Will Our Prius Rust Too?!

all manufacturers cut corners where they feel like they can. if it becomes a big problem, they change strategy. if you want a perfect car that will last forever, look at

 

pick your poison.

 

IIRC the Gen 4 has returned to screws (3) holding the access panel on.

 

Wow.
I would have to wonder how that happened.
That level of rusting, you think would only manifest with some outside contributing factors.

How do you NOT see that coming? And that didn't happen overnight.

Impressive video..and horrible rust problem...BUT...you'd hardly need a frame inspection to determine....that frame needs to be replaced.

 

Other published reports I've seen have shown the leaf spring mounting locations giving way with the axle rotating about! Yeah, that's not good.....

Edit: ahh, I knew I've seen a settlement before. Two years ago, very similar issue: Toyota Recalls 690,000 Tacoma Pickups for Snapping Leaf Springs – News – Car and Driver | Car and Driver Blog

 

Shucks, and I thought that new boats was what they were buying with the $ they made by not replacing rusted parts . . .

 

I started reading the report in our local press - I thought it said it only affected USA built vehicles, so stopped reading, knowing that our Australian PRIUS is built in Japan - are the USA ones imported or locally manufactured?

In reality, anything metallic will rust given enough time. Cars have been notorious in past years. I remember cars in the '60s, with a 1yr warranty would often have visible rust before the warranty expired, corners of doors etc could be bought to weld on. My 3yr old NISSAN in 1980 was riddled with rust. Cars improved in the late '80s, my first car I didn't have any sign of rust in was a 1980 DAIHATSU (Toyota by another name), and since then, most cars have been quite good - but except for maybe a BMW i3 with plastic panels, they will all rust in time. Most will die of other causes first though.

The bodies go through a number of process including dips, as well as being pressed from steel which is more rust resistant than it was in say the '50s etc. Trucks and truck based SUVs are a very different manufacturing process.

Personally, I'm not at all worried.

 

Every Prius is built in Japan.

 

If they're the coarse thread screws, maybe not that bad. They're likely tapping into a nylon receptor. Just take it easy re-installing them, by hand, don't strip the nylon portion. They're hopeless for rusting, so whenever I take that kind out I saturate them with oil before reinstall.

And too (applause): there's NO HINGE, the smaller panel is completely held by screws, comes off completely, and then is reinstalled.

 

We hardly get snow here too. Once in a long while. Winter typically alternates between cold but wet, and below freezing but clear. When the temps start dropping trucks go 'round with a multi-nozzle spray system, leaving lines of brine solution. I refer to them as the "guitar strings". And if there's snow they spread rock salt and/or sand.

Bottom of right/rear shock:



Left/rear trailing arm linkage to body:



Left/rear trailing arm linkage to body:



The way the bolts rust-bloom is something new for me.

 

My other car is a 92 Honda Accord. I expect rust on a 92 but it's still road worthy. Being new to Toyota's I'm pretty disappointed about this. So am I going to have to trade my Toyota after a couple years?

 

I wouldn't worry - it is only trucks and SUVs with old-fashioned chassis.

 

This reminded me of their earlier recall for 2000-2003 Tundras. See Toyota Launches Tundra Frame Replacement Program | Tundra Headquarters Blog

It is interesting that the 2004 model is not covered by either program? I happen to have a 2000 Tundra but it has not had the rust issue.

Why not another recall?