2008 Toyota Prius Reliability Review [ 2009 , 2007 ]

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Reliability

The 2008 Toyota Prius reliability score of 9.0 out of 10 is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS).

Toyota provides a basic warranty for the first three years or 36,000 miles. The 2008 Prius also has a powertrain warranty for five years or 60,000 miles and corrosion protection for the first five years, regardless of mileage. Potential buyers should be aware of the reliability concerns unique to hybrid vehicles -- even after eight years on the road, the technology is new and constantly evolving. As a partial firewall against this possibility, Prius warrantees cover many components of the hybrid drivetrain for eight years or 100,000 miles.

• In naming the Prius its 2008 Top Pick among Green Cars, Consumer Reports said "the Prius has been very reliable."
• I've returned to the Toyota Prius four years after my initial review, and it's still more than viable despite its age and all the other hybrid models that have come since -- including a hybrid Camry. Its excellent reliability certainly hasn't hurt." -- Cars.com
• "So far, it seems Toyota's reputation for reliability and durability is holding true for the Prius. Early concerns about long-term durability have turned out to be mostly unfounded. However, potential buyers of a used Prius should take extra care during the research process. As the Toyota Prius is quite complex, future repairs and part replacements, though rare, could be quite expensive." -- Edmunds
• "It also carries the Toyota promise of a long and trouble free life at a reasonable price point." -- MarketWatch

J.D.Power Ratings

Initial Quality Ratings

These scores come from consumer ratings of their vehicles after the first few months of ownership.

Feature	2008	2007
Overall Quality - Mechanical
Powertrain Quality - Mechanical
Body & Interior Quality - Mechanical
Features & Accessories Quality - Mechanical
Overall Quality - Design
Powertrain Quality - Design
Body & Interior Quality - Design
Features & Accessories Quality - Design

Dependability Ratings

These scores come from consumer ratings of their vehicles after three years of ownership.

Feature	2004	2003
Overall Dependability
Powertrain Dependability
Feature & Accessory Dependability
Body & Interior Dependability

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J.D. Power and Associates Power Circles Ratings do not include all information used to determine J.D. Power and Associates awards. See JDPower.com for more information on Power Circles Ratings. Since driving styles and conditions are unique to each owner, your experience may vary. Furthermore, any Power Circle Ratings based on historic data of past years studies may also reflect different results if current users were again measured.

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