3 Struts leaking?

Jsiegel · 02-11-2008, 12:56 AM

We have a 2005 Prius with 62,000 miles on it. Took it in for the 60k, and the dealer (Kearny Mesa Toyota in San Diego) said that 3 of the 4 struts were leaking oil (?Shock absorbers), and the transmission seal was leaking also. They fixed the latter. The struts leak was found at 61k, just out of warranty, and the dealer quoted us over $1000 to replace all 4. I believe that they really are leaking because there are dots of oil on the floor under the corners of the car.
Now, my wife drives this car. We have owned at least 14 cars in our 30 plus years of driving. I vaguely remember having to replace a shock absorber/strut in a '73 Civic after many mile, but that's it. I have not heard of 3 of 4 leaking at once. Before the comments come, my wife is an average driver, doesn't bottom the car out (at least not more than the other 5 cars the last 15 years driving in the same streets and driveways), so I can't believe that it is her driving.
I have escalated this to the Toyota service line, and they promise a service "case manager" will call me tomorrow. My questions are:
1. Has anybody heard of this problem with this car?
2. How do you suggest I pursue the issue if Toyota does not pay for the repairs?
Thanks in advance,
Jonathan

tfrostydasnowman · 02-11-2008, 11:10 AM

Hey might not be you driving style seems like the roads in San Diego have taken a turn for the worse lately. There are quite a few parts in town where the potholes are more like sink holes, hitting those can't be good for the suspension and they are very difficult to see at night.

icarus · 02-11-2008, 12:04 PM

If you are that close to the end of the warrantee period, I would raise some stink with Toyota. I find it very odd that three have failed at the same time, unless you are pounding the car on bad roads all the time.

Icarus

subarutoo · 02-11-2008, 03:14 PM

Answer No. 1: Not on a Prius, but my Subaru had 2 diagonal leaking struts at about 60,000 or so. It can happen. I replaced all 4.

Answer no. 2: Credit card or check.

galaxee · 02-11-2008, 06:18 PM

it's not a common issue, DH has seen 1 or 2 of these. but not three on the same car at that mileage.

he does question it- he recommends a second opinion. not from a shop that sells struts though! (they will just agree with the first) go to another dealer if you can.

patsparks · 02-11-2008, 07:17 PM

I had 1 noisy strut replaced at 60,000km under warranty right after the warranty had expired due to time. It wasn't leaking.

nwprius · 02-11-2008, 07:50 PM

It used to be quite common for certain dealers to squirt a bit of oil on the shocks and get a repair job. All those leaks, very doubtful!! Take it home and clean the oil off and check it in a few days yourself. Are there any oil spots on the surface under where you park the car? I had a Subaru dealer that each time I took the car in tell me the water pump housing was leaking. No water on my garage floor and no need to refill. Kept the car for two more years and lost no coolant.

tochatihu · 02-11-2008, 11:24 PM

I have been told of leaking Prius struts by a tire installer also. Sometimes, they just say things...Not too hard to confirm that on your own (as mentioned above). If you can't verify the leak, and if your Prius passes the 'bounce test' I would not be in a hurry to replace the dampers.

The KYB aftermarket units are often seem on ebay for <$200 full set. See Galaxee's posts at PC for more info. Not all DIYs are going to want to do this task. What would be a fair labor charge - 2 or 3 hours?

omgitsroy326 · 02-12-2008, 01:17 AM

i used to be in san diego... just graduated from UCSD... there i found a very trustworthy mechanic that you may want to try.

ask for Joey or Adam

858-831-9152.. they don't specialize in Prius but suspension is very straight forward to any other car. Their prices are very reasonable and i have sent many of my friends there.

Very reasonable and very honest... and very hard to find... give it a shot...

it may help, but tell them Roy with the "Celica Alltrac" sent you.... hopefully they remember me... maybe cut you a little deal.. don't bet on it though...

They will walk explain to you step by step what needs to be done and they stand by their quote.

kocho · 02-12-2008, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jsiegel

...
I believe that they really are leaking because there are dots of oil on the floor under the corners of the car....
Jonathan

That must be one serious leak from all three that has developed over time, not over 1K miles.

Pays to look under the car from time to time for these things. I'd go to another dealer first (the easiest thing to do), then go fight Toyota. As I said 1K miles does not break 3 struts at the same time - this is a pre-existing condition that was just discovered now. Does it count? Don't know...

02-11-2008, 12:56 AM	#1
Jsiegel Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 2 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	3 Struts leaking? We have a 2005 Prius with 62,000 miles on it. Took it in for the 60k, and the dealer (Kearny Mesa Toyota in San Diego) said that 3 of the 4 struts were leaking oil (?Shock absorbers), and the transmission seal was leaking also. They fixed the latter. The struts leak was found at 61k, just out of warranty, and the dealer quoted us over $1000 to replace all 4. I believe that they really are leaking because there are dots of oil on the floor under the corners of the car. Now, my wife drives this car. We have owned at least 14 cars in our 30 plus years of driving. I vaguely remember having to replace a shock absorber/strut in a '73 Civic after many mile, but that's it. I have not heard of 3 of 4 leaking at once. Before the comments come, my wife is an average driver, doesn't bottom the car out (at least not more than the other 5 cars the last 15 years driving in the same streets and driveways), so I can't believe that it is her driving. I have escalated this to the Toyota service line, and they promise a service "case manager" will call me tomorrow. My questions are: 1. Has anybody heard of this problem with this car? 2. How do you suggest I pursue the issue if Toyota does not pay for the repairs? Thanks in advance, Jonathan

02-11-2008, 11:10 AM	#2
tfrostydasnowman Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 3 Struts leaking? Hey might not be you driving style seems like the roads in San Diego have taken a turn for the worse lately. There are quite a few parts in town where the potholes are more like sink holes, hitting those can't be good for the suspension and they are very difficult to see at night.

02-11-2008, 12:04 PM	#3
icarus Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: quetico, on/bellingham, wa Posts: 1,215 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 9 Thanked 50 Times in 39 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 3 Struts leaking? If you are that close to the end of the warrantee period, I would raise some stink with Toyota. I find it very odd that three have failed at the same time, unless you are pounding the car on bad roads all the time. Icarus

02-11-2008, 03:14 PM	#4
subarutoo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chatsworth, CA Posts: 1,176 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 3 Struts leaking? Answer No. 1: Not on a Prius, but my Subaru had 2 diagonal leaking struts at about 60,000 or so. It can happen. I replaced all 4. Answer no. 2: Credit card or check.

02-11-2008, 06:18 PM	#5
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,675 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 94 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	Re: 3 Struts leaking? it's not a common issue, DH has seen 1 or 2 of these. but not three on the same car at that mileage. he does question it- he recommends a second opinion. not from a shop that sells struts though! (they will just agree with the first) go to another dealer if you can.

02-11-2008, 07:17 PM	#6
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,223 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 124 Thanked 180 Times in 138 Posts Friends: 33	Re: 3 Struts leaking? I had 1 noisy strut replaced at 60,000km under warranty right after the warranty had expired due to time. It wasn't leaking.

02-11-2008, 07:50 PM	#7
nwprius Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Roy, Washington and Nanaimo, Canada Posts: 147 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 1	Re: 3 Struts leaking? It used to be quite common for certain dealers to squirt a bit of oil on the shocks and get a repair job. All those leaks, very doubtful!! Take it home and clean the oil off and check it in a few days yourself. Are there any oil spots on the surface under where you park the car? I had a Subaru dealer that each time I took the car in tell me the water pump housing was leaking. No water on my garage floor and no need to refill. Kept the car for two more years and lost no coolant. __________________ Bob 2004 superwhite AM#7+Homelink+BAK-TALK+clear bra, traded for 2006 superwhite HG#4+Homelink

02-11-2008, 11:24 PM	#8
tochatihu Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kunming Yunnan China Posts: 2,408 My Car: 2001 Prius Model: Package: Pioneer #1 Thanks: 1 Thanked 38 Times in 38 Posts Friends: 14	Re: 3 Struts leaking? I have been told of leaking Prius struts by a tire installer also. Sometimes, they just say things...Not too hard to confirm that on your own (as mentioned above). If you can't verify the leak, and if your Prius passes the 'bounce test' I would not be in a hurry to replace the dampers. The KYB aftermarket units are often seem on ebay for <$200 full set. See Galaxee's posts at PC for more info. Not all DIYs are going to want to do this task. What would be a fair labor charge - 2 or 3 hours? __________________ DAS Tochatihu, the Hopi hummingbird kachina

02-12-2008, 01:17 AM	#9
omgitsroy326 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 262 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 3 Struts leaking? i used to be in san diego... just graduated from UCSD... there i found a very trustworthy mechanic that you may want to try. ask for Joey or Adam 858-831-9152.. they don't specialize in Prius but suspension is very straight forward to any other car. Their prices are very reasonable and i have sent many of my friends there. Very reasonable and very honest... and very hard to find... give it a shot... it may help, but tell them Roy with the "Celica Alltrac" sent you.... hopefully they remember me... maybe cut you a little deal.. don't bet on it though... They will walk explain to you step by step what needs to be done and they stand by their quote.