Flimsy Rear Spoiler?

billshadow00 · 08-09-2009, 03:24 AM

I now have all of 300 miles on my Prius, so I'm still being a bit gentle with her. I noticed today that when I press down on the rear spoiler to close the hatch, it doesn't feel very sturdy. Of course, I use the hand holds to pull the hatch most of the way down, but for the last few inches, I tend to control the slamming of the hatch by putting my hand on the spoiler. It sure feels like that spoiler might not last as long as I would have hoped. Anyone else feel the same way?

Bill

NovaStu · 08-09-2009, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billshadow00

... It sure feels like that spoiler might not last as long as I would have hoped. Anyone else feel the same way?

Bill

I carefully opened the hatch in mine the other day while I was parked in my garage with the garage door opened. I was very careful to lift it the last few inches by hand to make sure it didn't slam into the garage door mechanism. It came to rest on part of the garage door. When I closed the hatch I noticed a small ding in the plastic where it made contact with the door.

It certainly is not made of a very hard plastic! Perhaps Toyota should be selling a protector for the spoiler similar to the clear appliques they sell for the hatch door sill or the hood of the car.

Stu

RadioZero · 08-09-2009, 08:40 AM

yes, the rear spoiler is flimsy.

cairo94507 · 08-09-2009, 10:05 AM

I have a Gen II and have always closed the hatch by pressing down on the Toyota emblem in the center. Give that a try and see if that helps.

radiocycle · 08-09-2009, 10:17 AM

Yes, I felt the same way.

But after reading a post on here about the little hand-holds inside (I hadn't found them on my own...) I've developed the proper amount of force to just close the hatch securely without slamming it. Slamming doors etc. has always been a pet peeve of mine. And the whole hinge mechanism doesn't seem that robust anyway; I've tried closing it with one hand on one side and it felt like I could tweak it permanently if not careful.

stream · 08-09-2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NovaStu

I carefully opened the hatch in mine the other day while I was parked in my garage with the garage door opened. I was very careful to lift it the last few inches by hand to make sure it didn't slam into the garage door mechanism. It came to rest on part of the garage door. When I closed the hatch I noticed a small ding in the plastic where it made contact with the door.

It certainly is not made of a very hard plastic! Perhaps Toyota should be selling a protector for the spoiler similar to the clear appliques they sell for the hatch door sill or the hood of the car.

Stu

Check this thread out for what I did in my garage to protect the hatch:
Warning--Rear Hatch Opens Very High

RRxing · 08-09-2009, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cairo94507

I have a Gen II and have always closed the hatch by pressing down on the Toyota emblem in the center. Give that a try and see if that helps.

I press down on the spot just above the emblem. Wherever you press, just avoid the spoiler.

stream · 08-09-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billshadow00

I now have all of 300 miles on my Prius, so I'm still being a bit gentle with her. I noticed today that when I press down on the rear spoiler to close the hatch, it doesn't feel very sturdy. Of course, I use the hand holds to pull the hatch most of the way down, but for the last few inches, I tend to control the slamming of the hatch by putting my hand on the spoiler. It sure feels like that spoiler might not last as long as I would have hoped. Anyone else feel the same way?

Bill

The inside handles work great for closing the hatch--grab one and gently pull down until about 3/4 of the way closed, then let go and gravity closes it perfectly--no need to touch the outside surface.

goldfishu · 08-09-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billshadow00

I now have all of 300 miles on my Prius, so I'm still being a bit gentle with her. I noticed today that when I press down on the rear spoiler to close the hatch, it doesn't feel very sturdy. Of course, I use the hand holds to pull the hatch most of the way down, but for the last few inches, I tend to control the slamming of the hatch by putting my hand on the spoiler. It sure feels like that spoiler might not last as long as I would have hoped. Anyone else feel the same way?

Bill

You're right. It is a little flimsy but I've never had to slam the hatch shut. I just pull down on the hand holds to do most of the pulling down and use the license plate for the rest in an efoort to keep the car fingerprint-free.

John-W · 08-09-2009, 12:56 PM

My salesman specifically told me not to close the hatch by the spoiler.

08-09-2009, 03:24 AM	#1
billshadow00 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Highlands Ranch, CO Posts: 16 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 3 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 0	Flimsy Rear Spoiler? I now have all of 300 miles on my Prius, so I'm still being a bit gentle with her. I noticed today that when I press down on the rear spoiler to close the hatch, it doesn't feel very sturdy. Of course, I use the hand holds to pull the hatch most of the way down, but for the last few inches, I tend to control the slamming of the hatch by putting my hand on the spoiler. It sure feels like that spoiler might not last as long as I would have hoped. Anyone else feel the same way? Bill

08-09-2009, 08:40 AM	#3
RadioZero Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Orlando Posts: 140 My Car: 2011 Prius Model: II Package: No Package Thanks: 13 Thanked 38 Times in 19 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Flimsy Rear Spoiler? yes, the rear spoiler is flimsy.

08-09-2009, 10:05 AM	#4
cairo94507 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: San Ramon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 884 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 11 Posts Friends: 2	Re: Flimsy Rear Spoiler? I have a Gen II and have always closed the hatch by pressing down on the Toyota emblem in the center. Give that a try and see if that helps.

08-09-2009, 10:17 AM	#5
radiocycle Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 467 My Car: 2012 Prius Plug-in Model: Plug-in Base Package: No Package Thanks: 444 Thanked 61 Times in 53 Posts Friends: 1	Re: Flimsy Rear Spoiler? Yes, I felt the same way. But after reading a post on here about the little hand-holds inside (I hadn't found them on my own...) I've developed the proper amount of force to just close the hatch securely without slamming it. Slamming doors etc. has always been a pet peeve of mine. And the whole hinge mechanism doesn't seem that robust anyway; I've tried closing it with one hand on one side and it felt like I could tweak it permanently if not careful.

08-09-2009, 12:56 PM	#10
John-W Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 14 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package - CA Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Flimsy Rear Spoiler? My salesman specifically told me not to close the hatch by the spoiler.

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