2021 Prius Prime Parking Brake

I'm glad you found the problem, but I've gotta' ask: aftermarket tracking device? Say what???

Back in the day when we had LoJack installed in our pricier vehicles they were beyond neat with the installs (we weren't even allowed to see where/how the units were placed).

 

Cleaning up dealership’s mess, and paying them for it? And a tracking device? Lease requirement??

 

Another after market install issue. Why am I not surprised

 

Anti COVID-19 device??? LOL

 

can you get a couple of photos?
Not even to post here, unless you want, more for your own review.

 

Toyota USA should spank ‘em. Sounds like they don’t care though, this being so widespread.

 

I’d suggest returning the car to the selling dealer, either for removal of the device and repairs of any damage to the wire harnesses—or simply for a refund.

If the wiring for the DLC3 (OBD II) connector was involved, and you decide to keep the car, I’d insist on having the dealer provide a current Health Check report from a Toyota Techstream diagnostic system, just to demonstrate that the connector is working properly.

Either way, please report this as a safety-related defect to NHTSA.

I’d make this the dealer’s problem, but see pages 2 and 5–8 of these accessory installation instructions (PDF); that part of the trim panel design is basically the same as on other fourth-generation Prius cars. The Repair Manual (more info) has more complete instructions.

Before working in that area, be sure to disconnect the negative (–) terminal of the auxiliary (12-volt) battery and wait for at least 90 seconds. Disconnecting the battery de-activates the supplemental restraint system, which reduces the risk of serious injury if the driver’s knee airbag were somehow to fire while you’re down there.

 

Wow, sorta self defeating if it's intended to be an anti-theft LoJack-like device. As I said earlier, the install team would not even let us (as owners) see where and how the units were installed in our own cars, lest their "special hiding" places/techniques were known and render them useless.

The whole point is to DISCRETELY track the vehicle. Routinely plonking 'em onto OBD2 ports is like "check here and cut here, theives".

 

So, how did this anti-theft device installation cause the parking brake to malfunction?

 

OK, it was physical obstruction causing the brake mechanism not to engage. I was thinking the OBD2 wires were somehow electronically connected to the brake.

 

i have considered a leaf from time to time...

 

Don’t mess with it; listen to @Elektroingenieur.

 

They might be installing them as soon as the car gets to them for their own protection.

Lojack existed before OBD II was on cars. Even now, their tracking device shouldn't need OBD II access, though they do have a telemetric device that does for monitoring your car, and those that use it.

Just having some tracking device installed on all their inventory could give the dealer a discount on insurance; doesn't matter if it is easy to disable. A Lojack blog post also talks about dealers using them simply for tracking inventory, so there might be other value to it.
Connected Cars and the Dealership Experience - LoJack

Or just to know when to send you a maintenance reminder.

 

I'd likely do the same as you upon seeing the device, but such tracking devices aren't automatically installed here, and weren't even a dealer pushed option here when I got the Sonic in 2013. Some on the Sonic forum were going as far as unplugging the GPS antenna in the car to prevent tracking back then. I wouldn't go that far.

 

Is this James Bond stuff even legal?