Had recall service and now mileage is down 15mpg

First thing, check your tire pressures.

 

These recalls should not have affected your mpg at all.

 

Perhaps the trip computer has been reset if the 12v was disconnected?

 

It means that the average you built up (including long and short runs) may have been lost. Now it has been reset, it may just be calculating the average mpg on the journeys you've done since the service. If your last 20,000 miles were of highway trips getting 50 mpg and the last 200 miles after service was only short journeys in traffic, then the average would be about 35 mpg.

 

The MPG average doesn't reset at each fill-up, only the mile counter next to it. You have to press the "reset" button on the MFD (or disconnect the 12v) to reset the MPG average. Your previous MPG average included all the driving you've done since the "reset" on the display was pressed or the 12v was disconnected or installed. You're likely starting fresh now, with possibly colder exterior temps, maybe different routes?

 

it is amazing how many complaints there are here, after dealer service. they didn't dink around with the alignment after the steering shaft service, did they?

 

i would suggest resetting the average mpg's again just to be sure.

 

Do you have the proper turbulence in the inverter reservoir?

 

Bisco is right. Seen so many reports of tanked mileage after dealer service. I experienced it first hand myself after my pedal recall.

Maybe the techs leave the doors open while there servicing the car and the 12 volt is discharged really low and the Inverter struggles to charger it. Couple that with an urban stop and go and you'll have very poor mpg. I did not think of that when I picked it up as I would have checked the 12 volt on the mfd to confirm.
I will next time.

I do know the only way to get it out of its funky mood is to hit the reset button on the mfd consumption screen and take it for a nice 10 mile hypermile drive. That may also charge the 12 volt too.

 

I did not notice any drop when I had the recalls done on our Prius (steering and inverter pump). I wonder if those who are experiencing the difficulties such as this were due to the tech pulling the battery connections and maybe even the service plug. It is well known that when you disconnect the 12 volt, the ECU's get reset which can affect MPG for a short time.

If it were only one or two individuals posting this type of a post, I would think it was just a fluke. But as has been said there have been several incidents such as this being reported.

Without knowing exactly what the tech's are doing, we can really only speculate. But it is alarming to see things such as this being reported as often as it has recently.

 

1. Raise up the rear axle, release the parking brake, and try spinning each rear tire by hand to see if you can feel any resistance.
2. Have the wheel alignment checked again by a shop that specializes in this service. Maybe the front toe-in is excessive, causing unnecessary frictional losses. The front toe-in should be exactly 0 degrees.