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
Lighting on speedometer only works when it is warm outside. I can't tell how fast i'm driving or if i have any gas.happens when vehicle is moving and when stationary.
ODI 11083532
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes
My mother has a 2008 prius that has two serious issues that toyota has acknowledged and even offered to fix under what they call a support program. Sounds great right? Here's the problem. 1. She never received a letter notifying her of the problem and that it needed to be fixed (and only now that the issues have become her issues is she aware there was a recall and 2. Toyota set a time frame to fix these issues…
ODI 11081039
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. While driving approximately 30 mph, the instrument cluster failed. Also, the vehicle became sluggish and stalled. The vehicle was taken to riley toyota ([redacted], jefferson city, mo 65101) where it was diagnosed that the combination meter failed. The vehicle was currently at the dealer to be repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure…
ODI 11073781
Electrical System · Engine
Defective engine required replacement prior to 139k miles (due to cylinder malfunction and excessive oil consumption), at a cost of $3700 for a used one. This has also damaged the catalytic converter, quoted at $900. At 149k miles, the hybrid battery has failed as well, which has a quoted replacement cost of $2400. While slightly outside of warranty, the engine and hybrid battery are both core components that are…
ODI 11127919
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Headlight will unexpectedly turn off, despite working bulb. This happens without warning when driving. Both headlights will work fine for a while and then one will turn off, even though the headlight bulbs are ok. We bought the car used around 2014 and has happened about 4 times a year since then. No other problems with car.
ODI 11076690
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The headlights go dim and /or shut off as i am driving. This problem usually starts with the right headlight shutting off and sometimes both will go dim or shut off completely. Both lights work initially on startup and shine bright at first but immediately dim to a lower level and then as i drive they will dim or the right light will turn off or sometimes both turn off all together. They will come back on if i turn…
ODI 11055281
Electrical System · Support Device/Strut
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. While driving various speeds, the instrument panel failed to illuminate. The contact also stated that the rear hatch button melted. The vehicle was taken to south dade toyota (29330 s dixie hwy, homestead, fl 33033, [redacted]) where it was diagnosed that the wire connections were disconnected. The contact was also informed that the rear hatch button was a manufacturer…
Fire reported
ODI 11111075
Electrical System
The electronic dashboard combination meter (speedometer, fuel gauge, and odometer) is defective and intermittently fails to turn on. The dashboard is blank. We have no ability to discern vehicle speed, fuel level, or number of miles driven. Typically, the display will not turn on when the ignition is started. After several miles of driving, the combination meter eventually turns on. The problem seems to have become…
ODI 11056978
Body · Electrical System · Engine
Toyota prius (2008) - fire after minor accident (battery fire) after a fairly standard rear end collision (25-30 mph), my toyota prius caught fire and burst into flames. I was stopped at a red light on a city street in chicago, il when the accident occurred, my vehicle was not in motion. Within minutes of impact (to right rear of car), the responding police officer saw fire under the car (began in rear) and the fire…
Crash reported · Fire reported · 1 injury
ODI 11040438
Electrical System
2008 toyota prius como meter failure. Combo meter fails in cold weather, creating a dangerous driving condition. Cannot read speed, fuel, climate controls unresponsive. Very unhappy with my toyota prius when they told me it was out of date for the warranty repair. They want $1300 to fix one of their safety violations. There should be a safety recall for this part. My car has had this problem stationary and moving.
ODI 11133470
Electrical System
My display has gone black multiple times. Start the car and there is no display, no rear camera.... A major safety concern i have found out through the toyota forum. So i have to go to the back unplug something from my battery - or my wife or daughter. Not safe by any means!! No recall for this fmvss issue. Unacceptable.
ODI 11030243
Electrical System
I am writing to you about my 2008 toyota prius. ..the dashboard will go completely out while driving on the hwy when this happens you have no complete dashboard and the ignition will not operate. I have reached out to toyota and was told my 9 year warranty is out of date and this my problem. ..very unsafe component to have fail while driving.
ODI 11023989
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The hid headlights go out while driving every couple of months and need to be replaced. This is a known issue to toyota who has made no attempt to fix it. Consumers are being told by dealers that they need a new hid computer at their expense ($1800). It is dangerous to be driving at night and have your headlights go out! The only "fix" besides spending a ton of money on the new computer is to replace the bulbs every…
ODI 11023924
Electrical System
The main display/touch-screen in my toyota prius stopped working while it was parked and the engine was off. The device worked in the morning when, but it would not work that afternoon when i re-started my car. The device also stopped working at that same time. As a result, i am unable to: monitor the hybrid system; access the climate controls (there are some controls on the steering wheel, but, since i cannot see…
ODI 11006777
Electrical System · Engine · Exterior Lighting
I have three major problems with my 2008 prius. #1 the engine intermittently, will not turn off when parking the car. #2 the dash lights also intermittently will not come on, affecting my ability to see how fast i am going on the highway or streets, it also prevents me from seeing how much gas is left in the tank. #3 the outside air and air conditioner, also will not work, intermittently.
ODI 11063356
Electrical System
The main display randomly goes out after starting the car. My prius was at 82,000 miles when the problem began. I contacted the dealer, central florida toyota, who informed me it's a bad euc module that controls the display for speed, fuel, what gear you are in and if your head lights are on. All of those items are extremely important when operating a vehicle and if not working could cause an accident. I contacted…
ODI 11010192
Electrical System
Faulty combination meter, which displays car speed, odometer, fuel level, and turning off the car. Toyota extended their warranty for 9 years but won't fix the known issue anytime past 9 years. Mine failed 9 years 2.5 months. Toyota customer service said that they have replaced a whooping 669,000 combination meters.
ODI 10993466
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Pasdanger headlight goes on and off without cause and at will
ODI 10985540
Electrical System · Fuel/Propulsion System · Steering
When vehicle is turned on, instrument cluster also known as the combination meter, fail to turn on. This issue is very concerning due to the overall computer controlled functions of this vehicle. The speedometer, trip meter, odometer and other functions are not functioning due to the failure of the combination meter. Functions that are considered safety items such as the power brakes, power steering, anti lock brake…
ODI 10978840
Electrical System
Smog check failed because of obd bulb check failure and obdii failure. Service fault codes are u0100 lost communication with ecm/pcm "a" and u0111 lost communication with battery energy control module "a." car only has 60,000 miles.
ODI 10967916
Electrical System · Power Train
Inverter water pump replaced at 75000 miles under recall and failure. Same pump failed again at 146600 miles. Replacement pump lasted less miles than original. Pump design or manufacture is not adequate for service. Diagnosis was pump seized during expressway driving (65 mph). Did not cause an immediate stoppage but vsc warning caused reduced controllability.
ODI 10967347
Electrical System
Dash lights showing speed, fuel level and odometer stop functioning intermittently. So far it happened once on start up after a cold night. Dash lights came back on later in the day. Vehicle was not driven, though everything else seemed to work ok.
ODI 10967435
Air Bags · Electrical System · Vehicle Speed Control
The vehicle combination meter sporadically will not turn on which prevents the display of the speed of the car. During this condition, the fuel economy will not display, the car may not be powered off by normal procedure, and the fuel gauge, drive train mode indicator, and odometer are not visible. This has occurred for the past 2 years, primarily during cold weather, but also during warm weather, and i have a video…
ODI 10985436
Electrical System
Car runs but dashboard lights fail to illuminate when it is cold outside. This is a widespread problem with 2004-2009 2nd gen prius as evidenced by pervasive internet comments by owners experiencing this problem. The problem is toyota used an overly weak capacitor for a combination meter circuit so when it is cold insufficient electricity is available to illuminate critical-safety-related dashboard lights, including…
ODI 11061279
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Two problems 1. In cold or cooler weather, my dash does not display. After sometimes 1 hour, it will suddenly turn on. Also, when the dash does not display the car does not turn off, unless i hold the start button for a long time. Also the rear view camera does not work. Also my smart key does not start the car, unless inserted. 2. Sometimes my headlights and running lights do not work. It always happens in an…
ODI 11048412