prius 2010 hybrid batteries dead at 126000km and up on atleast 3 taxis i know of

(Maybe it's because allowing the use of EV mode at any time increases the potential stress on the battery. Or maybe it's because Toyota are cheap bastards. )

The electronics in the Gen III allow for higher current from the battery, and its vents are different. I assume this is why its gen III and not gen II.

Don't think they know of any design flaw. They do whatever warenty they can get away with. This is a maintenance item that they originally missed which is why there is a tsb.

Direction of air flow is from the cabin thru the intake mounted at right rear seat, top. Then it flows over the top of the HV Bats and perhaps a double flow under, not sure on that, anyway to eventually flow out of both large door vents on on right and left sides under bumper cover. The car is very airtight. It's fun having the bumper cover off and watching the vents fly open when the door is closed. Also on a summer day with ducting removed to right side one can feel the flow and heat being driven off the HV Battery. Something over body temp maybe 105 degrees F. :cheer2:

Wish I'd read about securing the fan from spinning when I cleaned mine.It 's working fine at the moment though. We've had 40 degrees c temps here lately.

160,000ks here in Australia.

It is here now too. When the gen3 was released in the UK in Jul 2009 the hybrid warranty was reduced from 100,000 miles to 60,000 miles.

Then we had all the recalls in March 2010 and to try and instill confidence Toyota then increased the gen3 warranty back to 100,000 miles like the older gen2 BUT wouldn't increase it retrospect for the few thousand owners who purchased their car between Jul09 and Mar10.

Either way, the fact that they sought to reduce the warranty indicates a loss of confidence in their product, in the same way Honda only offer a 90,000 mile warranty on their hybrids. Why not make it 100,000 or do they not believe it'll make it?

I'll get my dealers to check my fan at the 70k mile service.

The questions in the TSB don't address hauling around large, hairy, shedding dogs like mine!

If one installs a filter on the intake it's still important to check and clean it frequently so airflow to the HV battery isn't reduced. It just shifts the buildup to a place which is easier to clean.

I noticed it was interesting that Toyota didn't recommend installing a filter. Perhaps this was proved to restrict air flow too much?

Would it not just be easier for dog owners to just clean the fan every 25k miles or so?

No car maker is going to say, "We have a design flaw, therefore you must undertake this special-case hack." They will either design and sell a new part, or design a maintenance procedure.

who will be the first to install one of these coming out of the backseat?

Even simpler, clean the dog!:
Shedding Solutions, Furminator® Deshedding Tool | FURminator®
She actually enjoys it.

I have a 2011 Toyota Auris hybrid (same engine, same battery as the Prius).
HV-battery warranty is 200.000km and/or 8 year, so they seem to be pretty confident about the reliability (in Belgian weather conditions that is...)
(Overall warranty of the vehicle 5 year + 5 year free maintenance)
However, it clearly states that this warranty is NOT applicable for taxi's, driving schools and vehicles used in competitons!

Are you sure this is a manufacturers warranty and not a dealer add on warranty?

I thought the rules had to be the same throughout Europe as over here the manufacturers legally have to accept all usage of the vehicle for the period of the basic warranty (other than racing etc). I have had many parts replaced under the manufacturers warranty and Toyota are fully aware of my vehicle use as a taxi.

If I purchased a brand new Prius today I'd get 160,000km warranty that would apply to my taxi usage also. In fact this is one of the reasons Vauxhall (UK's Opel) offer 100,000 mile (160k km) lifetime warranty for the cars first owner. Taxi drivers and company drivers wanted reassurance that the new Insignia wasn't going to be a financial pita (which is still is, despite the good warranty).

in Belgium its a add on
and in the Netherlands its only 5 years on the battery .... go figure

I don't get it... How will cleaning the dog every 25K miles solve the car problem?

Keith

Geez, some of you guys need to come out to California, land of the 10 year/150k mile battery warranty. (Non-CARB states get 8 years/100k miles, which sounds pretty similar to most other countries.)

^^^
There are about ~7-10 other states that also have the CARB 10 year/150K mile HV battery warranty.

25k on the car or the dog?

Yeah but our 100,000 mile warranty applies to the entire car not just the hybrid or emission system.

You get 150,000 miles hybrid/emission warranty and something like 30,000 mile car warranty.

Now 150,000 mile entire car warranty would be nice

Whichever comes first...