Calling truths here about 2008 lifetime

The gen2 Prius has a good track record. Many have gone over 200k miles without much issue. The only issues that are common and you know will eventually come are:

1. HV battery failure
2. Inverter pump failure
3. Leaking water pump
4. Bad 3 way coolant valve
5. Engine burning oil
6. Possible catalytic converter failure

Other than those issues, there aren't really many things that can break on the Prius. Just your everyday wear and tear items (tires, spark plugs, shocks, brake jobs etc)

If you can DIY some of the work yourself, you should keep the car. If you can't DIY and need dealer assistance for all repairs, then sell before 200k

 

Are you still trouble free? Are you taking care of it? Our 2005 got $1000 of brakes, bearings, water pump and spark plugs last year (at CarX, dealer wanted $3500). HV is starting to act old, but still working fine. Will need tires again. Will get a new 12v in a year or two. Oil. Gas. Do you expect a 9 year old car to be maintenance free? Wish our car was three years younger!

 

you are on a forum where the primary userbase consists of people who want more data on maintenence issues, repair issues, stuff they were told by mechanics, etc. This isn't really a good way to scope the entire prius owning population. The majority of people who come here are to figure out issues with their car...not to praise how great the car is.


With that said, this is still a car..things will break. I think the standard things jc above has states covers the standard maintence plus the prius specific problems...which when you think about it isn't that bad. The biggest thing is the HV battery, but if you can forsee it failing you can buy a decent refurb for not too much and run the car for a tad bit longer.

I'd also like to add the 12v battery to that list, but thats not overtly expensive.

And to note some of those things aren't that often...spark plugs are like once every 100k? miles...not bad at all.

Honestly this is the only car i've seen age gracefully. Driving down the streets here in PA to NY gen 2 prii are pretty common yet. I don't see as many cars from 06.

 

IMO a machine is a machine. That means ALL of them will wear down and eventually components fail. Predicting the longevity of any vehicle is difficult because there are a LOT of different variables. Maintenance commitment and investment, driving styles and habits, pure luck.

My feeling and I think the reality when I bought my Prius was that it was a well designed vehicle, with a reputation for reliability.

It's the year 2017, any you are driving a 2008 vehicle, with 165K. If it fell apart tomorrow, I think a lot of people would say that was a pretty good run. If you are not having any problems? I think you can expect it to go farther. However....

What are you looking for here? A guarantee? Nobody can give that to you. Once a vehicle is past warranty, you get none. Your Prius could go another 100K, with minimal problems, or you could start it tomorrow and find a whole lot of dashboard lights and symbols. With all vehicles the higher the miles, the more chance for a component to break down.

The Prius in this regard isn't any different from any other vehicle. Maybe the singular difference as a Hybrid is the inevitability that the Hybrid Battery will eventually fail.

What could you afford if you changed vehicles? If it's another used vehicle, Hybrid or standard ICE, you would still be facing the reality of an unknown reliability future.
If you are talking about a new vehicle, sure, you get a warranty, and if starting near 0, could expect many miles and years without a major problem.
But...even in this case, people sometimes get the proverbial lemon. So basically...there are NO guarantees.

If you are holding your breath everyday, and fearing a major breakdown, that's bad.
But if you aren't having any major problems? Are otherwise happy with the vehicle...I'd just keep driving it, secure in the knowledge that it is a well built and designed vehicle, but also knowing with ANY machine, there are no guarantees in regards to how long any component will last.

 

I have a 2008 with 150k miles. Never any problems, just recall work and routine changes - synthetic oil every 5k, trans fluid every 60k, plugs every 100k. No oil burning, still original brakes. Looks great and runs nearly like new -takes bumps a little harder, still good mpg and good acceleration. Best car I have ever owned.

 

my 2008 156000 miles lets see..
hv batt rebuilt
invert pump replaced
water pump leaking
3 way valve, not yet
burning oil, just started
converter, not yet
and you forgot brake actuator, replaced
and my jbl amp just crapped out
other then that still getting 48 mpg

 

The data out there shows the Prius as one of the most reliable cars:
10 Most Reliable Cars - Consumer Reports
Toyota Prius - pg.9

Individually people will have problems or will not have problems, so I tend to ignore anecdotal data. One major thing I notice different on Prius forums versus elsewhere is that major problems only very rarely pop up before 100k, and rarely before 150k. Look on other forums and this isn't the case.

With your 08 Prius, it will most likely be very reliable for a few more years. Most of the HV battery failures out there are 04s and 05s at the moment, with rare 06s and very rare 07s popping up, which means in a couple of years the 06s and 07s will have more failures, and in 4 years the 08s and 09s will be having failures. I plan to keep my 09 until about 2020, and then I'll buy a used gen 4 (plan at the moment).

Older used cars have a lower average cost to drive than newer cars, but can be more expensive if they fail. Buying a newer, lower mileage car is like buying insurance - you'll have to choose your own risk level you're willing to take based on your individual situation and tolerance for risk.

I am happy to tolerate a lot of risk in driving a used car, but I could buy a brand new car in cash from my emergency fund if needed.

 

My friend has an 08 Prius he was at 199k last time I looked. Engine runs rough because he uses cheap filters and other small stuff but it still chugs along at 40mpg like nothing.

 

I am a hybrid mechanic an regularly see Prius with over 200,000 miles or more. I've owned Gen 2 Prius with over 200,000 for many years. (2002, 2005, 2006)

That said, you are getting into Hybrid battery replacement territory.
If you keep it to 250,000 miles you will have to replace the hybrid battery. Cost will be $3,000 to $4,000 at the dealer.

 

When we lived in Pa. I had a customer with an 04 Prius. She put 285k mi. on it before she hit a deer and demolished the front end. That made her decision for her to get a new 10 back then. She says she never had any trouble with her 04 just routine maintaince.

 

Trolling? This has to be a joke. Especially "heavy price in any repair"...Actually some of the cheapest repairs out there.

Pinned at the top of the forum are the 100K+ thread, 200K plus thread, and even the 299K plus thread (which has over 50 pages)...You obviously have not read through those links.

I bought mine with 200K on original engine/hybrid battery....it has 207K now and still on original engine/hybrid battery/trans...it is in excellent condition and runs like-new. Only thing I've done is 1 oil change and put a new 12V Optima Battery in it. Never had a check engine light and has not had a single malfunction since I've owned it.

 

If you have a touring model, you might want to keep an eye out for high-intensity discharge (HID) headlight issues. Those are some of the most common issues with 2008 Prii.

Statistics indicate that just over 1% of Prius owners keep their cars for over 200,000 miles. The Longest-Lasting Cars Over 200,000 Miles – 2017 Study Shows SUVs Dominate However, 1% of the 10 million Prii that have been sold is still 100,000 cars, so that's a lot of Prii out there that continue to do well for a very long time and many miles. The more consistent and more comprehensive the maintenance and repair history that came with the car, the more likely it is that the car will last longer.

 

any 10 yr old car has problems

 

Wow those stats are a lot different than what Consumer reports has reported. They listed the Prius as the #1 car-as in most number of cars reported to have 200,000 miles or more.

 

Clark Howard listed the top 10 cars consumer reports sees reporting 200,000 miles or more. Honda's and Toyota's'!

10 cars that will almost certainly last 200,000 miles | Clark Howard

 

In 10 Cars Proven to Get to 200,000 Miles and Beyond - Consumer Reports (subscription may be required), Consumer Reports said the highest percentages of vehicles over 200,000 miles in their annual survey were, in order:

1. Toyota Camry
2. Honda Accord
3. Toyota Prius
4. Honda CR-V
5. Toyota Sienna
6. Honda Civic
7. Toyota Corolla
8. Toyota 4Runner
9. Toyota Highlander
10. Ford F150

The 4Runner, Accord, F150, Camry, Civic, & Prius are on both Consumer Reports and iSeeCars lists, so it's fairly safe to assume those 6 models are likely to last longer than most. I also remember seeing an article about how Prius owners keep their cars longer than most car owners. So all that to say the Prius tends to be a long-lived car.