2008 vs 2009 Toyota Prius

Both years

• HID headlights going out All years

  What to check: Drive with the headlights on for a while and watch for one or both going out, and ask whether bulbs or ballasts have been replaced.

  A published reference reports 28,000 warranty repairs among 216,000 cars with the optional HID headlights, which could shut off without warning. Toyota settled a class action by extending their cover from three years to five, so it has ended. On CarComplaints.com's page for the 2007, an unofficial source, owners report a headlight going out at about 97,650 miles on average, and 25 replaced bulbs.

  A published reference, owners' reports (unofficial)

• Brake actuator All years One source so far

  What to check: Watch for brake, ABS or traction warning lights when starting and on a test drive, and ask whether the brake actuator was replaced.

  Toyota's program ZG1 extended cover for the brake actuator, whose internal faults light brake warning lamps, to ten years or 150,000 miles from first use, so on these cars it has ended.

  Toyota

• Electric water pump All years

  What to check: Ask whether recall 12V536000 was done, and watch the temperature and warning lights.

  A scratch made in assembly could let the coil wire in the electric water pump corrode and break, stopping the pump or stalling the hybrid system. Jalopnik adds that the inverter's water pump can fail with age.

  NHTSA, Jalopnik

• Steering intermediate shaft All years

  What to check: Ask whether recalls 06V188000 and 12V537000 were done, and feel for play or clunks in the steering.

  Toyota recalled 2004–2006 cars because the steering shaft and sliding yoke could crack, and 2004–2009 cars because the shaft's splines could be too soft and wear until steering failed.

  NHTSA

Both years

• 09V388000 2004–2009

  An unsecured or wrong driver's floor mat can trap the accelerator pedal wide open. NHTSA

• 12V537000 2004–2009

  The splines on the steering intermediate shaft may not be hard enough, and can wear until the steering fails. NHTSA

• 12V536000 2004–2009

  A scratch made in assembly can let the coil wire in the electric water pump corrode and break, stopping the pump or stalling the hybrid system. NHTSA

Both years

Engines

1.5L hybrid A published reference

Transmissions

Planetary power-split (eCVT) A published reference

Drivetrains

Front-wheel drive A published reference

Trims

Standard (2008–2009) Edmunds, Base Edmunds, Touring Edition (2007–2009) Toyota, Edmunds, a published reference

Both years

• Super White 040, 2004–2009 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Classic Silver Metallic 1F7, 2006–2009 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Magnetic Gray Metallic 1G3, 2006–2009 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Black 202, 2004–2009 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Driftwood Pearl 4S2, 2004–2009 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Barcelona Red Metallic 3R3, 2006–2009 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Silver Pine Mica 6U0, 2006–2009 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Seaside Pearl 8S2, 2004–2009 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Spectra Blue Mica 8M6, 2008–2009 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)

Both years

• Sought after: Perhaps the most reliable All years One source so far

  Jalopnik ranks the 2nd gen second of five for reliability, saying there is an argument it is the most reliable Prius of all, and points to one that passed 303,000 miles. Jalopnik