Shopping For A Used Toyota Prius - Avoid These Troublesome Years

Have 2008 Prius with 300000 replaced headlights 2-3 times on each side change oil 5000 miles interval have to add 1 quart at 2500.
Small price for a 12 year old car. Trying to make 400000

I drive a 2011 Prius with 175,000 miles on odo
Have had since new. Zero oil consumption. Zero headlight issues. Zero issues to speak of.

I would choose an early Prius over the plague any day

i have two Prius models a 2011 Prius 2 and a 2012 Prius V. I gave the 2011 to my son when i bought the 2012. The 2011 has 125000 miles on it and has been a wonderful car. The 2012 though is POS, Toyota recalled a million 2012 Prius for brake issues but excluded the Prius V. Low and behold after my batteries went out at 65,000 miles (fortunately covered by warranty) I started to get four different brake idiot lights coming up at 68,000 miles. I was told it would cost $4600 to repair and they wouldn't guarantee that it would'nt return. I traded it in from a BMW

My wife and I both have 2005 Prius'. I have 215k miles and she has 160k. Aside from the frequent tire changes and my car now using a quart of oil every few thousand miles (not the same for my wife's car, which possibly reflects my more aggressive driving style), the cars have been wonderful. At 210k, I needed a hybrid water pump and over the 15 years two starter batteries, one recent brake change and one headlight. Small prices to pay for cars that will likely go another 100k+ miles.

I have a 2010 Prius with 113k on it currently. To my knowledge I don't have the oil problem but now I feel like I need to check it. I did have the headlight problem but mine was covered under a recall that was done in the last two years that replaced the wiring harness for them and I haven't had an issue since. I would suggest anyone with the headlight issue look and see if their car is part of that recall. Even if not, those lights are very easy to replace yourself. I love this car and I'm driving it until it implodes.

Own a 2010 Prius. Have replaced headlights multiple times. Burning a quart of oil about every 3 to 4 thousand miles. Car has 205,000 miles and is still going strong. Changed one front wheel bearing and have to replace one rear bearing. Biggest expense I've had was a fuel pump that failed around 180,000 miles. Love my car

I have a 2010 Prius with 98K miles and have never experienced a single problem. I get the oil changed every 10k miles and don't even bother to check the oil between oil changes. It's the most trouble free car I have ever owned. Odd that you say to avoid this model year.

I drive with my headlights on day and night. I purchased a 2008 Prius new and the headlights burned out at about 40,000 miles. After going through a couple of sets of cheap China bulbs I purchased Sylvania bulbs. it's been over a hundred thousand miles and my Sylvania bulbs are still burning bright.

I had an 06 and 07 Prius’ that I bought used both with about 145,000 miles. They both started using oil around 200,000 miles. These take conventional oil and I started adding Lucas Oil treatment at each oil change and they went from a quart every 1000 miles to 1 qt between 5000 mile oil changes. Both cars are doing well and now have about 260,000 on each. My only real issue with these cars is the 07 has had three rear wheel bearings go out and the 06 had one replaced. One failure happened on a long 1400 mile trip and created a very dangerous driving experience. The mechanic couldn’t believe the wheel didn’t come off. Just have them checked when the tires are rotated. These cars are still in the family and I haven’t had any other issues. They are great cars.

My 2004 Prius has two problems. The lights started burning out at about 180,000 miles. I have to have them replaced a lot now. My son began putting in the cheaper headlights. That is bad, because they do not broadcast out enough to give me good front headlight vision. That is a safety issue for me. Wish Toyota had an alert signal that warned when lights go out. One day I was stopped by a cop after a headlight burned out. He said none of my cars lights were working, not a one, they had all burned out! 2 months earlier I had gone in for an oil change, and all my lights were checked and working. Driving without lights cost me a $300 ticket, plus $600 more for lost points and 3 years of increased car insurance costs = $900! Another problem, right from the beginning, is the acceleration from a break situation on wet or icy conditions. The road condition reader hiccups and spins in this weather setting, it's very disconcerting. I would not trust this car in rainy or snowy conditions. Fortunately I live in dry sunny CA, so I do not experience this problem often. But, when I do, it gives me great anxiety.

You state two seperate problems with one complaint each. Dumb. I have 2 Prius', 2007 and 2012. No problems...EVER. Get real. Prius' are some the best cars built on the planet....all years.

I own a 2009 Prius and Ive had it since 2010 and 160K miles later, My Perseus, my prius' name, has had a good life. I've experienced the headlight issue and that's it. If anyone has a suggestion on the headlight situation, I'm all ears. I've had to replace my lights at least 6 times in the past 2 years!

I owned a 2007 Prius which developed a serious oil consumption issue after 100k miles. I started adding Bar's Leaks engine oil additive. It seemed to start reducing the consumption, but unfortunately the car was totaled a few months later, so I wasn't able to determine how fully effective the additive could be. Great car, and it saved my life in the accident. Give Bar's Leaks a try.

I owmed 2010 pruis and it ran fine till 50k then I had to add a quart every 1000 mile, it was so annoying , finally I recked the car and lost it for ever.
I will not buy any pruis anymore, my prefrred vehicle now is Honda accord.

I had a 2001 corolla and have still 2006 Prius both had and have the Oil consumption issue no permanent resolution just keep topping the oil and the 2006 Prius also has the heat lamp issue no mechanic has been able to give a permanent resolution. I just turn it On and Off and it will be Ok anywhere from 30 mins to 2 hours other than that my 2006 Prius with. 200k plus miles purrs like a kitten and runs like a Cheetah.

Another common issue is with 2007 and 2011 Prius model is the MFD(Multi function display). The touch screen loose its capabilities and no amount of press the screen will budge. Had to replace the MFD in 2007 and change the digitizer screen over the LCD panel.

I owned a 2006, 2009 and 2010. 2006 had no issues, got hit and it was totalled. The 2009 was using oil at 200k traded it in on the 2010. Nothing but issues with the 2010. Hybrid battery had to be replaced four times, head gasket blew and I just junked it. Done with Prius' now.

I have a 2007 prius that I bought new. It was a great car with absolutely no problems until about the 90k mark and then the oil consumption issue happened. Currently the other problem at about 105k is the catalytic converter which I assumed was from burning oil. I have to add 4 quarts in between 5k mile oil changes. Still, it is the best car I have ever owned.

My 2012 Prius had three headlights burn out within a year and so I just went out and bought an aftermarket LED headlight system and have never had a problem since. Headlights would have been like 55 watts and these LEDs only take 35 watts.

I bought a used 2007, from a friend with low mileage in 2012 or 2013. It's now over 105K, only problems I've had are the battery fails in an odd way, when driving up a parking ramp. It has happened twice.

It's frightening, with the siren going, & all lights flashing. I believe that it is the accessory battery, which was recently replaced. Once I turn the car off, the lights go off quickly. The mechanics have no answer.

I just made a purchase of an Insight as my main car. I love this Prius though!

I would suggest avoiding a 2010 Prius - besides the above problems the brake actuator/booster is a "voluntary" recall by Toyota for up to 150,000 miles.(My car has 153,000). So I have to pay over $2000 for that, then the part that Toyota has to replace it won't work with your master cylinder, so you have to replace that - another $1000.Luckily the dealer is helping me a little with labor, but the Toyota will do nothing.

2013 still has the light issues (my ex-husband owned a 2010 and there has been zero improvement that I can tell between those years). I replaced the passenger headlight yesterday for the second time this year. I have been through easily twice as many headlights in the five years I have owned this car as I did in the 16 years that I owned my Civic.