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 · Exterior Lighting
The right headlight on my 2008 prius went out while driving. I noticed the next morning that it was back on. I figured out that if i turn the light off then on again, it will come back on, for a while. I eventually had it replaced, to the tune of $120 parts and $40 labor. But after a couple of weeks it's doing it again. Not only that, but now the left headlight is doing the same thing. I'm very concerned about…
ODI 10487908
Electrical System
The screen has stopped responding properly. It is mostly the left side of the screen that doesn't respond at all, but at times its the entire screen. This screen is necessary to control the air/heater; telephone, sound, etc. I have seen several complaints all over the internet discussing the exact same problem but yet toyota will not make a recall of the problem equipment. *tr
ODI 10480587
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting
On 09jul2012 4:00 p.m while driving my prius 2008 hybrid, heading home on i15n, the electric power on the vehicle shutdown without any previous warning, or alert. I immediately maneuvered the vehicle to the right shoulder of the highway. Immediately called aaa for a towing into toyota of escondido, located on 231 lincoln parkway, escondido, ca 92026 ph# [redacted]. Today 09/01/2012 - currently experiencing problems…
ODI 10473249
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
My headlights will go out for no reason while i am driving or they will go dim while driving. I have been pulled over by the highway patrol on 2 different occassions because they though i was driving unsafely without 1 working headlight and each time i was able to turn the lights off and then turn them back on and both lights would then work. The highway patrol said that they are becomming aware of this problem…
ODI 10462974
Electrical · Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start unless a particular warning light was cleared by disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. The contact was unsure of what light illuminated. In addition, the vehicle stalled when speeds exceeded 50 mph. The contact also stated that the failure may be due to the engine plug-in battery add-on kit that he personally…
ODI 10495209
Electrical System · Headlights
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the headlights stopped illuminating. The contact mentioned that he was able to turn them back on by engaging the switch several times. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 62,000 and the current mileage was…
ODI 10469021
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
I was leaving a store parking lot when the driver in front of me stopped and told me my driver's side headlight was out. It was getting dark so i had to postpone my plans and go straight home. When i arrived home the headlights were both on, but then on parking in the garage i noticed the passenger side headlight was off. The next morning i drove to my mechanic and the headlights were both on when i left, but on…
ODI 10586359
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Trunk hatch release rubber piece started going soft; it is now melted and completely disintegrated into the latch locking mechanism. *tr
ODI 10627814
Electrical System · Engine
This is in regards to the electrical fuel pump that is already being recalled. I had my vehicle shut off while driving in traffic. I had it towed to the toyota dealership at the time and they replaced the electric water pump, the water pump, and the battery. My invoice came out to $1213. I sent this to toyota for a refund when the recall notice came out. They refunded me a mere $428 (this is for only the electric…
ODI 10567158
Electrical System
When starting the vehicle the dashboard lights that regulate speed, gas level, oil, odometer, etc do not light up. During this time, the odometer reading is also disabled and not calculated. The dashboard area is completely dark. The back up camera is also disabled and the information for mpg, electrical engine also do not work. Took it to the dealer to have the issue checked but the problem could not be recreated.…
ODI 10491730
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
My prius headlights are very erratic and unsafe. While driving, one or the other and sometimes both go off. No bumps or other incidents have occurred. They just go off. By turning the lights off and then back on, they always correct themselves, until the next occurrence, which may be in minutes, or days. This condition is entirely intolerable and is not due to loose connections or bad bulbs or any other cause. It…
ODI 10457916
Electrical System
For several weeks, i've been having intermittent lowering of dashboard lights, or complete lack of them. On this car, that means i suddenly will have no speedometer, no gas gauge, which can be very dangerous (particularly the speedometer!). When i brought it to my mechanic, i was told that this was a common problem, but that toyota had not issued a recall for the part which requires the replacement of the entire…
ODI 10453233
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Both headlights go out without warning, i can turn the headlights back on by turning switch off and then back on. In doing research i have found this is a common defect with the toyota prius years 2006-2009. Why isn't this a recall? When getting an estimate to fix is up to a $1,000. I feel like toyota needs to step up before someone is hurt or dead from an accident pertaining to this issue. *tr
ODI 10499322
Electrical System
My vehicle is having the same problems at described in the toyota warranty enhancement - ztv for the combination meter, where the display panel won't light up when the car is started in the morning. The car will also not power down when the power button is pushed. The car can be driven, but since you can't see the speed, mileage, or fuel levels it's not safe to drive the car. Eventually after several miles of…
ODI 10491518
Electrical System
Vehicle insturment cluster failure. Vehicle will not power down. *tr
ODI 10443246
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
My passenger headlight will sporadically go out. Shutting off and turning back on works, but the light dims and then goes off completely. I don't know how long it's been this way, but it is a recent occurrence. It happens whether the car is parked or in motion- no certain speed causes it to happen. *tr
ODI 10439335
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Rear hatchback locking/unlocking button gummy and inability to unlock truck manually and electrically. Unable to access trunk where emergency/safety equipment located. *tr
ODI 10437303
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Around or just after 40,000 miles the right headlight on my 2008 toyota prius started turning off while driving. Turning the lights off then on corrects the problem -- but this is annoying and dangerous when driving at night. *tr
ODI 10426941
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
INTERMITTENT HEADLAMP FAILURE. *TR
ODI 10443245
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
In august 2011, a princeton, nj, police office stopped me to report that my right headlight was not working. On september 1, 2011, i paid lawrence toyota $281.84 to replace the right side headlight. Later that month, when i drove home, i noticed that the right light was not shinging against the garage door. When i got out of the car, i saw the headlight was not working. Early in october, the front end of the car was…
ODI 10438067
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The headlight on the right side of the car goes out while driving. It comes back on when i turn the headlight off and turn them back on again. The headlight will go off again at different speeds. The headlight may go off multiple times when driving. This is a very large safety concern. *tr
ODI 10654052
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Visibility/Wiper
My headlights turned them self off on any given time either one on a time or both at the same time same thing happens if the highbeams are on day or night to correct this problem temporarily you have to turn the lights on and off quickly and you have no guarantee how long it will stay on i spoke to the toyota corporation and they will not help because my car has 90,000 miles my car is 2008 to fix this problem the…
ODI 10475626
Electrical System
After driving for about 500 miles the car was parked in the garage for two days. When i tried to start the car the 12v battery was dead. I used 3 different batteries to try to start the car. The lights came on on the dash but there was a warning message that there was a problem with the transmission and needed to put the car on a level surface which it already was, and the transmission would not come out of park and…
ODI 10401830
Electrical System · Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
I was driving my 2008 prius on highway and warning light came on. In 2 minutes all power gone and i have had to towed to the dealer. They said, water pump failed and because of that hybrid inverter fried. Car was out of guaranty and there was no recall about water pump. I paid nearly $5.000.00 for water pump and hybrid invertor. I have seen there is a recall about water pump now. Is there any way i can get my money…
ODI 10622179
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Problems started in 2010 driver head light would go off, replaced the relay with no effect, just lived with it would turn the lights off and back on and would then work. Now at 72,500 miles both head lights and all running lights go out while driving! You can't see anything and other drivers can't see you! Very dangerous! Water pump went out should have been covered with a recall a year later but toyota would not…
ODI 10894476