I've got a 2002 Prius, purchased new in June 2002, 112,000 miles, that the dealer is now telling me it will cost $10,500 to fix. (Edmunds judges the car to be worth less than $10,000, so I question the wisdom of having it repaired.) What the repair folks are saying is that the transmission fluid and coolant somehow leaked internally, got comingled, and both the transaxle and the inverter have been ruined as a result. They also say that "the hoses got swollen" due to having the fluids mingled, but all of this is "internal" and no one has any idea how or why it happened. I've read enough to know that I am not the only one who has suffered a failed transaxle and inverter in a first-generation Prius. Has anyone else ever been told that it was the result of this fluid comingling problem? We also own a 2006 hybrid Highlander, so this situation is upsetting for several reasons. Any other guidance from anyone?
I have not heard of a fluid leak as being the reason for a transaxle failure. This is unfortunate; I agree it would not be worth spending that much money to repair an old car. If you can find an independent shop willing to work on your car, you could buy a salvage transaxle & inverter for substantially less. However you bear the risk if the parts are bad...
