,497 owner complaints on file for the 2008 Toyota Prius[1]. Exterior lighting is the biggest group, with 579 complaints[2].
Most reported problems
Owners filed complaints across several parts of the car. Here are the groups, biggest first.
- Exterior Lighting. 579 complaints[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe headlights that drop out on one side or both a few minutes after starting. Some say the lights come back after a switch off and on, and some say dealer visits did not settle it.
- Brakes. 318 complaints[5]. Owners describe a pedal that did not slow the car as expected, sometimes at low speed in traffic or a parking lot, and a few mention a collision. Others describe odd noises or a very touchy pedal.
- Electrical System. 235 complaints[6]. Owners describe dash gauges and warning lights that went dark or acted up, and a fuel gauge that did not match how much gas was left.
- Speed Control. 156 complaints[7]. Owners describe cruise control or the accelerator that kept the car speeding up, and a pedal press that did not bring it down. Some had to shut the car off to stop it.
- Service Brakes, Electric. 77 complaints[8].
- Structure. 68 complaints[9].
- Engine. 65 complaints[10].
- Power Train. 54 complaints[11].
Recalls
Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2008 Prius is necessarily included.
- Hybrid Propulsion System › Inverter (12V536), November 2012. About 350,662 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[12]
- Steering › Gear Box › Shaft Sector (12V537), November 2012. About 669,705 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, loss of steering, steering problems. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[13]
- Equipment › Other › Labels (10V036), February 2010. About 153,418 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[14]
- Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal (09V388), October 2009. About 4,445,056 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, death.[15]
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
| Version | City / highway / combined MPG | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| Prius, 1.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[4] | 48 / 45 / 46 | $1,450 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: 4 DR FWD[16].
How 2008 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 165 | 3 |
| 2002 | 167 | 2 |
| 2003 | 99 | 1 |
| 2004 | 610 | 6 |
| 2005 | 1,051 | 6 |
| 2006 | 1,439 | 6 |
| 2007 | 2,003 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1,497 | 4 |
| 2009 | 502 | 6 |
| 2010 | 2,829 | 10 |
| 2011 | 522 | 6 |
| 2012 | 449 | 7 |
| 2013 | 426 | 4 |
| 2014 | 222 | 4 |
| 2015 | 171 | 2 |
| 2016 | 155 | 5 |
| 2017 | 91 | 3 |
| 2018 | 37 | 1 |
| 2019 | 30 | 3 |
| 2020 | 14 | 0 |
| 2021 | 6 | 0 |
| 2022 | 24 | 1 |
| 2023 | 21 | 4 |
| 2024 | 27 | 4 |
| 2025 | 18 | 2 |
| 2026 | 10 | 1 |
NHTSA's counts for the Prius show 1,497 complaints and 4 recalls for 2008[3]. Among the 27 model years listed, 24 have fewer complaints than 2008 and 2 have more[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2027 (0) and the most are for 2010 (2,829)[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 2008 Prius?
The complaint record for this Prius is wide, and it is led by headlight trouble, which is a nuisance and a safety worry at night[2]. Brake and speed control reports are fewer, but they carry more crashes, so they deserve a close look[5][7]. Owners report speed control trouble early in the car's life, at a median of 28,500 miles[7]. These are unverified owner reports and the counts are not adjusted for sales. Check the recalls and the by-year table on this page before you buy, and have a mechanic test the lights and brakes on a drive.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Toyota Prius?
- Exterior lighting is the largest complaint group on file, followed by brakes and the electrical system[2][5][6]. See the problems section above for what owners describe.
- Has the 2008 Toyota Prius been recalled?
- Yes. The by-year data lists 4 recalls for 2008[3]. The Recalls section on this page lists them.
- Are there serious safety complaints for the 2008 Prius?
- Some complaints mention crashes, and brakes and speed control carry the most of them[5][7]. These are unverified owner reports. Crash test stars are in the safety section of this page.
- What is the gas mileage of the 2008 Toyota Prius?
- The fuel section of this page shows the EPA figures and yearly fuel cost.
- Is 2008 a good year for the Prius?
- The by-year comparison on this page shows complaints and recalls for each year[3]. Use it to compare 2008 with its neighbors.
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Toyota Prius
Compare all model years of the Toyota Prius
Other Toyota models from 2008
Similar cars from 2008: midsize cars
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 1,497 owner complaints on file for the 2008 Toyota Prius (152 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 71 injuries, 7 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- 579 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 56,700). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Toyota Prius model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Prius, 1.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 48 city / 45 highway / 46 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,450. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- 318 complaints name the brakes component group (51 crashes, 1 fires, 16 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 235 complaints name the electrical system component group (8 crashes, 2 fires, 8 injuries, median mileage at failure 81,250). NHTSA vehicle records
- 156 complaints name the speed control component group (55 crashes, 2 fires, 25 injuries, median mileage at failure 28,500). NHTSA vehicle records
- 77 complaints name the service brakes, electric component group (14 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 18,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 68 complaints name the structure component group (9 crashes, 3 fires, 5 injuries, median mileage at failure 75,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 65 complaints name the engine component group (5 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 95,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 54 complaints name the power train component group (5 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 68,300). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 12V536, filed November 14, 2012: Hybrid Propulsion System › Inverter. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 12V537, filed November 14, 2012: Steering › Gear Box › Shaft Sector. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 10V036, filed February 3, 2010: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 09V388, filed October 5, 2009: Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal. NHTSA recall database
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records