2008 Toyota Prius Service Brakes, Electric Problems
- 77
- 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 77 stored complaint records:
- 14 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- same problem · 9 records
- slow down · 8 records
- brake pedal · 7 records
- traction control · 6 records
- applied brakes · 5 records
- feels like · 5 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 49 |
| 30–60k mi | 16 |
| 60–100k mi | 1 |
| 150–400k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Service Brakes, Electric
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…
Crash reported
ODI 10352924
Service Brakes, Electric
I have a 2008 toyota prius, and repeatedly experience the "brake drop-out" problem that has been discussed on numerous prius-related websites. (see, for example, http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-technical-discussion/80218-traction-control-disabling-brakes-over-bumps.html, or http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-hybrid-news/75647-toyotas-next-page-ranking-nightmare-prius-brakes-4.html, among others). I also…
ODI 10343395
Service Brakes, Electric
I was driving a rented toyota prius 2008 hybrid electric on april 8th in mississauga ontario and met with three vehicles collision. On a solid green signal, a min van coming from east, opposite direction cut off the oncoming traffic from west. First car slammed the brakes and did not hit the wrongful mini van. Second car hit the first car. I rear ended second car. I was in safe distance and applied brakes. This car…
Crash reported
ODI 10329215
Service Brakes, Electric · Vehicle Speed Control
When hitting small bumps travelling at speeds of 25-50mph (such as bumps before bridges) the abs will activate and the pedals go loose. It seems the car can not be controlled for about 3/4 of a second once this occurs. Luckily i have never been rounding a turn or approaching stopped traffic when this occurs or i would not have been able to stop. I had one close call where the brakes seemed to lag before kicking in,…
ODI 10321701
Service Brakes, Electric · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I have a 2008 toyota prius that we purchased new in april of 08. On march 19th i was driving in heavy stop and go traffic on a street with construction panels on parts of surface. I was leaving a car length in front of me. When the car ahead stopped, i applied the brakes and nothing happened. The car kept going and crashed into the rear end of the car ahead. No one hurt but damage to bumper and hood of my car. Took…
Crash reported
ODI 10322419
Service Brakes, Electric
When braking on slippery surface-the abs kicks in- it feels as though the brakes disengage and the car speeds up slightly. *tr
ODI 10330643
Service Brakes, Electric
2008 toyota prius increases speed for 1 sec when starting to brake. This issue has occurred a few times per calendar year since i bought the car brand new in july of 2008. *tr
ODI 10316698
Service Brakes, Electric
I am experiencing a feeling that the brakes on my 2008 prius seem to disengage when i go over a bump and sometimes when i am braking somewhat abruptly. The uncomfortable feeling that the car is not going to stop and actually feels as if it is accelerating only lasts momentarily- but it is a scary feeling. The car was checked by the toyota dealership from whom it was purchased. They assured me that it was a common…
ODI 10331782
Service Brakes, Electric
I own a 2008 toyota prius. When we drive over a bump/pothole it feels as if the brakes fail for approx. A second and a half or so. And the vehicle lurches forward. It is a very unsettling feeling. It has happened several times. *tr
ODI 10319138
Service Brakes, Electric
I own a 2008 toyota prius and since i received the car. I noticed that the anti skid system is set way to sensitive. Driving over rough road or loose road and applying brakes to stop the anti skid usually kicks in and the car just continues to go forward. This is the only car i have ever drove that acts this way. My brother has the same make, year , and model and has the same problem. I do think toyota has a problem…
ODI 10311133
Service Brakes, Electric · Traction Control System · Vehicle Speed Control
Most recent failure was a few days ago but this has been a problem since i purchased the 2008 prius in march of 08--- i thought it was a quirk in the car --- something that just naturally happened when i would go over a pot hole or bumps in the road --- the car would lurch forward --- i had no control over the car --- no brakes --- i didn't realize that this was not a "natural" response until i heard the description…
ODI 10310612
Service Brakes, Electric
My 2008 prius, may have had a braking problem similar to what i have read about. I have not seen a 2008 included in the news, but my experience sounds very similar to what others have been reporting. While driving to work on snow packed roads i was making a turn into the business park where i work. The corner was going normally until i hit the drainage dip in the intersection. At this time i feel that i lost all…
Crash reported
ODI 10312936
Service Brakes, Electric
When i am slowing down and applying the brake on my toyota prius and there is a bump or defect in the road i get a feeling of being on ice. A feeling of a lack of control. I was always aware of this but i never mentioned it when having my vehicle serviced. *cn
ODI 10307622
Service Brakes, Electric
The issue that has been reported on toyota prius brakes failing to work on bumpy roads extends beyond the 2010 model year. I own a 2008 prius and know another person as well who have experienced the exact same problem with our cars when braking on bumpy roads. The toyota complaint line does not answer anymore due to the volume of calls (says the message), so i am reporting it here.
ODI 10307541
Electronic Stability Control · Service Brakes, Electric · Traction Control System
I own a 2008 toyota prius. I've noticed that when i run over a bump or a pothole on the road, the car seems to accelerate or jolt forward. It happens while i brake to a stop sign and run over a bump or pothole. It has also happened while letting go of the gas pedal but not stepping on the brake. Usually when this occurs the light for the traction control engages as if it detects a skid, even though there is no skid.…
ODI 10307094
Service Brakes, Electric
Another 2008 prius owner here attesting to the brake problems. Just one half of a mile from my home i encounter the perfect one two combination that demonstrates the defect. There is a slightly recessed man hole cover very close to a slight ripple in the asphalt near a "t" intersection. While braking, if i allow my right wheels to drop into the man hole cover and the left wheels to cross the ripple immediately…
ODI 10306582
Service Brakes, Electric
My car has the same problem that the 2010 prius has and i wanted to make sure that toyota looks beyond just the 2010 model year. Whenever i brake as i hit a pothole or bump in the road, the car seems to speed up just a bit before the brakes begin working. This has happened since i have owned the car and i thought it was just part of how the car worked. I haven't had an accident because of this, but there have been a…
ODI 10306574
Service Brakes, Electric
Last night while driving home in light rain on a smooth,straight road a very loud alarm began to sound and a red "brake" light lit up on the instrument panel and the brakes felt like they were failing. The steering also became very stiff. The alarm did not stop until i had pulled over and used the emergency brake to stop and turned the engine off completely. I took the car to the dealership where i was told that it…
ODI 10306782
Service Brakes, Electric
I own a 2008 toyota prius. I have experienced the braking issues that have been attributed to the 2010 prius. When going over a bump or other uneven road surface and while braking, the car has a short surge. I have experienced this problem since owning the car. *tr
ODI 10306201
Power Train · Service Brakes, Electric
I own a 2008 toyota prius which surges ahead when i am braking under certain conditions: wet, uneven surfaces, and bumpy roads. It is scary because i nearly hit someone at a stop sign and i feel out of control when it does this. On average, happens 1-2x week. It happens when my foot is off the gas pedal and i am under 20 mph. It seems like a computer error and not accelerator related. *tr
ODI 10305589
Service Brakes, Electric
The brakes fail to work immediately and/or the car speed surges temporarily when braking on a bumpy surface, such as going over a pot hole. This started happening soon after i started driving the car and happens on a regular basis - the most recent being yesterday. At first, the short loss of control of vehicle speed concerned me, but i have come to expect it now when going over rough road at slow speeds. I started…
ODI 10306282
Service Brakes, Electric
My 2008 prius, which i bought brand new with only 4 miles on it from longo toyota in california, has been experiencing the following brake issue: everyday while driving on pacific coast highway near manhattan beach, i will hit a pothole while braking, noticing my yellow traction control light flash on my dash board three times, and then my car will surge forward. This happens in the same general area everytime, and…
ODI 10305961
Service Brakes, Electric
The brakes of my toyota prius seem to have intermittent "grabbing and delaying" problems. The most frequent problem is that the braking system seems to apply extra pressure when slowing at low speeds causing the car to jerk slightly. Less frequently the brakes can seem to "go out" for a short time after hitting a bump or pot hole. If the road is wet this seems to make the problem worse. Approximate incident date is…
ODI 10305419
Service Brakes, Electric
I own a 2008 toyota prius. There have been numerous occasions that the brakes on my car have not worked properly. The last time was on pavement that was wet, trying to stop for a red light on a downhill road. Luckily the car in front of me went through the red light or i would have hit it. The other times have been near my home, i live on a dirt road, many of the roads are unpaved and uneven dirt roads in my…
ODI 10307775
Service Brakes, Electric
Toyota prius 2008: when driving at slow speed and braking, if i hit a small bump (like manhole cover), my vehicle skid warning light comes on and it feels like the car temporarily stops braking for about a second and then brake re-engages. This has happened off and on for over a year. I reported it to the dealer when i first experienced it and they checked computer and could find no evidence of a problem.
ODI 10307353
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2008 Toyota Prius.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.