UPDATE ON MY NON RUNNING 02 PRIUS

baddad457 · 09-29-2007, 09:12 AM

Well I trailered the dead 02 Prius to a dealer that claimed they could fix it. 60 miles away. Been two weeks now and I got a phone call yeasterday with the news. Car needs $8000 worth of parts and still no guarantee it'll be fixed. WHAT A GREAT CAR !!!!!!!!!!! AM I LUCKY OR WHAT ? Toyota offered to "pay for" (which really means they're off the hook for nothing) $5000 of it. They still want me to pay for $2750 of the bill. And STILL can't tell me why the car went belly up in the first place. The last dealer that worked on it, I suspect, was the problem. The dealer working on it now told me the previous dealer sold me a bad battery (that episode cost my $430 to buy and install the battery) Car ran fine for two weeks afterward and then went dead. I'm going to see a lawyer ASAP. Either Toyota's going to pay for more, or they get sued and I start an internet campaign informing the public what a great deal their hybrids are. A car that gets 45 mpg isn't much good when it stays in the shop and runs up billls totalling more than the car's worth. I'd be better off with anything else.

bwilson4web · 09-29-2007, 09:21 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(baddad457 @ Sep 29 2007, 08:12 AM) [snapback]518977[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Well I trailered the dead 02 Prius to a dealer that claimed they could fix it. 60 miles away. Been two weeks now and I got a phone call yeasterday with the news. Car needs $8000 worth of parts and still no guarantee it'll be fixed. WHAT A GREAT CAR !!!!!!!!!!! AM I LUCKY OR WHAT ? Toyota offered to "pay for" (which really means they're off the hook for nothing) $5000 of it. They still want me to pay for $2750 of the bill. And STILL can't tell me why the car went belly up in the first place. The last dealer that worked on it, I suspect, was the problem. The dealer working on it now told me the previous dealer sold me a bad battery (that episode cost my $430 to buy and install the battery) Car ran fine for two weeks afterward and then went dead. I'm going to see a lawyer ASAP. Either Toyota's going to pay for more, or they get sued and I start an internet campaign informing the public what a great deal their hybrids are. A car that gets 45 mpg isn't much good when it stays in the shop and runs up billls totalling more than the car's worth. I'd be better off with anything else.
[/b]

Can you get a listing of all of the error codes or more specific diagnosis? Your lawyer will need this too.

Bob Wilson

lefat1 · 09-29-2007, 01:59 PM

let me get this straight, this is a 6 year old car with likely out of warranty mileage. what makes you think toyota has any liabilities to you for this type of problem. perhaps i'm missing something here

baddad457 · 09-29-2007, 05:11 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lefat1 @ Sep 29 2007, 12:59 PM) [snapback]519104[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

let me get this straight, this is a 6 year old car with likely out of warranty mileage. what makes you think toyota has any liabilities to you for this type of problem. perhaps i'm missing something here

[/b]

Maybe the fact that a dealer worked on it, it ran fine for two weeks, then went dead ? And now needs $8000 worth of parts ? HUH? you think? I can't think of any other cars that last 5 years (it's an 02, now its 07, your math is off) and then are ready for the junkyard after suddenly going dead on you while you're tooling down the road. You buy these things and Toyota's the only choice in repairs and then they try to rape you for more money, you call that a deal? This isn't the only problem this car's had, the electric steerings been worked on several times, the main battery was under recall once before as well. About the only thing that's been nice about it is we've never had to change the brakes after 95K miles.

galaxee · 09-29-2007, 05:54 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(baddad457 @ Sep 29 2007, 05:11 PM) [snapback]519177[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Maybe the fact that a dealer worked on it, it ran fine for two weeks, then went dead ? And now needs $8000 worth of parts ? HUH? you think? I can't think of any other cars that last 5 years (it's an 02, now its 07, your math is off) and then are ready for the junkyard after suddenly going dead on you while you're tooling down the road. You buy these things and Toyota's the only choice in repairs and then they try to rape you for more money, you call that a deal? This isn't the only problem this car's had, the electric steerings been worked on several times, the main battery was under recall once before as well. About the only thing that's been nice about it is we've never had to change the brakes after 95K miles.
[/b]

whoa, calm down there sparky.

first, they changed an aux battery at your initial visit which isn't exactly difficult and had it been the incident that kicked off your issue would have likely happened much sooner than 2 weeks later. unfortunate coincidences do happen in the repair business.

second, they said you needed a fuel tank assy and a computer, yes? what are the new folks saying? parts/labor breakdown? have you looked into doing the computer yourself?

you need to give us a lot more details if you want any help. now if you just want to rant and rave that's fine too but at least make that clear.

**efusco** · 09-29-2007, 06:02 PM

Ya know, $2700 repairs for a 5-6 year old car (2008 model year are coming out now, 2002 started coming out at this time 6 years ago, so the math is ok--and it'll serve you well to be nice to people here if you want them to be nice to you...kinda like kindergarden) of any kind isn't exactly unprecedented. Not that that makes it good or OK, but stuff happens even with a highly reliable vehicle like a Toyota.

We had to pay almost $3000 for a 5 year old Ford Windstar a couple years ago, stuff happens. Warranties are just that...they're limited. You knew the limits of the warranty when you purchased the car....if it wasn't suitable then you've noone to blame but yourself and the guy holding the gun to your head to buy.

Now, as Galaxee said, we need a lot more info to help you. If the original battery replacement was, indeed, just the 12v battery then there really isn't likely to be any connection b/w that and the current problems. More likely it's just coincidental that the two problems on this 5-6 year old car occured close to the same time.

Let us know exactly what needs repaired and replaced...if you're getting $8000 worth of new stuff for only $2700 I think you should be dancing in the streets, you'll have a like-new car for a pretty good price.

David Beale · 09-29-2007, 06:17 PM

And at any rate if the dealer DID mess it up, it isn't Toyota. The dealers are independent business operations. They are not owned or directly controlled by Toyota. So I don't know how you think you can sue Toyota. Certainly the dealer may be liable, subject to you proving beyond reasonable doubt it was what they did.

patsparks · 09-29-2007, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Toyota offered to "pay for" (which really means they're off the hook for nothing) $5000 of it.[/b]

And you think GM would offer to pay anything toward a transmission overhaul of a car 2 or 3 years out of warranty? You're dreaming! If $5000 is nothing to you perhaps you could see your way clear to giving me a loan for $5000, I know you wont want it back, after all it's nothing.

Godiva · 09-29-2007, 09:28 PM

If it really does need $8,000 worth of repairs and Toyota is willing to pick up $5,000 of it, I'd say that's not bad. Having to pay $2,750 after 6 years isn't bad if it's out of warranty. I probably put that much into my Nissan until I was rear ended and it was totaled. Too bad as after all that work it was running really fine. It was a hatchback too. Although I do like the design of the Prius hatchback much better.

I guess you didn't have the extended warranty?

I do. I'm glad.

baddad457 · 09-29-2007, 10:47 PM

Gee, I see ya'll don't mind paying more than a car's worth for repairs on a 5 year old car. Must be nice to be able to throw more money down the drain, I for one can't afford it. Y'all want to remind me again how much money I saved on fuel ? You think that added up to more than an $8000 bill ? And as for the 12V battery that was replaced, that's also toast, the new dealer wants the invoice to be able to show upper management what the other dealer is up to. And it's also likely the cause of the new problems in that $8000 bill. As for the new codes, I haven't a clue as to what's included in that $8000 bill. Gosh I feel so lucky to be saving the environment. I wonder if one of those "green" political action organizations would help out ? And I do feel Toyota should foot moreof the bill, as they've made so much out of the fact that these cars are so reliable in their advertising. Suckering the unsuspecting public into buying these cars then hoping to make even more off the shop time when they crap out before they should. My advice to you all is get rid of the ones you have before you're dragged into where I've been, while they still have resale value.

09-29-2007, 06:02 PM	#6
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 14,228 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 24	Ya know, $2700 repairs for a 5-6 year old car (2008 model year are coming out now, 2002 started coming out at this time 6 years ago, so the math is ok--and it'll serve you well to be nice to people here if you want them to be nice to you...kinda like kindergarden) of any kind isn't exactly unprecedented. Not that that makes it good or OK, but stuff happens even with a highly reliable vehicle like a Toyota. We had to pay almost $3000 for a 5 year old Ford Windstar a couple years ago, stuff happens. Warranties are just that...they're limited. You knew the limits of the warranty when you purchased the car....if it wasn't suitable then you've noone to blame but yourself and the guy holding the gun to your head to buy. Now, as Galaxee said, we need a lot more info to help you. If the original battery replacement was, indeed, just the 12v battery then there really isn't likely to be any connection b/w that and the current problems. More likely it's just coincidental that the two problems on this 5-6 year old car occured close to the same time. Let us know exactly what needs repaired and replaced...if you're getting $8000 worth of new stuff for only $2700 I think you should be dancing in the streets, you'll have a like-new car for a pretty good price. __________________ Evan E. Fusco, MD Seaside 04BC9/OEM EVb/NAV & auto-BT/XM Radio, CAN-View, Shark Fin, BT Stiff. Plate, Skid Plate & Strut Support

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09-29-2007, 09:12 AM	#1
baddad457 Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 11 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Well I trailered the dead 02 Prius to a dealer that claimed they could fix it. 60 miles away. Been two weeks now and I got a phone call yeasterday with the news. Car needs $8000 worth of parts and still no guarantee it'll be fixed. WHAT A GREAT CAR !!!!!!!!!!! AM I LUCKY OR WHAT ? Toyota offered to "pay for" (which really means they're off the hook for nothing) $5000 of it. They still want me to pay for $2750 of the bill. And STILL can't tell me why the car went belly up in the first place. The last dealer that worked on it, I suspect, was the problem. The dealer working on it now told me the previous dealer sold me a bad battery (that episode cost my $430 to buy and install the battery) Car ran fine for two weeks afterward and then went dead. I'm going to see a lawyer ASAP. Either Toyota's going to pay for more, or they get sued and I start an internet campaign informing the public what a great deal their hybrids are. A car that gets 45 mpg isn't much good when it stays in the shop and runs up billls totalling more than the car's worth. I'd be better off with anything else.

09-29-2007, 01:59 PM	#3
lefat1 Fat Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sunny S. Florida Posts: 1,123 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	let me get this straight, this is a 6 year old car with likely out of warranty mileage. what makes you think toyota has any liabilities to you for this type of problem. perhaps i'm missing something here

09-29-2007, 06:17 PM	#7
David Beale Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 1,551 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	And at any rate if the dealer DID mess it up, it isn't Toyota. The dealers are independent business operations. They are not owned or directly controlled by Toyota. So I don't know how you think you can sue Toyota. Certainly the dealer may be liable, subject to you proving beyond reasonable doubt it was what they did.

09-29-2007, 10:47 PM	#10
baddad457 Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 11 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Gee, I see ya'll don't mind paying more than a car's worth for repairs on a 5 year old car. Must be nice to be able to throw more money down the drain, I for one can't afford it. Y'all want to remind me again how much money I saved on fuel ? You think that added up to more than an $8000 bill ? And as for the 12V battery that was replaced, that's also toast, the new dealer wants the invoice to be able to show upper management what the other dealer is up to. And it's also likely the cause of the new problems in that $8000 bill. As for the new codes, I haven't a clue as to what's included in that $8000 bill. Gosh I feel so lucky to be saving the environment. I wonder if one of those "green" political action organizations would help out ? And I do feel Toyota should foot moreof the bill, as they've made so much out of the fact that these cars are so reliable in their advertising. Suckering the unsuspecting public into buying these cars then hoping to make even more off the shop time when they crap out before they should. My advice to you all is get rid of the ones you have before you're dragged into where I've been, while they still have resale value.