2008 TOYOTA PRIUS — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 1,484 complaints · 4 recalls
Most-reported system: EXTERIOR LIGHTING (553 complaints · 37.3%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 151
  • Fires 6
  • Injuries 71
  • Deaths 7
Compare with 2007 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution EXTERIOR LIGHTING appears in 553 of 1,484 owner complaints (37.3%) in this vehicle snapshot. EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 553 complaints, 37.3% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 553 · 37.3% · 1 crash reports SERVICE BRAKES: 315 complaints, 21.2% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 315 · 21.2% · 45 crash reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 127 complaints, 8.6% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 127 · 8.6% · 45 crash reports 2 fire reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 114 complaints, 7.7% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 114 · 7.7% · 2 crash reports 1 fire reports STRUCTURE: 52 complaints, 3.5% of reports STRUCTURE 52 · 3.5% · 5 crash reports 1 fire reports POWER TRAIN: 49 complaints, 3.3% of reports POWER TRAIN 49 · 3.3% · 3 crash reports ENGINE: 45 complaints, 3.0% of reports ENGINE 45 · 3.0% · 3 crash reports 2 fire reports FUEL SYSTEM: 40 complaints, 2.7% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 40 · 2.7% · 3 crash reports AIR BAGS: 32 complaints, 2.2% of reports AIR BAGS 32 · 2.2% · 26 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 464 complaints, 31.3% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 464 · 31.3% · 68 crash reports 2 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 553 37.3% 1 crashes · 0 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 315 21.2% 45 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 127 8.6% 45 crashes · 2 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 114 7.7% 2 crashes · 1 fires
STRUCTURE 52 3.5% 5 crashes · 1 fires
POWER TRAIN 49 3.3% 3 crashes · 0 fires
ENGINE 45 3.0% 3 crashes · 2 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 40 2.7% 3 crashes · 0 fires
AIR BAGS 32 2.2% 26 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 464 31.3% 68 crashes · 2 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2007; the first recall shown was reported in Oct 2009. 2007-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2008-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2008-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2009-Q1: 16 owner reports 16 2009-Q2: 24 owner reports 24 2009-Q3: 42 owner reports 42 2009-Q4: 61 owner reports 61 2010-Q1: 322 owner reports 322 2010-Q2: 65 owner reports 65 2010-Q3: 48 owner reports 48 2010-Q4: 38 owner reports 38 2011-Q1: 35 owner reports 35 2011-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2011-Q3: 14 owner reports 14 2011-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2012-Q1: 17 owner reports 17 2012-Q2: 21 owner reports 21 2012-Q3: 21 owner reports 21 2012-Q4: 33 owner reports 33 2013-Q1: 26 owner reports 26 2013-Q2: 19 owner reports 19 2013-Q3: 19 owner reports 19 2013-Q4: 25 owner reports 25 2014-Q1: 27 owner reports 27 2014-Q2: 20 owner reports 20 2014-Q3: 32 owner reports 32 2014-Q4: 30 owner reports 30 2015-Q1: 22 owner reports 22 2015-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2015-Q3: 22 owner reports 22 2015-Q4: 25 owner reports 25 2016-Q1: 18 owner reports 18 2016-Q2: 18 owner reports 18 2016-Q3: 20 owner reports 20 2016-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2017-Q1: 23 owner reports 23 2017-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2017-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 2017-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2018-Q1: 25 owner reports 25 2018-Q2: 23 owner reports 23 2018-Q3: 22 owner reports 22 2018-Q4: 16 owner reports 16 2019-Q1: 19 owner reports 19 2019-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2019-Q3: 14 owner reports 14 2019-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2020-Q1: 11 owner reports 11 2020-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 2020-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q1: 14 owner reports 14 2021-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2021-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2021-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2022-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2022-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2022-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2023-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2024-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2024-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2024-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2025-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2025-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2025-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2026-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 Owner reports Oct 2007 Apr 2026 Recall campaign 09V388000 ◆ Recall campaign 09V388000 Recall campaign 10V036000 ◆ Recall campaign 10V036000 Recall campaign 12V536000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V536000 Recall campaign 12V537000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V537000 Investigation DP13001 ● Investigation DP13001 Investigation DP22005 ● Investigation DP22005
  • Campaign 09V388000 was reported 423 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 10V036000 was reported 790 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2007-Q4 Owner reports 1
2008-Q1 Owner reports 2
2008-Q2 Owner reports 6
2008-Q3 Owner reports 8
2008-Q4 Owner reports 13
2009-Q1 Owner reports 16
2009-Q2 Owner reports 24
2009-Q3 Owner reports 42
2009-Q4 Owner reports 61
2010-Q1 Owner reports 322
2010-Q2 Owner reports 65
2010-Q3 Owner reports 48
2010-Q4 Owner reports 38
2011-Q1 Owner reports 35
2011-Q2 Owner reports 17
2011-Q3 Owner reports 14
2011-Q4 Owner reports 14
2012-Q1 Owner reports 17
2012-Q2 Owner reports 21
2012-Q3 Owner reports 21
2012-Q4 Owner reports 33
2013-Q1 Owner reports 26
2013-Q2 Owner reports 19
2013-Q3 Owner reports 19
2013-Q4 Owner reports 25
2014-Q1 Owner reports 27
2014-Q2 Owner reports 20
2014-Q3 Owner reports 32
2014-Q4 Owner reports 30
2015-Q1 Owner reports 22
2015-Q2 Owner reports 13
2015-Q3 Owner reports 22
2015-Q4 Owner reports 25
2016-Q1 Owner reports 18
2016-Q2 Owner reports 18
2016-Q3 Owner reports 20
2016-Q4 Owner reports 13
2017-Q1 Owner reports 23
2017-Q2 Owner reports 10
2017-Q3 Owner reports 13
2017-Q4 Owner reports 14
2018-Q1 Owner reports 25
2018-Q2 Owner reports 23
2018-Q3 Owner reports 22
2018-Q4 Owner reports 16
2019-Q1 Owner reports 19
2019-Q2 Owner reports 12
2019-Q3 Owner reports 14
2019-Q4 Owner reports 14
2020-Q1 Owner reports 11
2020-Q2 Owner reports 2
2020-Q3 Owner reports 13
2020-Q4 Owner reports 2
2021-Q1 Owner reports 14
2021-Q2 Owner reports 6
2021-Q3 Owner reports 3
2021-Q4 Owner reports 2
2022-Q1 Owner reports 6
2022-Q2 Owner reports 6
2022-Q3 Owner reports 4
2022-Q4 Owner reports 1
2023-Q1 Owner reports 1
2023-Q2 Owner reports 1
2023-Q3 Owner reports 3
2023-Q4 Owner reports 2
2024-Q1 Owner reports 5
2024-Q2 Owner reports 4
2024-Q3 Owner reports 5
2024-Q4 Owner reports 3
2025-Q1 Owner reports 4
2025-Q2 Owner reports 2
2025-Q3 Owner reports 7
2025-Q4 Owner reports 1
2026-Q1 Owner reports 2
2026-Q2 Owner reports 2
Recall campaign 1 09V388000
Recall campaign 1 10V036000
Recall campaign 1 12V536000
Recall campaign 1 12V537000
Defect investigation 1 DP13001
Defect investigation 1 DP22005
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (4)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 09V388000

    Report date
    Component:
    VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
    Consequence:
    A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
    Remedy:
    TOYOTA FILED AN AMENDED DEFECT REPORT ON NOVEMBER 25, 2009, STATING THAT DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND, ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ALTER THE SHAPE OF THE FLOOR SURFACE UNDER THE PEDAL. THESE CHANGES ADDRESS THE RISK OF PEDAL ENTRAPMENT DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLOOR MAT. REDESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDALS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BEGINNING IN APRIL 2010 AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY MODIFIED PEDAL WITH THE NEW PEDAL IF DESIRED. ALSO, DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY GENUINE TOYOTA OR LEXUS ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS WITH REDESIGNED ALL-WEATHER MATS, OR REPURCHASE THE PREVIOUS MATS FROM OWNERS WHO DO NOT WANT THE NEW ONES. ADDITIONALLY, SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS WILL BE INSTALLED ON CAMRY, AVALON AND LEXUS ES 350, IS 350 AND IS 250 MODELS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE OVERRIDES THE ACCELERATOR IN THE EVENT BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE APPLIED. TOYOTA WILL BEGIN MAILING LETTERS TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331, LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 10V036000

    Report date
    Component:
    EQUIPMENT
    Consequence:
    A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 12V536000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    The corroded coil wire may break and the water pump could stop. The corroded coil wire could cause a short circuit between coil wires and a possible open fuse, creating a stall-like condition of the hybrid system while the vehicle is being driven. This may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will replace the electric water pump, free of charge. The recall began on January 17, 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 12V537000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the extension shaft and replace it if it is one with insufficient hardness, free of charge. The recall began during December 2012. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 1,484 complaints · page 1 of 60

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources