Reliability information on first-gen Prius

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by mkaresh, May 20, 2008.

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  1. mkaresh

    mkaresh Member

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    Thanks to the help of this forum, including a sticky thread, in the main forum, I've been able to provide reliability information on the second-gen Prius for some time.

    However, I haven't been able to get nearly as many owners of the first-gen involved, so I haven't been able to provide information on these cars.

    If you own a first-gen Prius, and would like to be able to closely track their reliability as they age, I hope you'll consider signing up and participating.

    To encourage participation, people who help provide the data get full access to the results free of charge.

    Vehicle reliability research
     
    #1 mkaresh, May 20, 2008
  2. Optimus

    Optimus Member

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    Count me in, as long as you don't mind that I'm not the original owner.
     
    #2 Optimus, May 20, 2008
  3. mkaresh

    mkaresh Member

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    That's not a problem.

    We ask when the car was purchased. Once the sample sizes permit it, we'll be able to analyze whether this variable is significant. I doubt it.
     
    #3 mkaresh, May 20, 2008
  4. NorCal Jan

    NorCal Jan New Member

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    I bought my 2001 in October of 2006 with only 22K miles. Do I qualify as first gen? I would like to know if anyone has taken one of these oldies cross country?
     
    #4 NorCal Jan, Jun 1, 2008
  5. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    NorCal: Your Prius qualifies as 1st gen. We'd have no know more about you...

    Welcome to PriusChat.

    2001 model Prius have gone many many places. most often w/o any incident. I never drove mine more than 900 mi. without a sleep-cycle. W/O cruise control that would have been tough. You have that? Books on tape also handy for looong drives.

    Prius was my first vehicle that required less frequent stops than I do. Really long legs.
     
    #5 tochatihu, Jun 1, 2008
  6. fthorn

    fthorn From gas hog to greenie to gas hog

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    oh no. mkaresh is here, too?
     
    #6 fthorn, Jun 1, 2008
    depriusoto likes this.
  7. mkaresh

    mkaresh Member

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    This forum has been helping me provides reliability information on the Prius. You'll find a sticky thread in the main forum, and links back to this forum on my site. So yes, I'm here. If you want to provide information on lots of models, it helps to be on lots of forums.

    This forum has been excellent.
     
    #7 mkaresh, Jun 1, 2008
  8. fthorn

    fthorn From gas hog to greenie to gas hog

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    oi
     
    #8 fthorn, Jun 2, 2008
  9. mkaresh

    mkaresh Member

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    397 Prius owners signed up so far, but nearly all of those are second-gen cars.

    Still well short of the minimum for first-gen years.

    Vehicle reliability research
     
    #9 mkaresh, Jul 10, 2008
  10. teaf

    teaf New Member

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    I have a 2004 Prius. I bought it at 50,000 miles. I now have close to 80,000. I would like to participate in the "reliabilty information on first-gen Pruis". Do I qualify?
    teaf
     
    #10 teaf, Jul 11, 2008
  11. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    You might just subscribe to Consumer Reports. Every year they send a survey and get about 1.3 million responses listing vehicle reliability. It is the single largest pool of vehicle owner responses that I know of.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #11 bwilson4web, Jul 12, 2008
  12. gnomefact

    gnomefact New Member

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    Just joined today. Have a 2001 Prius with 185000 miles, so far no major repairs. Just drove it from Minneapolis,Mn to Charlotte,NC all went well. Every now an again the dash lites up with the orange triangle. If I let it sit, it starts fine again. The check engine lite has been on for two years. Giving a false reading that catalytic converter is bad. My previous mechanic said just leave it be. anyone know a trustworthy independent mechanic in Charlotte, NC?
     
    #12 gnomefact, Jul 12, 2008
  13. mkaresh

    mkaresh Member

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    Absolutely--except that the 2004 is a second-generation. So you'd participate with other 2004s.

    The key thing with the main survey is that it only collects data going forward. There's a supplemental survey where you can, if you want to, report your earlier experience. Currently first-gen owners can only participate in this supplemental survey, since there aren't enough first-gens signed up to include them in the main survey.

    Vehicle reliability research
     
    #13 mkaresh, Jul 14, 2008
  14. mkaresh

    mkaresh Member

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    They have the most responses, but their methods are flawed. I discuss this here:

    Consumer Reports critique

    If they were doing a great job, I wouldn't be conducting this research.

    One key difference: their data is always much older than mine. Do you want to know how reliable a car was a year or so ago, when it was a year younger, or how reliable it has been lately?

    400 Prii now signed up, but as before most of these are second-gen cars.

    Need more first-gens:

    Vehicle reliability research
     
    #14 mkaresh, Aug 5, 2008
  15. Prius313

    Prius313 Member

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    I have a 2003 since new with 64500 miles. No problems. Is this mileage too low to qualify?
    Thanks
     
    #15 Prius313, Aug 27, 2008
  16. mkaresh

    mkaresh Member

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    The research process collects data going forward, so there's no bad time to start.
     
    #16 mkaresh, Aug 28, 2008
  17. Prius313

    Prius313 Member

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    No time like the present, thanks!
     
    #17 Prius313, Aug 28, 2008
  18. gippah

    gippah New Member

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    I would say that my Prius has been extremely reliable. I have had the catalytic converter pop on the CEL from time to time (but not often), I've had to replace the battery (very expensively), and sometimes on cold days the ICE won't start on the first try (pulling over and restarting the car gets it going).

    But as far as everyday things that fall apart on normal cars, I have have none of that occur. The car looks and drives like it is brand new. If not for the battery needing to be replaced, I would have had to spend the bare minimum to maintain the vehicle.
     
    #18 gippah, Sep 7, 2008
  19. mkaresh

    mkaresh Member

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    At what mileage / age did you replace the battery?
     
    #19 mkaresh, Sep 8, 2008
  20. mkaresh

    mkaresh Member

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    Closer, but not there yet, for the first-gen Prius.
     
    #20 mkaresh, Oct 28, 2008
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