2008 TOYOTA PRIUS — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
1,891
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
15
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS
The 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS has received a total of 1,891 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 6 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR. 15 technical service bulletins have been issued by Toyota Motor Corporation for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Exterior Lighting (553 complaints), Electrical System (228 complaints), and Service Brakes Hydraulic (157 complaints).
Recalls for the 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS
NHTSA has recorded 6 recalls for the 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, potentially affecting up to 6,639,208 vehicles.
Recall 12V536000 — HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
| 350,662 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
View full details →Recall 12V536000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
| 350,662 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
View full details →Recall 12V537000 — STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
| 669,705 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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...
View full details →Recall 12V537000 — STEERING
| 669,705 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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...
View full details →Recall 10V036000 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
| 153,418 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
View full details →Recall 09V388000 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
| 4,445,056 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS
1,891 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Safety Rating for the 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS
Toyota Motor Corporation has issued 15 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
T-SB-0153-13_Rev — EQUIPMENT
TSB: REVISION NOTICE November 13, 2019 Rev2: ? The Warranty Information section has been updated. July 02, 2019 Rev1: ? The Applicable Warranty section has been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. Some 2004 ? 2009 model year Prius vehicles may exhibit a MIL ON...
T-SB-0153-13-Rev — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 02, 2019 Rev1: ? The Applicable Warranty section has been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. Some 2004 ? 2009 model year Prius vehicles may exhibit a MIL ON condition with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0A80 or P0A7F stored due to...
T-SB-0032-16 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID
TSB: REVISION NOTICE: April 18, 2017 Rev1: G458The Parts Information and Required Tools and Equipment sections have been updated. Some 2004 ? 2009 model year Prius and 2006 ? 2007 model year Highlander HV vehicles may exhibit a condition where the brake, ABS, and/or TRAC warning light(s) are ON and/or...
T-TT-0395-16 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
TT: HV Batteries have liquid filled cell modules, to prevent leakage from cells, it is very important to confirm the proper orientation mark of the DRC.
ZG1_Dealer email — SERVICE BRAKES
Dealer email: In these vehicles, Toyota has received some reports where various brake system related warning lamps illuminate due to internal malfunctions of the Brake Actuator assembly. Although the Brake Actuator Assembly is covered by Toyota?s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we...
T-TT-0303-14 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
T-SB-0186-13 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
The purpose of this general information Service Bulletin is to inform the market that sub-component diagnosis and replacement is now available for the Hybrid Inverter with Converter Assembly equipped on 2004 ? 2009 model year Prius vehicles.
T-SB-0153-13 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
Some 2004 ? 2009 model year Prius vehicles may exhibit a MIL ?ON? condition with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0A80 or P0A7F stored due to dust or debris build-up in the HV Battery Cooling Fan. Use the following repair procedure to address this condition.
TC-12-026 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TOYOTA: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, WHEN VEHICLE'S IGNITION IS TURNED ON, COMBINATION METER DISPLAY FAILS TO ILLUMINATES DURING COLD WEATHER START UP. MODELS 2004-2009 PRIUS. *PE
TSB-0172-09 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TOYOTA: AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE INTERMITTENT CONDITION OF THE COMBINATION METER, THERE IS AN UPDATED ECU METER COMBINATION, TO PREVENT THE LOST/FAILURE OF ILLUMINATION IN COLD WEATHER. REV 1 8/3/11 AND REV 2 10/10/12. MODEL 2004-2009 PRIUS. *PE
Showing 10 of 15 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the TOYOTA PRIUS
- 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS — 123 complaints
- 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS — 737 complaints
- 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS — 1,298 complaints
- 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS — 1,688 complaints
- 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS — 2,451 complaints
- 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS (current)
- 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS — 637 complaints
- 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS — 3,468 complaints
- 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS — 651 complaints
- 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS — 531 complaints
- 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS — 514 complaints
Other TOYOTA Models
- TOYOTA CAMRY — 23,209 total complaints
- TOYOTA COROLLA — 14,342 total complaints
- TOYOTA RAV4 — 11,737 total complaints
- TOYOTA SIENNA — 10,769 total complaints
- TOYOTA TACOMA — 10,512 total complaints
- TOYOTA TUNDRA — 8,997 total complaints
- TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — 6,663 total complaints
- TOYOTA 4RUNNER — 6,405 total complaints