2008 Toyota Prius Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems
- 157
- 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 157 stored complaint records:
- 32 indicate a crash
- 5 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- traction control · 18 records
- anti lock · 16 records
- loss braking · 13 records
- braking system · 11 records
- light comes · 9 records
- control light · 9 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 90 |
| 30–60k mi | 38 |
| 60–100k mi | 3 |
| 150–400k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Visibility
I own a 2008 toyota prius. Given the already many complaints, i would like to add my comments on this prius. First this car is very unsafe due to poor visibility. You can not see out of this car. Second, i had the headlight failures that these cars have. I have had both headlights replaced in this car. The headlights would go out while driving in the dark. Many times i had to turn the switch off and back on while…
ODI 10304923
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
In my 2008 prius, when i am braking and go over a bump, the anti-lock braking system kicks in. However, when it does, it feels like the brakes disengage for a second and the car speeds up. I feel like i am losing control of the car for a few seconds. *tr
ODI 10332108
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I have a 2008 toyota prius and live in st. Paul, mn. In late december following a snow and then ice storm i was driving on city streets. As i was coming up to an intersection with a stop sign, i applied the brakes and nothing happened. The anti-lock brakes did not engage at all. I pressed harder and nothing happened. I avoided an accident by making a sharp right hand turn and missing the car which i was about to hit…
ODI 10306550
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I own a 2008 toyota prius. After reading a report about possible braking problems with this auto, i wanted someone to be aware that this is also happening with the 2008 prius and not just the 2010 prius. I have experience several times when i hit a small pothole or even a speed bump, that there is a problem with a momentary loss of braking capability. This has not resulted in any accident or injury, but very scary…
ODI 10305763
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I was driving approximately 25mph. A fire engine entered the intersection ahead of me without warning. I applied the brakes immediately, but they locked up and i slid on ice. I could not stop and hit the fire engine. My vehicle was totaled and i was found at fault for the accident. *tr
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10305290
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
My 2008 toyota prius has experienced the same braking problems described in recent media releases. My 2005 prius also had the same problem, but i've since sold it. When driving over a slippery surface (ice, a wet sewer cover or painted crosswalk line) and needing to brake - when i first apply the brake it begins to stop, then the car suddenly speeds up again before continuing to brake. I've learned to keep my…
ODI 10306593
Electronic Stability Control · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Traction Control System
I drive a black 2008 toyota prius and after reading the news reports, i think there might be similar braking issues with my vehicle. The condition definitely does not happen very often, but i would say at least 5-10 times over the 23 months (march 08 - present) that i have had the vehicle. With the brake pedal applied after going over a rough spot or pothole in the road, it felt like the car was skidding or sliding.…
ODI 10305369
Electronic Stability Control · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
When braking, if a pothole or bump in the road is hit, the car seemingly jerks forward/accelerates for a split second. *tr
ODI 10305102
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
My 2008 toyota prius has experienced multiple incidents in which the brakes do not kick in for a second or so when trying to brake going over rough roads. The anti-lock brake light comes on the dashboard, but the brakes themselves do not begin to slow down the car for a second or so. *tr
ODI 10308097
Exterior Lighting · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2008 toyota prius. Brakes seems to "lose hold" when driving at slow speeds and hitting a bump in the road. The loss of braking seems to only last for a fraction of a second but is very disconcerting. Also, driver's side headlamp kept malfunctioning, going off periodically when driving. Dealer could not replicate problem in shop, so stated there was no problem. Took car back three additional times for same issue.…
ODI 10307850
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Momentary brake failure on 2008 toyota prius. So far the brakes appeared to fail for a fraction of a second on three occasions. In all three instances this happened when i was going over a defect in the pavement (not a pothole, just a rough section of paving). *tr
ODI 10316558
Control Unit/Module · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I own and operate a logistics company in southern maine. Part of our fleet is three 2008 toyota prius'. In reading the description of your 2010 prius brake failure investigation, i can say for absolute sure that this same problem exists in the 2008 model year. In all three of our prius', on several occasions, i have experienced this problem. We aren't known for having the most wonderful roads in the northeast and we…
ODI 10306087
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
When trying to brake at slow speeds for very bumpy, rough or pot holed road, the brake pedal goes dead for a very short instant. It feels like there is no brake pedal at all. Your not sure if you lost your brakes or what. It is like it skips a beat or something. It must be when the car is in the traditional braking mode versus re-gen mode. This has happened about 10 times over 2 years. No accident. It just makes you…
ODI 10305191
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Toyota prius 2008 seems like it releases brake or the brake doesn't work when driving over a bump, pothole, or wet roads., although brake is applied. Feels like car jumps or slips. A light indicator comes on when this occurs. It is a orange light indicating car is slipping it has occurred several times over the year. Took it to the toyota dealer and explained what happened, but was told it was my driving and could…
ODI 10306221
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
When going over bumps it fells like the brakes stop working. It almost feels like the vehicle accelerates. *tr
ODI 10306617
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Prius brake problem as described in media recently has happened to me twice. Brakes were applied and braking was delayed for at least one full second or longer and vehicle felt like it was actually accelerating. *tr
ODI 10305780
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Vehicle Speed Control
Vehicle did not stop as expected in stop and go traffic. I bumped the car in front of me in the morning. And then on the way home i almost rear ended another car. This never happened before or since. I thought something was wrong with me that would make my timing be so off that i would hit another car! I told the dealer about it and they said it was probably "brake fade". I disagreed and stopped driving the car…
Crash reported
ODI 10319962
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2008 toyota prius - the car had strange acceleration issues and would act like it was going over potholes when the road was smooth. The abs would engage when the roads were dry, even at slow speeds. I was driving approximately 15 mph, looking for a parking space. I saw one, applied pressure to the brake pedal, and my car lurched sideways, to the right. I thought my axle had broken. I got out and saw that i had hit…
ODI 10305283
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. While parking the vehicle, the brakes failed. As a consequence, he crashed into a fence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. Since september 29, 2009 the dealer has had possession of the vehicle, but they haven't identified the cause of the failure. He filed case #0910101726 with the manufacturer. The vehicle identification number was unavailable. The failure mileage 7,800.
Crash reported
ODI 10288685
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I have noticed a seeming problem with my 2008 toyota prius. If i am braking when i happen to go over a bump in the road, the brakes seem like they "let up", so that it feels like instead of braking, the car is accelerating. Occasionally, the light will come on the dash that indicates a slippery road, so i think it may have something to do with the anti-lock brakes? It just doesn't seem right, and i'm curious if…
ODI 10329481
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2008 prius hybrid. Brakes failed at low speed on september 19, resulting in a collision with an on-coming car. I was pulling out of a parking lot very slowly when i observed a car making a right turn into the street i was attempting to enter. I immediately applied the brake, with absolutely no response. No one was injured because it was a very slow speed impact. I have consequently read of other drivers' exact same…
Crash reported
ODI 10284913
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I have a 2008 prius and on three occasions while driving at slow speeds when i went to apply the brakes they just locked up on me and sent me lunging forward. Thank god i was wearing a seat belt. When i complained about this to the dealer they said they told me to take the floor mats out. Now i come to find out this morning that they have a problem with the brake systems on the prius but after investigating this…
ODI 10305896
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Toyota prius 2008. I bought the car as used fleet car in august 2009. The first time i drove over uneven roads, specifically manhole covers on a slight down grade, the slip light came on and the car felt as if it were sliding without gripping the road over the cover. I continued to have that same feeling when trying to stop on uneven road conditions, specifically metal manhole covers. I mentioned this to the dealer…
ODI 10306286
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
On my 2008 toyota prius, the brake actuator and brake regulator failed first in november 2008-- car was less than 6 months old. In about august 2009, chirping front end noise returned somewhat intermittently-- noise has gotten to the point that it happens repeatedly every time the car is driven. Took car to toyota dealership to be diagnosed yesterday (10/17/09) and they have determined that it is the brake actuator…
ODI 10288827
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
The brakes on my 2008 toyota prius disengaged for a second or two while attempting to stop on a road that was bumpy *cn
ODI 10307649
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2008 Toyota Prius.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.