There are 34 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2008 Toyota Priusin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
While driving the 2008 Prius with approximately 107,219 miles for approximately 15 miles, all the RED LIGHTS appeared on the dashboard. The air condition stopped working with only hot air blowing. I immediately took the 2008 Prius to the Toyota dealer. This is the following repairs as follows: "A CEL ON, MULTIPLE WARNINGS: CS20 INVERTOR WATER PUMP - 7521 CT $300.98 Labor 1 04000 - 32528 HV ELECTRIC WATER PU $169.35 Part 1 00272 - SLLC2 SUPER LONG LIFE COOL $ 23.43 MISC. CHARGES $ 53.32 TOTAL CHARGES $547.08
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THOUSAND OAKS TOYOTA (2401 THOUSAND OAKS BLVD, THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91362) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE WATER PUMP NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED IN 2013 UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V536000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED YEARS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY FOR THE PART WAS ONLY GOOD FOR A YEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
THE COOLING PUMP FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD CRACKED AND FLUID LEAKED OUT NO HEAT IN CAR AND RED TRIANGLE OF DEATH DISPLAY ON DASH LOCAL REPAIR SHOP INSTALLED NEW PUMP IT HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES. STILL LEAKS FROM HOUSING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD THEN RESTART WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RIGHT TOYOTA (7701 E FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT BLVD, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260, (480) 771-6449), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. ONE QUART DOWN EVERY 1500 MILES. FIRST NOTICED JAN 5, 2018
CAR BURNS A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES WHICH STARTED AT 150K. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT CANT BE FIXED.
OUR 2008 PRIUS EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING CA. 70 MPH ON A DAY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS BETWEEN 90 AND 95 DEGREES. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE INVERTER THAT HAS HAPPENED ON LATER MODELS, ESPECIALLY AS 'HIGH THERMAL STRESS' FEATURED IN REPORTS OF THOSE. TWO MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO PULL A COMPUTER CODE ON IT AND SAID THEY COULDN'T OFFER AN OPINION UNLESS IT WAS REPLICATED. EACH MENTIONED THE INVERTER PROBLEM, BUT CLAIMED THAT IT COULD ONLY HAVE HAPPENED ON MODEL YEARS MORE RECENT THAN OURS. A TOYOTA COMPANY REP CLAIMED NEVER TO HAVE HEARD OF IT HAPPENING ON ANY CAR BEFORE 2010. I ASKED IF THERE WERE A DATABASE OF SUCH ISSUES SHE COULD CHECK TO SEE IF OTHER OWNERS HAD ANYTHING SIMILAR HAPPEN BEFORE 2010, BUT SHE DECLINED TO DO SO. I BELIEVE SHE CLAIMED THAT THE COMPANY MAINTAINED NO SUCH DATABASE. ALL I REMEMBER FOR SURE IS THAT SHE PROJECTED NO INCLINATION TO FOLLOW UP, APPEARING TO TREAT IT AS A ONE-OFF PROBLEM THAT DIDN'T MERIT FURTHER ATTENTION. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS PASSING A TRUCK, WITH A CAR CLOSE BEHIND CLEARLY INTENDING TO PASS ME AFTER I HAD GOTTEN AROUND THE TRUCK. I SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT I HAD NO ACCELERATION AND THAT THE DASH LIGHTS HAD COME ON. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO STEER ACROSS THE DRIVING LANE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER WITHOUT BEING HIT AS MY SPEED DROPPED. I TRIED STARTING THE CAR AGAIN; IT STARTED UP AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED SO WE CONTINUED, CAREFULLY, ON OUR WAY. THAT SPECIFIC PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE TWO INCIDENTS (ONE EARLIER THAT DAY AND ONE THE DAY BEFORE) WHEN PUSHING 'START' FAILED TO START THE ENGINE. DASH LIGHTS AND AIR CONDITIONER FAN CAME ON, BUT ENGINE DID NOT START UNTIL THE 'START' BUTTON HAD BEEN PUSHED TWICE MORE. IN BOTH OF THESE CASES THE TEMPERATURE WAS ALSO IN THE 90S.
THE CAR HAS AN 11.9 GALLON GAS TANK AND I CANT PUT IN MORE THEN 7 GALLONS OF GAS AT A TIME. WHEN PUMPING...IF THE PUMPS RUSHES THE GAS INTO THE TANK TOO QUICKLY...I CANT GET ANY GAS BECAUSE THE PUMP WILL TURN OFF AS IF THE TANK IS COMPLETELY FULL WHEN ITS EMPTY. I HAVE HAD SENSORS CHECKED AND ITS THE BLADDER OF THE GAS TANK.
TOYOTA HAS EXCLUDED THE PRIUS IN ADVISING THEIR OWNER ABOUT EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION BUT INCLUDED THE CAMRY, COROLLA, SEQOIUA ETC. IT BURNS/NOT LEAKS 1 QUART EVERY 1,000MILES. NO WARNING LIGHT ON THE PRIUS JUST HAVE TO KEEP CHECKING IT. DEALER SAYS NO FIX EXCEPT EVENTUALLY PUT IN A NEW ENGINE. ON THE PRIUS CHAT FORUM MANY PEOPLE HAVE NOTED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO ASSISTANCE FROM TOYOTA.
AT 93,000 MILES MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BEGAN RAPIDLY CONSUMING OIL. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE AND I NEEDED TO CARRY OIL WITH ME AND CHECK LEVEL EVERY TIME I FILL UP MY GAS TANK. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS ACCORDING TO MY DEALER AND WEB RESEARCH.
BURNING OIL AND CLOGGED INJECTORS AT 90000 MILES DESPITE HAVE ALL OIL CHANGES AT PRESCRIBED INTERVALS AS ADVISED BY TOYOTA. AN ENGINE REBUILD AND INJECTOR REPLACEMENT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED. NO SATISFACTION FROM TOYOTA DESPITE KNOWN PROBLEM.
CAR SUDDENLY LOSES POWER AND HAZARDE WARNING,BRKAES,ABS LIGHTS COME ON. TOOK TO DEALER,THEY CHARGED $600 AND DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION GOING 45 MPH.
MY CAR HAD PERFORMED PERFECTLY FOR THE FIRST 100K MILES. BY 112K MILES THE OIL WAS VERY LOW, NO OIL ON THE DIP STICK WHEN I WENT IN TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGE. YET THERE WAS NO LOW OIL LIGHT OR ENGINE LIGHT TO WARN ME. THIS WAS A COMPLETE SURPRISE TO ME SINCE THAT HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND THE USAGE HAD BEEN AT A NORMAL RATE UP UNTIL THEN. I BEGAN LOOKING FOR LEAKS, ETC WITH NO EVIDENCE OF THAT. THE NEXT SERVICE IT WAS AGAIN EXTREMELY LOW. I NOW KNOW THAT I MUST ADD ABOUT A QUART EVERY 1000 MILES TO KEEP UP WITH ITS DEMAND. THE DEALER AND OTHER MECHANICS ALL TELL ME THE ONLY SOLUTION IS A NEW ENGINE. SOME SUGGEST A USED OR REBUILT ONE THOUGH THEY ARE STILL MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THIS PROBLEM, THEY SAY, WILL ONLY GET WORSE, CLOGGING THE SPARK PLUGS AND POTENTIALLY HAVING AN INCIDENT OF ENGINE STALLING OR SHUTTING TOTALLY DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE FIXING. I PAID $1500 FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE FIRST 100K MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS, AND NOW, IT SEEMS, I AM STUCK WITH A TRUE LEMON! THIS CAR SHOULD BE LISTED WITH THE OTHERS THAT TOYOTA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED HAVE ENGINE DEFECTS BECAUSE IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I WILL NEVER BY ANOTHER TOYOTA UNLESS THEY WARRANTY THIS ISSUE. THE WORD IS GETTING OUT. THEY DO NOT TAKE CARE OF THEIR DEFECT PROBLEMS. SO MUCH FOR THE VERY UNDESERVED REPUTATION OF MANY TOYOTA MODELS!
I WAS DRIVING MY PRIUS UP MAUNA KEA SUMMIT ACCESS ROAD ON THE BIG ISLAND (HAWAII) TODAY WHEN THE POWER STALLED. I WAS ALREADY AT THE VISITOR CENTER (ELV. 9,000 FT) SO I STEERED OFF THE ROAD, SAT FOR AWHILE, THEN STARTED UP THE CAR. IT STARTED UP BUT THE POWER SEEMED OFF AND ON. I TURNED AROUND AND HEADED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN. BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ACCESS ROAD, I HAD NO POWER AND A RED TRIANGLE LIGHT WITH AN EXCLAMATION MARK CAME ON. OF COURSE I WAS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, 40 MILES FROM ANY HOMES, SO I COASTED 43 MILES DOWN THE MOUNTAIN UNTIL I REACHED HILO TOWN AND STEERED INTO A GAS STATION. I ASKED THE OWNER IF I COULD LEAVE THE PRIUS THERE WHILE I CALLED A TOW TRUCK. SHE SAID I HAD TO MOVE MY PRIUS INTO A PARKING STALL. I THOUGHT MAYBE WE COULD PUSH IT INTO THE STALL. I TRIED STARTING THE CAR AND THE POWER CAME ON, JUST LIKE THAT. BUT THE RED TRIANGLE LIGHT WITH EXCLAMATION MARK DIDN'T GO AWAY. I MANAGED TO DRIVE HOME, WHICH WAS ONLY A FEW MILES AWAY. THE PRIUS SEEMS TO BE DRIVING FINE NOW, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE RED TRIANGLE LIGHT, BUT I KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG.
WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE OR DRIVE, IT POPS BACK INTO NEUTRAL - EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN CONSISTENTLY. FOR EXAMPLE, I DROVE IT TO THE STORE AND IT WAS FINE. WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE STORE TO DRIVE HOME, IT HAD THE ISSUE ALL THE WAY HOME. I HAD TO HOLD THE GEAR SHIFTER IN DRIVE THE ENTIRE TIME TO MAKE IT HOME OR IT WOULD GO INTO NEUTRAL BY ITSELF. I DIDN'T HAVE A CAR CRASH BUT THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED ONE IF I WASN'T PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO IT.
ENGINE COMPRESSION CATASTROPHICALLY FAILS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 2000 MILES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLANT CONTROL VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT BECAME LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
AFTER A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AT 149,706 MILES, MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS BEGAN USING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL, ABOUT 1 QUART EVERY 1,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW (I BOUGHT IT NEW IN JANUARY 2008) AND HAVE HAD NEARLY ALL THE REQUIRED SERVICE DONE BY A REGISTERED, LICENSED MECHANIC IN MIDDLETOWN, CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS WHERE I LIVE. I DISCOVERED THE EXCESSIVE OIL USE WHEN I NEXT HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT ABOUT 155,000 MILES.
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE PARTS REPLACED IN VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, IT APPEARED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE COOLANT CONTROL VALVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS DUE TO THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE COOLANT CONTROL VALVE.
Showing 1–20 of 34 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026