Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Toyota Prius problems

Owners filed 1,497 complaints about the 2008 Toyota Prius with NHTSA between Dec 2007 and May 2026. The most-cited component is exterior lighting (579).

Complaints
1,497
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
152
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
71
People reported injured
Deaths
7
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 4, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20071
200830
2009145
2010477
201182
201293
201389
2014110
201583
201669
201760
201886
201959
202028
202125
202217
20237
202417
202515
20264

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Exterior lighting

579 reports1 crash
“Hello. My 2008 Toyota Prius had a malfunction with the "combination meter" which caused the vehicle dashboard to turn off completely, and we could not turn off the engine at times when stopped and parked. The dealer fixed the problem at a cost of $1580, and both the dealer and Toyota corporate through their brand engagement advocate acknowledged a long term problem with the combination meter. They had extended the warranty coverage for owners for this specific problem for about 10 years but not for owners like me with a vehicle 15 years old. I believe Toyota should cover and reimburse owners for this problem, which is potentially dangerous, no matter the age of the vehicle, especially for long term, loyal owners. There are many of these vehicles still on the road. Thank you. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] .”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 21, 2024Electrical system, Exterior lighting, EngineODI 11566820

Electrical system

235 reports8 crashes2 fires
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 1, 2025Electrical systemODI 11690871

Service brakes, hydraulic

171 reports32 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKE, ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM, VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A TRIANGLE SYMBOL FLASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION TOYOTA LEESBURG (1 CARDINAL PARK DR SE, LEESBURG, VA 20175, 571-357-3965) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1809122780. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 206,970.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 13, 2018Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical systemODI 11129382

Vehicle speed control

156 reports55 crashes2 fires1 related recall
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2025Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 11684148

Service brakes

145 reports18 crashes
“2008 Toyota Prius gen2 with 139k miles. ABS, Brake, parking brake, and Traction Control lights all illuminated while driving the other day. Potential is losing all electronically assisted braking function in the car. Problem has been confirmed by local independent service center. Independent service center pulled codes: C1256 Accumulator low pressure C1378 Capacitor Communication Malfunction C1391 Abnormal leak of ACC pressure all consistent with ABS accumulator failure. Recommending ABS modulator assembly replacement at $2742.66 Toyota had a warranty enhancement program that covered this component: Warranty Enhancement Program – ZG1 2006-2007 Model Year Highlander Hybrid & 2004-2009 Model Year Prius Vehicles Extension of Warranty Coverage for Brake Actuator Assembly This Warranty Enhancement Program provides enhanced coverage to the vehicle’s “New Vehicle Limited Warranty” as it applies to the Brake Actuator Assembly. The specific condition covered by this program are repairs related to an internal malfunction of the Brake Actuator Assembly. If the condition is verified, the vehicle will be repaired with a new Brake Actuator Assembly at no charge under the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 18, 2026Service brakesODI 11725225

Service brakes, electric

77 reports14 crashes
“JULY 16TH OUR SON WAS DRIVING HIS 2008 PRIUS WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED AND THERE WAS ACCELERATION WITH THE CAR. HE REARENDED AN SUV AT A STOP LIGHT. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY WERE GOING TO CHECK IT OUT, BUT DUE TO THE FACT OF AN ACCIDENT, THEY HAD OUR SON CALL TOYOTA TO GIVE THEM A REPORT OF WHAT HAPPENED. TOYOTA SAID THEY WOULD SEND A REP. TO EXAMINE THE CAR, WHICH THEY WOULD NOT BE THERE FOR 2 WEEKS. WE WAITED AND THEY FINALLY ARRIVED AROUND AUGUST 4TH OR 5TH. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED AND SAID WE COULD COME AND GET THE CAR, WHICH I WAS CONCERNED NOT KNOWING IF THERE WAS DEFECT OR NOT. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TOLD US TOYOTA TAKES ALL RESPONSIBILITY OUT OF THEIR HANDS. I FELT THAT WAS RIDICULOUS SINCE THEY SELL TOYOTA VEHICLES. ON AUGUST 12TH OUR SON CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE A LETTER COMING IN ABOUT 35 DAYS. WE ARE STILL WAITING AND FEEL THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA HAS DONE NOTHING BUT PASS THE BUCK. WE ALSO PURCHASED ANOTHER PRIUS AT THE SAME TIME. BY THE WAY THEY BOTH TOLD MY SON IN THE BEGINNING THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL. AFTER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED OUR SON REALIZED THAT THERE WERE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2010Service brakes, electricCrash reportedODI 10352924
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.