2008 Toyota Prius Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 18about this part
- Share
- 1%of 1,497 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 53,475miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 18 complaints about the steering of the 2008 Toyota Prius, 1% of the 1,497 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 53,475 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“There was a popping noise in my steering wheel and then I had no movement in my tires. My steering wheel just spins round and round but my tires will not move I was driving down the street and I had no control of my car. So I believe it has something to do with the steering shaft or suspension.”
NHTSA complaint #11192607, filed 2019-03, 14,400 miles“My 2008 Toyota Prius shut off while I was driving on the road I could've involved in big accident if I was on a highway the way it shutdown without any warning sign. It just suddenly stopped”
NHTSA complaint #11289134, filed 2019-12, 150,000 miles“I was traveling northbound on the saw mill river parkway. Exited on the northbound taconic state parkway ramp. After crossing the taconic state parkwat overpass. My 2008 Toyota Prius (without any input from my part) turned left and accelerated onto the grassy area. Even though made multiple attempts at correcting my direction by turning the car to the right and to stop the car, neither the steering inputs or engaging the brakes had any effect on the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10781917, filed 2015-10, 18 miles“I was already driving (highway) for over 30 minutes this morning (24 sept 2018) and exited to the city street. After making a right turn (about a minute after the turn and now on a straight road) I momentarily lost control of steering - the car just moved into the opposite flow of traffic and I slowed down and try to control it and I swayed both ways before I was stable again. (luckily there were only a few cars on both sides of traffic) it happened so fast (2-3 seconds max) and while a warning light came on the dashboard and an audible sound - I was not able to see what it was. …”
NHTSA complaint #11130928, filed 2018-09, 30 miles“I was driving my Prius with 130,000 miles last night in a residential neighborhood featuring a counterclockwise,(left-hand) moderate curve. The circle ended at an intersection where I was to make a right turn. I turned my steering to the right to cancel the counterclockwise trajectory, but my front wheels seemed to be locked in the left turning motion. I slammed the brakes, but could not stop the car from climbing the curb and sideswiping a tree, causing my driver's side front wheel to be shoved backward towards the driver door in the wheel frame. …”
NHTSA complaint #10668150, filed 2014-12, 130,500 milesRelated recalls
- 12V537000Nov 14, 2012Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 5, 2003, through March 30, 2009. The affected vehicles have a steering…Covers: Toyota Prius 2004–2009
Related service bulletins
- 10182983Oct 12, 2020TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first…
- 10168537Oct 21, 2019TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ? Difficulty to pair the phone. ? Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first…
- 10133857Feb 25, 2013The vehicle will not start or ready-on and the steering wheel lock is engaged so that the steering wheel may only be turned very little from side-to-side.
- 10062035Feb 25, 2013Summary to be provided on a future date.
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 5% |
| 2017 | 7 | 8% |
| 2016 | 2 | 1% |
| 2015 | 3 | 2% |
| 2014 | 8 | 4% |
| 2013 | 8 | 2% |
| 2012 | 13 | 3% |
| 2011 | 7 | 1% |
| 2010 | 30 | 1% |
| 2009 | 13 | 3% |
| 2008 | 18 | 1% |
| 2007 | 34 | 2% |
| 2006 | 22 | 2% |
| 2005 | 39 | 4% |
| 2004 | 10 | 2% |
| 2003 | 39 | 39% |
| 2002 | 80 | 48% |
| 2001 | 45 | 27% |
Other parts of the 2008 Toyota Prius
579 complaintsBrakes
390 complaintsElectrical system
235 complaintsVehicle speed control
156 complaintsOther or unknown
92 complaintsBody and structure
68 complaintsFuel system
55 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
54 complaintsEngine
49 complaintsElectronic stability control
43 complaintsAir bags
41 complaintsEngine cooling
16 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Toyota Prius
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology