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Toyota Prius

EPA MPG: 47 mpg
Average Retail Price
$5,425

RECALL ALERT:
There are 4 recalls on this vehicle. Learn More.

Reliability

Overall Reliability
/ 100

We expect the 2025 Prius will be more reliable than the average new car. This prediction is based on data from 2023 and 2024 models.

The 2008 Toyota Prius has been recalled 4 times by NHTSA. View Recalls
Most Common Trouble Spots
Common Trouble Spot
/ 5
Common Trouble Spot
/ 5

Owner Reported Trouble Spots

The Reliability score is based on our latest subscriber survey of 2008 Toyota Prius owners. The owner comments describe problems respondents experienced with this vehicle.

Exhaust

Muffler, pipes, catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, heat shields, leaks.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Catalytic converter

"Theft"

Anonymous, IL (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Exhaust leaks

"Check engine light came on. Dealership diagnosed broken plastic connector on fuel line and replaced fuel tank because part is not available. $1500. Later light came on again and they had to pull fuel tank and replace a different part. No charge. Ok now"

Anonymous, NY (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"Smell of exhaust inside the passenger compartment at 150000 miles."

Anonymous, MN (2008 Toyota Prius 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Other/unsure

"The car was in an accident, and had to have the front quarter and side mirror replaced/repaired."

Anonymous, MD (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"Dashboard readout will disappear during sudden temperature changes. When this happens speedometer, gas gauge and backup camera dont work. Occurs periodically during cold weather. Will fix itself when left parked in sun. Had to find You tube video on how to shut car off when this occurs."

Anonymous A., AZ (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"Gas reader not working well. AFTER USING 4 TO 5 Gal of gas goes to empty.I then put gas in & this keeps repeating till next time."

Anonymous, MD (2008 Toyota Prius Touring 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"low tire pressure sensor comes on even though tire pressure is fine. I do not plan to spend the money to replace it"

Anonymous A., MD (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"Had to replace the 3-way coolant valve due to check engine light. also replaced the engine water pump, due to small leak."

Anonymous, AZ (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"Hatchback latch broke. Not serious but took some time to get part as it had to be shipped from USA or Japan. I couldn't open hatchback for weeks. Cost $878 to repair."

Anonymous, ON (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"replaced coolant switch"

Anonymous, AZ (2008 Toyota Prius Touring 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Electrical Accessories

Cruise control, clock, warning lights, body control module, keyless entry, wiper motor or washer, tire pressure monitor, interior or exterior lights, horn, gauges, 12V power plug, USB ports, alarm or security system, remote engine start, heated or cooled seats, heated steering wheel, headlights, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, wireless charging pad.

/ 5

What Owners Say

12V battery

"New battery failure after 8 months"

Anonymous, CO (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"My starter battery needed replaement twice in the cold weather as I did not drive very much."

Anonymous, NY (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"When we tried to open the doors remotely, they did not open, even though the key lit up. We had to call AAA for a boost. The battery showed 4 volts even though we had driven the car the night before. A new battery cost $308 plus $200 installation."

Anonymous, (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"In March I left the door open while my car was parked in the garage for a couple days. When I went to start it there was no power. After a few weeks I used a portable battery reconditioned/charger, which appeared to fix the problem. But after the car sat in the garage for a few days, it was again completely unresponsive electronically. Since a rarely drive it nowadays, I've left it for weeks, just this weekend (5/18/24) I'm attempting to recondition and recharge the battery again."

Anonymous A., VA (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"Error light appeared, battery replaced."

Anonymous, WI (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"The 12 volt battery lasts about 3 years and then Needs to be replaced. It is expensive compared to a typical 12 V car battery."

Anonymous, TX (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Headlights

"More than a year ago my driver's side headlight has been flickering and occasionally turning off. I usually, simply turn off the headlights and turn them back on and the headlight works normally for a while. Over time the frequency of the flickering has increased. I tried to change the bulb myself, but doing so would require disassembling much of the front bumper, which I'm not willing to do. I don't think it's technically difficult, but it will be time consuming for me and there's a chance that in my inexperience I might mess something up. This is an unnecessarily expensive correction due to the labor I will be charged for the time it takes to take the front end of the car apart, as well as for the cost of the xenon lightbulb,"

Anonymous A., VA (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Keyless entry

"keyless entry stopped working about 8 years ago; you have use the key to open the locked door and insert the key fob to operate the vehicle. The cost to attempt to get keyless feature to work would exceed $500 according to the dealer, and not guarantee a fix."

Anonymous A., WA (2008 Toyota Prius Touring 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"Key fob doesnt seem to connect with the car anymore. Buttons cannot be used to unlock or lock the car. Has to be the manual key. Replacing the battery did not help this problem"

Anonymous, BC (2008 Toyota Prius 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Tire pressure monitor

"Tire Pressure Monitor just stopped working. We could still drive the car but would have to monitor tire pressure manually with a pressure gauge. We had it repaired recently. It was a relatively costly repair."

Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Prius Touring 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

In-car Electronics

Infotainment system (audio, GPS, phone), rear entertainment system, backup or other camera/sensors, head-up display.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Backup or other camera/sensors

"Its part of the same problem with the display panel not lighting up"

Anonymous, TN (2008 Toyota Prius 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Display screen freezes up

"It has happened twice. Can't change climate, radio, etc. on display. Replaced with refurbished display."

Anonymous, CO (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Display screen goes blank

"Screen went blank 2 years after used purchase, Tpyota would not replace since it was ouside of warranty and we didn't replace it because it was too expensive"

Anonymous, MD (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"The display screen doesnt always come on when I start the car, so no gas gauge, no speedometer, no backup display, no backup warning noise, and the car often requires several repositionings before it will turn off."

Anonymous, TN (2008 Toyota Prius 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"The multi-function display went blank. Toyota stopped making replacements several years ago. The only way to fix it now it to pull it out and send it to a 3rd party repair place, or take a chance on a used unit. I will get around to it at some point, in the mean time we can't see the hybrid system status, set the radio pre-sets, nor use a variety of other functions. Fortunately the car runs fine without it."

Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"About once a week, the speedometer and fuel gauge cluster is black so I do not know how fast I am going or how much fuel I have left in my tank. The problem usually resolves itself the next time I restart my car."

Anonymous A., MS (2008 Toyota Prius Touring 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Hardware replacement

"Repaired Combination meter in dash"

Anonymous, (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"MFS display screen burn out over time Hard to read screen. Needs to be replaced."

Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Other in-car electronics problem

"The display screen isnt touch sensitive anymoresometimes we can access the very bottom of the screen (mostly resetting trip mileage) by pressing the top of it. It started just being wildly out of alignment before mostly not working all together. We can control the climate a little bit with the steering wheel controls but it means we dont have radio presets and cant change the fan strength."

Anonymous, WA (2008 Toyota Prius 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

EV Battery

Electric/hybrid battery pack failure, replacement or malfunction, or cooling.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Electric/hybrid battery pack cooling problem

"Overheating caused the red triangle warning light. Installed a new cooling fan."

Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"Error light appeared; required $2000 of repairs."

Anonymous, WI (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Electric/hybrid battery pack malfunction (didn't need replacement)

"We had the hybrid battery pack replaced at 190,000. One of the cells went out and was replaced under warranty."

Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Prius Touring 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Electric/hybrid battery pack replacement

"The battery gave out and required replacement. Car would not start or move."

Anonymous, (2008 Toyota Prius 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"Driving normally, battery failed, coasted to side of road ( dry dangerous situation!). About 20 minutes later some power returned, limped to dealer, new battery required - $4,500! Expected more than 87,000 miles out of this vehicle. . ."

Anonymous, CO (2008 Toyota Prius Touring 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"Red triangle of death appeared and OBD scan indicated battery pack needed replaced. Was able to find instructions on line and new batteries on line to replace 16 year old battery modules. Process took a couple of days but was not too difficult. New battery working perfectly."

Anonymous, TX (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"Issue diagnosed February 2024. car would not start replaced battery"

Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"I used a OBDI unit to diagnose the problem then contacted the company that had replaced the last battery. They came and replaced it under warranty."

Anonymous, (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"price not bad replaced with aftermarket pak. not bad to relace"

Anonymous, WI (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Climate System

AC compressor, blower (fan) motor, condenser, evaporator, heater system, automatic climate system, electrical failure, refrigerant leakage.

/ 5

What Owners Say

A/C compressor

"The AC stopped working and the repair shop replaced it. It now works fine."

Anonymous, NJ (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"A/C is not working since beginning of warm weather. Haven't had it repaired yet."

Anonymous A., MA (2008 Toyota Prius Touring 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"For no reason at died"

Anonymous, MI (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"It just stopped working and had to replace . It was expensive."

Anonymous, TX (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Blower (fan) motor

"When the car starts, or when I switch between outside air and recirculate, a loud buzzing noise comes from the dashboard for about 10 seconds. AC still functions normally, but noise is very annoying, and could potentially affect the value of the vehicle. Repair would require disassembling the dashboard."

Anonymous, TX (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Controls not available on infotainment screen

"unable to control or view info"

Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Prius Touring 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Refrigerant leaks

"Air conditioner stopped cooling. Corrected by recharging refregerant but reoccurred one year later"

Anonymous A., MA (2008 Toyota Prius 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Body Hardware

Windows, locks and latches, doors or sliding doors, tailgate, trunk or hatch, mirrors, seat controls (power or manual), seat belts, sunroof, convertible top, glass defect.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Locks and latches

"One of the serious warning lights turned on warning me not to drive my car. I was able to drive it to a dealer and had to leave it overnight. It turned out to be the smaller starter battery. I had that replaced about 6 years ago. At that time, the car just wouldnt start and required jumping but no warning light came in. Having the serious warning light come on this time was disturbing since it was supposedly the same issue but the car reacted totally different ways. Re latches, the rear door latch does not function sometimes because a piece of rubber melted into the mechanism. I read online this was a common problem with Priuses for several years."

Anonymous, (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Other body problem

"Very difficult to replace headlight bulbs."

Anonymous, PA (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Tailgate, hatch or trunk

"Loose front bumper, hatch doesnt open because lock melted in the heat, plastic fin fell off , then broke causing battery to die repeatedly"

Anonymous, MI (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"The interior plastic structure fell off and the external handle started to fall off, too. Its only semi-fixedits been taped together for a long time now."

Anonymous, WA (2008 Toyota Prius 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"Trunk / lift-gate has gotten difficult to open ("release" button often doesn't work), and the rubber over the release button has gotten gooey, leaving black marks on my fingers."

Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Windows

"Passenger side rear window stopped operating. Stopped about 2 months ago. Problem has not been resolved. We just don't use the window anymore."

Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Paint/Trim

Paint (fading, chalking, peeling, or cracking), loose interior or exterior trim or moldings, rust.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Loose exterior trim or moldings

"I believe loose roof rails have resulted in some water leaking into car."

Anonymous, PA (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"molding in roof loosened and began to stick up."

Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Paint (fading, chalking, cracking, or peeling)

"Clearcoat layer has peeled especially near the top of the car, leaving a dull, darker color."

Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"Clear coat is badly peeling. It started just this year, but the peeling covers most of the roof."

Anonymous, OR (2008 Toyota Prius 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Suspension/Steering

Shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage (includes rack and pinion), power steering (pumps and hoses, leaks), wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Bushings

"A humming/buzzing noise from front left wheel grew steadily for 2 months before the cause of the problem was found."

Anonymous A., CA (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Shocks or struts

"They not only had to replace the shocks and struts, but they also had to replace some of the structural components and it turned out to cost a little over $2000. This seemed very excessive. It was all due to just normal wear and tear."

Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Prius Touring 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Wheel bearings

"passenger side bearing went out twice within a year"

Anonymous, WI (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Brakes

Premature pad/rotor wear, pulsation or vibration, antilock system, parking brake, master cylinder, calipers, squeaking, brake failure, regenerative braking.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Antilock braking system (ABS)

"ABS Sensor went bad and needed to replace it."

Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Other brakes problem

"TBD going into shop tomorrow. Warning lights say brake system problem"

Anonymous, FL (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Engine Minor

Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, fuel leaks, oil leaks.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Problem(s) fueling the tank

"Filling the tank is now a laborious chore requiring triple the amount of time it once did. This tarted about 6 months ago. I now must go early in the morning to fill up so that I do not inconvenience people waiting to fill up behind me."

Anonymous A., MS (2008 Toyota Prius Touring 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

"Required a new fuel tank bladder"

Anonymous, NJ (2008 Toyota Prius Touring 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Noises/Leaks

Squeaks, rattles, wind noises, seals and/or weather stripping, air and water leaks.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Air or water leaks

"A small crack has developed in the upper right (top) corner of the hatch opening. A small amount of water leaks down inside and ends up in the 12-volt battery compartment, with some soaking into the back lower right trunk material."

Anonymous, CA (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Other noises & leaks problem

"The inner fender is attachments developed enlarged Holes so that it did not stay up. My husband used zip ties to fix it last August. It just fell down again last night and needs to be repaired."

Anonymous, TX (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Engine Electrical

Alternator, starter, hybrid battery replacement, hybrid battery related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, spark plugs and wires failure, auto stop/start.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Spark plugs or wires failure

"I experienced misfiring of spark plugs and uneven power. Corrected by replacing a spark plug and drying coils"

Anonymous A., MA (2008 Toyota Prius 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Fuel System/Emissions

Sensors (O₂, or oxygen, sensor), emission-control devices (includes EGR), fuel-injection system, fuel gauge/sender, fuel pump, problems filling up the tank.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Other emissions/fuel system problem

"quick connector in fuel line leak. suspect animal damage"

Anonymous, MD (2008 Toyota Prius Base 1.5-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Engine Major

Engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head, head gasket, turbocharger or supercharger, timing chain or belt.

/ 5

Engine Cooling

Radiator, cooling fan, water pump, thermostat, antifreeze leaks, overheating.

/ 5

Drive System

Driveshaft or axle, CV joint, differential, transfer case, four-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive components, driveline vibration, electrical failure, traction control, electronic stability control.

/ 5

Transmission Major

Transmission rebuild or replacement, torque converter, premature clutch replacement.

/ 5

Transmission Minor

Gear selector and linkage, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, rough shifting, slipping transmission, leaks.

/ 5

2008 Sedans & Hatchbacks Reliability

This Car
vs. Similar Cars

Toyota vs. Other New Car Brands Reliability

Reliability History
* Redesign year
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10*
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Overall Reliability Verdict

POTENTIAL TROUBLE SPOTS
Powertrain
Electric Motor
EV Battery
Engine Major
Engine Minor
Engine Cooling
Engine Electrical
Transmission Major
Transmission Minor
Drive System
Fuel System/Emissions
Exhaust
Suspension/Steering
Brakes
Climate System
Build Quality
Electrical Accessories
Body Hardware
Paint/Trim
Noises/Leaks
In-car Electronics
Reliability indicates how models have performed in the past, providing the basis for predicting how the vehicles will hold up in the year ahead. These charts provide the most comprehensive reliability information available to consumers. Based on information received from our latest subscriber survey for over 300,000 vehicles, our reliability history charts give you a rundown on how 2000 through 2024 vehicles are holding up in 20 potential trouble spots, ranging from the engine, transmission, electric motor, EV charging, and brakes to power equipment and the electrical accessories. NA indicates that we did not receive a large enough sample size to provide data for a specific year. An X indicates that the vehicle was not manufactured for a specific year.
Recalls
PROVIDED BY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Nov 14, 2012
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.
Summary:
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.
What should you do:
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.
For more information:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 12V536000
Potential Number of Units Affected: 350662
STEERING
Nov 14, 2012
Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Summary:
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.
What should you do:
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.
For more information:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 12V537000
Potential Number of Units Affected: 669705
EQUIPMENT
Feb 03, 2010
A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Summary:
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.
What should you do:
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.
For more information:
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V036000
Potential Number of Units Affected: 153418
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