Reliability information on first-gen Prius

[bwilson4web]

You might just subscribe to Consumer Reports. Every year they send a survey and get about 1.3 million responses listing vehicle reliability. It is the single largest pool of vehicle owner responses that I know of.

Bob Wilson

[gnomefact]

Just joined today. Have a 2001 Prius with 185000 miles, so far no major repairs. Just drove it from Minneapolis,Mn to Charlotte,NC all went well. Every now an again the dash lites up with the orange triangle. If I let it sit, it starts fine again. The check engine lite has been on for two years. Giving a false reading that catalytic converter is bad. My previous mechanic said just leave it be. anyone know a trustworthy independent mechanic in Charlotte, NC?

[mkaresh]

Originally Posted by teaf

I have a 2004 Prius. I bought it at 50,000 miles. I now have close to 80,000. I would like to participate in the "reliabilty information on first-gen Pruis". Do I qualify?
teaf

Absolutely.

The key thing with the main survey is that it only collects data going forward. There's a supplemental survey where you can, if you want to, report your earlier experience. Currently first-gen owners can only participate in this supplemental survey, since there aren't enough first-gens signed up to include them in the main survey.

Vehicle reliability research

[mkaresh]

Originally Posted by bwilson4web

You might just subscribe to Consumer Reports. Every year they send a survey and get about 1.3 million responses listing vehicle reliability. It is the single largest pool of vehicle owner responses that I know of.

Bob Wilson

They have the most responses, but their methods are flawed. I discuss this here:

Consumer Reports critique

If they were doing a great job, I wouldn't be conducting this research.

One key difference: their data is always much older than mine. Do you want to know how reliable a car was a year or so ago, when it was a year younger, or how reliable it has been lately?

400 Prii now signed up, but as before most of these are second-gen cars.

Need more first-gens:

Vehicle reliability research

[Prius313]

I have a 2003 since new with 64500 miles. No problems. Is this mileage too low to qualify?
Thanks

[mkaresh]

The research process collects data going forward, so there's no bad time to start.

[Prius313]

No time like the present, thanks!