The 2008 Toyota Prius has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 5,618,841 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1,894 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the exterior lighting. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 6, 2003, through March 30, 2009 and FCHV-adv vehicles manufactured December 12, 2008, through September 13, 2011. During manufacturing, a scratch may have occurred inside of the electrically driven water pump at the coil wire. The…
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.
STEERING12V5370002012-11-14669,705 affected
Defect
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 5, 2003, through March 30, 2009. The affected vehicles have a steering intermediate extension shaft assembly built with metal splines that complete the connection from the steering wheel to the steering gear. These splines may have…
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.
EQUIPMENT10V0360002010-02-03153,418 affected
Defect
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
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.
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.
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…
Complaints by component
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
553
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
228
8crashes2fires8injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
157
32crashes1fires8injuries
SERVICE BRAKES
145
18crashes8injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
142
48crashes1fires24injuries1deaths
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
77
14crashes1injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
50
1crashes1injuries
ENGINE
49
3crashes1fires1injuries
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
43
3crashes
POWER TRAIN
41
3crashes
Total complaints1,894
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Water pump failed after replacement in 2013 with 30k miles, car had only 93k miles when failed again in 2016. The potentiometer part failed, there is corrosion in the part. Was in freeway when it failed. I have reported this to different representatives. I was charged more 1.5k for a replacement…”
“The cruise control was inop, technician said it was a clockspring failure, replaced the clockspring with a new part from walmart, then at times, the airbag failure light would come on, paid a technician to replace the replacement clockspring with an new one and the failure stopped, walmart is…”
“2008 toyota prius gen2 with 139k miles. Abs, brake, parking brake, and traction control lights all illuminated while driving the other day. Potential is losing all electronically assisted braking function in the car. Problem has been confirmed by local independent service center. Independent…”
“Brake pedal became hard and vehicle was difficult to stop. Abs warning light appeared on dashboard. This is a problem that toyota has addressed previously by extending the warranty period to 10 years/150,000 miles. My vehicle has 122,000 miles on it but the 10 year extended warranty has expired. I…”
“Abs failed and mechanic tells me my actuator needs replacement which is a known issue with my generation of prius.”
“Odometer fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 toyota prius. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a direct purchase from the previous owner on august 3, 2025. The contact made other reports with a personal lawyer, the state attorney general's office, and…”
“The abs brake booster/accumulator is going out and this has been a known issue with toyota for years. Mine was purchased used a few years ago and had no issues until recently, as the pump is running more frequently.”
“My name is [xxx] ,I am filing this report on behalf of my daughter [xxx] the driver of the vehicle that involved with the unintended acceleration on the 2009 toyota prius .on a good clear morning on [xxx] . My daughter drove the 2009 toyota prius to work- when she enter to the parking lot at the…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP13001 Opened 2013-02-21 · closed 2020-04-08
Intermediate Steering Shaft Separation
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a January 2013 defect petition requesting that it open an investigation on Model Year (MY) 2004-2009 Toyota Prius vehicles to address a possible manufacturing safety defect related to the steering column intermediate shaft.During the defect petition evaluation, ODI:…
InvestigationDP13001 Opened 2013-02-21 · closed 2020-04-08
Intermediate Steering Shaft Separation
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a January 2013 defect petition requesting that it open an investigation on Model Year (MY) 2004-2009 Toyota Prius vehicles to address a possible manufacturing safety defect related to the steering column intermediate shaft.During the defect petition evaluation, ODI:…
InvestigationDP13001 Opened 2013-02-21 · closed 2020-04-08
Intermediate Steering Shaft Separation
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a January 2013 defect petition requesting that it open an investigation on Model Year (MY) 2004-2009 Toyota Prius vehicles to address a possible manufacturing safety defect related to the steering column intermediate shaft.During the defect petition evaluation, ODI:…
InvestigationDP22005 Opened 2023-01-27 · closed 2023-08-07
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2008 Toyota Prius as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.