2008 Toyota Prius Electrical System Problems
- 197
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 197 stored complaint records:
- 7 indicate a crash
- 6 indicate injury
- 2 indicate fire
What owners report
- combination meter · 21 records
- both headlights · 13 records
- water pump · 10 records
- instrument panel · 8 records
- rear hatch · 8 records
- come back · 8 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 60 |
| 30–60k mi | 32 |
| 100–150k mi | 31 |
| 150–400k mi | 28 |
| 1–30k mi | 25 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System
Recurring problem, inconsistency in fuel levels at the gas pump. Possible hybrid energy theft from batteries or heating element. Last fill-up at the north conduit mobil with 8 dollars, resulting in a less than a half a tank level, with a quarter tank level before fill up.
ODI 11289616
Electrical System · Unknown Or Other · Visibility/Wiper
The dashboard lights go out, meaning you can no longer see the mph, the fuel, and everything important to drive with gauges. This can happen at anytime, driving or parked, on any street in any weather. Also note, you can no longer shut the car off, unless you hold the start button for 20 seconds. Sometimes the car will still not shut off, it's also sometimes hard to tell if the car is off, because there is no more…
ODI 11277937
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Service Brakes
My car has been having this issue with braking and dashboard lights with 'brakes, abs, vsc. Have taken it to the dealer and have spent thousands of dollars already. Replaced the brake system (pads, drums, etc..), catalytic converter, hybrid battery. Every time i drive out out of the dealer 'all is good' as codes were cleared but a few months after, the lights are on again. These issues have cause are causing my car…
ODI 11258611
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Unknown Or Other
The 2008 prius has a digital display. Sometimes when the vehicle starts up there is no information displayed on the screen. Nothing shows what gear (reverse, neutral, forward) it is in. There is no speedometer display. No odometer display. No fuel level display. At the same time that the dash does not light up, i have noticed there is no backup camera or backup lights when the vehicle is in reverse. In addition to…
ODI 11265944
Electrical System · Unknown Or Other
Ventilation circuit to select inside to outside air has been cyber-terrorised several times. The system is vital to operate securely, as a disabled constituent, in a great metropolis, that has sewage and garbage vapors everywhere. They access the funtion to open the damper to let outside air in suddenly, exposing my respiratory system to inhale waste. I have respiirated. Garbage air pollution, here in new york so…
1 injury
ODI 11244710
Electrical System · Fuel/Propulsion System
The cryptocurrency industry has spawned a frenzy of hybrid battery energy theft. My combination meter spikes and reduces down a deficit in fuel, insight of other vehicles driving close enough to extract power from the rear battery cells. Every time i re-fuel the combination meter re-calibrates fhe fuel and electric level. I lose 5 to 20 percent of that level once it has calibrates, every time.
ODI 11244586
Electrical System
The crank case ventilates randomly into the cabin. The foul stench of motor oil disperses into the cabin intermittently. The ventilator actuator orientates the crank case gases, hazardously contaminating my respiratory system.
ODI 11231032
Electrical System · Vehicle Speed Control
The speedometer does not display when turning on the car. I figured out that by unplugging the battery in the back it would sometime bring it back on. Now it only comes on every once in a while, it's no longer keeping track of miles when not on, as well as the fuel gauge is not keeping track of gas and have ran out twice because it stated half full.
ODI 11235153
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
For the third time i have had to replace my brake light switch, this is a safety issue as it affect how the brake lights work. The break light switch, when malfunctioning prevent or inhibits the vehicle from starting properly. If the switch fails while driving, it can cause problem with the battery regeneration, this is in addition to causing a driving hazard while driving.
ODI 11222270
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The dim headlight only, not the bright, only on the drivers side front goes out 4 or 5 times a year. The front brights are not affected and have never gone out nor has the dim headlight on the passenger side front ever gone out. The car is driven daily usually and on city streets only.
ODI 11230458
Electrical System · Service Brakes
There is a very wildly known issue with the prius 2004-2009 break accentuator assembly. Toyota created an extended warranty for the replacement of this part because they know it is extremely faulty, the warranty has been extended three times since the original in 2004. The last expiration date they set was good until july of 2018. However, since then, there are tons of cars, including mine, where the assembly has…
ODI 11209255
Electrical System · Unknown Or Other
The inside to outside air vent actuators are moving in different directions, venting intake manifold gases into the cabin. Synthetic oil smell in the cabin, via the two front vents.
ODI 11207885
Electrical System
NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS - COMBINATION METER IS BAD
ODI 11184272
Electrical System · Engine
While driving down the road the instrument panel went black. I could not see driving speed or remaining fuel. I drove to toyota dealer and could not shut down the engine upon arrival nor remove my key from the key slot. There are numerous online complaints about "prius instrument cluster not working". Toyota quietly agreed to extend warranty coverage for 9 years from date of first use or until 2013.…
ODI 11180976
Electrical System
Combination meter display not illuminating when the vehicle's ignition is turned 'on' i have a 2008 prius that i maintain regularly at authorized toyota dealers without a miss. Dashboard on toyota prius stops working intermittently. When it fails, one can't know the speed of vehicle, milage, gear (d/r/p/n) etc. This happened couple of times even during middle of drive. When it happens, i can't even stop the car. I…
ODI 11171475
Electrical System
Combination meter failure - went to start car and no response. Looked like an electrical short, nothing on dashboard lit up, nothing worked. Weather had recently turned cold. Online research shows this is a common problem. There's an expired extended warranty: bulletin no.: pol12-05 this should be a recall.
ODI 11162320
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Vehicle Speed Control
For several years our toyota prius has exhibited the following issue: intermittently, and without warning, when you start the car the dashboard does not light. As a consequent, you cannot not see the speed you're driving at, the fuel level of the car, any warnings such as check engine, low tire pressure etc, and you're not able to use a number of other important features such as cruise control. In addition, you are…
ODI 11157078
Electrical System · Service Brakes
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to immediately stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the braking distance was extended. An audible chime was heard while the abs, vsc, brakes, and battery warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brake…
ODI 11302457
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip · Electrical System
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 ([redacted] se, leesburg, va 20175, [redacted]) where it was diagnosed that the anti-lock brake system…
ODI 11129382
Electrical System · Fuel/Propulsion System
This is a ridiculously dangerous car. The push button system for starting is extremely dangerous for kids. My wife loads my three year old in the prius with her keys in her bag. The older son who is five likes cars and jumps in the drivers seat at the base of our driveway on the hill where he can start the car since she is within 10-15 feet of the car.
ODI 11112745
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
Combination meter is defective, light panel, including speedometer & fuel levels go dark, unable to tell speed of vehicle or remaining fuel, multiple incidents, all began (thus far) while vehicle was stationary.
ODI 11101745
Electrical System
BRAKE ACU
ODI 11092601
Electrical System · Vehicle Speed Control
Toyota has acknowledge an issue with its combination meter in the 2004-2009 toyota prius but has not recalled the issue and instead wants payment to fix the problem. Toyota has documented this under the toyota service bulletin t-sb-0172-09: "some 2004-2009 model year prius vehicles may experience an intermittent condition where the combination meter display will not illuminate in cold weather conditions. An updated…
ODI 11105221
Electrical System
Combination meter is failing. U was told by a dealer that toyota had issued a warranty enhancement, instead of a safety recall. Since i am not the original owner i was not notified of the problem and by the time i discovered it, the warranty extension has expired. Toyota refuses to pay for repairs. Instrument panel not working is a safety issue and toyota has to be forced to issue a recall.
ODI 11090880
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
Car stalled completely under high speed acceleration about 70-75mph mph on freeway. Lost all power .
ODI 11138977