Opinion=2008 Prius 111k miles-Is it still a reliable car?

Depends how you define "reliable", doesn't it? Mine starts every day, gets me where I'm going, and then home again.

 

If my UK 2008 Tspirit (top of the range) is anything to go by at 116.6k UK miles, I’d say yes.
Does a 34 mile round trip commute every day, and apart from one 12v battery (2014?) and a rattling water pump at 99k, it’s been delightfully faultless.

I’d wager there’s at the very least up to 200,000 miles of running with that level of care before anything should really go wrong. It may easily cruise beyond that.

Indeed, 300,000 isn’t uncommon on a well treated Prius. As long as you’re not living in Nevada, the HV battery shouldn’t easily succumb to climate induced roasting.

Drive it normally and you could well stretch it to 350k or 400k.


iPad ? Pro

 

Your question can have different answers depending on the car’s situation. I would contend that a 2008 Prius that you own is definitely reliable enough to be worth keeping, especially with the work you put into it.

I’d say it would be a reliable car to buy even if someone else did that work, but that’s more up for debate.

 

2008 is a beast. i would expect 200 - 250k without any major breakdowns

 

If this question was asked 5 years ago with the same mileage, answer would be "this car is very reliable and won't let you down".

Asking the question in 2019, "this car should be reliable and possibly not let you down"

 

Would you buy a new car if everyone said no? I would say less reliable than new but it’s paid for. Get the good AAA towing package and bank your new car money for the future. Figure the battery is gonna go somewhere in the next few years.

 

While the 2G Prius is more reliable than many used cars of similar vintage and odometer reading, it is not likely to be as reliable as a newer Prius with a much lower odometer reading.

Here is my list of possible issues, most of these are not catastrophic:

1. High voltage battery
2. Air conditioning system, whether compressor, evaporator, condenser
3. Catalytic converter
4. Multifunction display
5. Combination meter
6. Front struts/rear shocks

 

+1.

I’d just add the brake actuator to your list.