Buyers beware – hear my Prius rant

I have not had any issues with my 2008. 29k miles righ now.

 

This does seem to be more of problem in Prius than in other cars. Things that help: run the A/C a lot with a low temp set; use outside air only when the humidity is low; set the temp to maximum for a minute before turning the car OFF. In other words, anything that tends to dry the interior air will help.

The cabin is not pressurized. If your friend's spoiler fell off it was defective and/or he was using it as a handle. Also, if you keep a window open when the outside humidity is high it will contribute to the mold problem.

I agree, that is annoying.

Avoid buying factory electronics: they're overpriced, and if they don't work very well you're stuck with them.

That should not be. Did you buy the dealer's "fabric protection system"? Running the heat will help remove the source of this over time, but you'll still have to clean the glass until it's gone.

Did you test drive the car before buying it?

 

Me too, love the car!!!

Before you get to your destination, shut off the AC and just run air. That will evaporate any moisture, and stop the mold problem. Its not just Prius's that have this problem. MOST cars with AC have this proplem. Shoot a shot of Lysol into the vent to kill the mold! Run the air, I do , and it works for me!!

Check the latch aligns up properly with the receiver. I can just drop the hatch and it latches. Brings up the old saying, "If it don't fit FORCE IT, if it breaks, it needed replacing anyway! If you have to, open the window!! Beats breaking the door.

I turned Auto off the first day, never had a problem since. I want AC, I turn it on. I want Heat, I turn it on, I want Air, I open a vent. No problems. You should be able to turn it off and it will stay.

Nav works just fine. I use it all the time, just looking for something to bitch about, and you know what, I can't bitch, It works fine!!! I am constantly trying to fake it out, it always promptly recalculates route and tells me where to go. Besides it gives you 3, yes, THREE choices for the route home, make sure you select the route you want and do not assume what pops up is your only choice

That is common to ALL NEW CARS. Its the plastics that make up the interior of your car outgassing, and the vapors are condensing on the glass. Windex works fine! After about a year it will outgass all its volatile components and you won't have to worry, unless you smoke in your car, then you have more problems than window schmear!

I can see just fine, mirrors are adjustable, view out the back works, and I added small round ball mirrors to the side mirrors to enhance visibility, cost $5.00 Pep Boys! Its not a Anechoic Chamber, but the noise factor is not bad. You can always add sound deadening mat! Google it, in fact there have been a couple of threads about this very subject. Search it out!! As far as all weather driving, its a small car not a M1A1 Abhrams! If it snows, slow down, if it rains, slow down. Traffic conditions are not always perfect, and if you want to drive like they are, you need a tank. Wait your in SoCal, we DO NOT HAVE WEATHER HERE, maybe a little rain, Santa Anna'a....what weather issues?

Doubtful, most of these items are common to ANY NEW car, some are specific to Prius, and then seemingly your car may have some issues, but get on the Service Managers case and get them fixed. If you do not like their answer, go to another dealer!

Good Luck de Pat KK6PD

 

Well said KK6PD.

 

A search of this site will uncover numerous threads about this problem, which I have also experienced. Here is one such thread

http://priuschat.com/forums/care-ma...aking-stand-2007-prius-ac-mold-problem-5.html

In my case, I resorted to "borrowing" a very expensive fiber optic inspection scope from my client, drilling holes in the case, and directly applying NuCalgon EvapFresh and BioFresh.

Don't waste your money with the dealership if all they do is spritz lysol or something else. You must apply a EPA-registered HVAC agent DIRECTLY to the e-coil

Yes, it needs a healthy slam to properly close. The rear gate on my FJ needs a gentle nudge

I tried that in my heated garage, yes it does make the hatch easier to close. Not exactly reasonable to expect Prius owners to leave their windows down all the time

Very annoying. With my FJ, when you turn the control knob to blend or defrost, the A/C automatically engages, and the A/C button then has NO EFFECT. So I pull out of my heated garage into -40 weather, with the A/C. The compressor will continue to run until the system senses the bitter cold temp and locks out the compressor

I solved that problem on my FJ by pulling out the A/C clutch relay. When I pull out of the garage, the A/C light is blinking, which you can make go away by poking the A/C button. Or just ignore it like I do

I'd never pay for a factory nav unit, they are exotically expensive for what you get. You can get a top of the line Garmin, TomTom, Magellan, etc, far cheaper, which is usually free to update over the Internet from the manufacturer website

Every new vehicle I have had since the early 1990's has had this problem. Don't use paper towels, most have additives that leave streaks or film. Use a freshly washed white bath towel, without the fabric softener or dryer sheet. Use Invisible Glass as a cleaner

I've had folks ride in my vehicles who are astonded at how clear my glass is. Bath towel + Invisible Glass = excellent results

To be sure, the Corolla and Yaris offer better visibility

Yes, my FJ is quieter

The standard tires are pure crap, especially in winter driving. I run studded snow tires on my Prius, studless snow tires on my FJ, and have preordered Nokian factory studded tires for my FJ

 

None of those things have happened on my 06, in over 76,000 miles. You must have an unlucky car experience, or a unique set of driving conditions. I drive the car much like any other car I've ever had, just a lot more. I commute 90 miles a day, and maybe shorter trips cause more issues with the mold, etc. No visibility problems anywhere. I have no film on the windshield. It is the QUIETEST car I've ever owned, even with my new tires which are noiser than the OEMs, but ride and handle so much better, that I don't care. Really, how big a deal is it to adjust the A/C, if it isn't set where you want it? Geez. My hatch closes the first time, no problem, just a gentle pull down. Maybe you should have bought a GM car, then you could really whine.

 

Uhmmm, ok.

I second subarutoo's motion that you sell your Prius and go out and buy a GM (although a Mopar car would work too). Then you'll have some frame of reference for what a crappy car is. Something like a Chevy Cobalt or Equinox, with their ~40% satisfaction ratings should do the trick. I guess the Prius isn't for everybody, its satisfaction rating is only 93%

Rob

 

sorry to hear you are so unhappy with your car. wait until summer when gas goes back up, you can probably get most if not all your money back. the 2010 Pri does have 7th gen Nav, so its supposed to be better. (i agree that its way overpriced).

the A/C mold is an A/C mold problem. sis had same issues as well with her Taurus and Civic and running straight air for a minute before shutdown actually does help a lot... personally i am a "4/60" guy... roll all 4 windows down and drive 60 mph (i dont have any hair so the wind does not bother me!!) as far as the lysol...have heard a lot of people recommend it, but have not really seem it be effective much.

the road noise is kinda loud and i remember one day when i had forgotten to charge my i pod is when i first noticed it....but the radio fixed it, so no "lasting" issues

the polymer issue was not present in my 04 but was in my 06... it actually fades away after a time and i only attempted to clean it one time about 1500 miles... it did mostly smeared so i stopped and left it. completely gone now. (actually if truth be told, the windshield is slanted so much, it was a pain to reach...either way, glad its gone now)

and about the hatchback... ya really can be inconvenient. the other day, its pouring rain, i have my son with me (he is only 20 months) and groceries... put son in car, its pouring rain. then opened hatch, but only about 2 feet or so, thinking i could turn around and grab groceries and toss them in real quick. so grabbed two bags and the DAMN hatch fell down and closed ON ITS OWN!! i was pissed, so i tried to open hatch while holding two bags of groceries and its pouring rain (we had some major floods in our area in case you wondering just how hard it was raining) what a pain!!

now why they dont have power hatch that opens with the fob, i dont know... but then again, that was not your issue was it? anyway...still wish it opened on its own

 

The handling problem is easily solved with a good set of 175-65 R15 tires. Turning resistance is reduced, wet traction improves, and all rapid handling problems disappear. On a Prius they are absolutely superior on dirt and the only thing needed for snow.

The tread on those fat-bob OEM tires is just too wide and the pressure recommended for them is too low. A set of 175-65 R15 tires at 45/43 PSI is ideal.

 

Consumer Reports survey states 93% [was 94% rjw] of the Prius owners like their car, which has lead the owner approval ratings for five straight years. That suggests 7% [was 6% rjw] are unhappy. Now we've heard from one and hopefully many of these compaints have been fixed in the 3d generation.

Bob Wilson

 

I can't imagine that there is the perfect vehicle out there that will make everyone happy. People are people, that is why there are so many makes and models to choose from. You need to learn to live with the Prius, change it to your liking, or unload it for something else.

Let me state that there is a lot I don't like about the car (windshield display glare, road noise, traction control, rear brakes, seat/driving comfort, and so on) and equally if not more that I do (gas mileage, gas mileage, gas mileage, navigation, overall technology, and cool as hell looks).

If it's any comfort, the rear hatch latching mechanism can be adjusted. After being shot last year, my rear hatch was replaced by a professional Car Star body shop. They ended up botching the latch alignment and couldn't get it right. The hatch closed terribly until I spent some time myself to correct it. It now closes smoothly, better than the original. The dealer should be able to help you out.

 

Exactly, you need the right car for the right job. In some families that means having more than one vehicle with each specialized for their end use.

It makes perfect sense to have a Prius for commuting and depending upon one's hobbies:

• pickup - for modest loads and farm work
• RV - for weekend get-aways
• pony car - for track and other 'fun drives'
• SUV - for off-roading
• station wagon - for large families

Now I would like to see the range of functions from our Prius expanded:

• 1-6 kw, 120 VAC power - emergency power in storm or other outages
• light weight, 500 lbs, towing - for oversized loads such as a home owner might need or small boats, sail or jon
• co-generation - using natural gas fuel and routing both electricity and exhaust and coolant heating for home space heating
• station wagon rear hatch kit - converts the rear hatch so it rides higher for more interior space ... a Datson 210 sized station wagon with excellent city mileage
• rear wheel electric motor drive - to shut-down the pony cars on the street (well I'm old, not dead!)

Bob Wilson

 

To the OP, I didn't read all replies.

Geez, you got a sh** box didn't you?

Has the car been in an accident, my hatch closes easy enough, but I don't use the plastic spoiler as a handle, in fact I try to never touch the paint with my hands as it will scratch, as will any car. Pull it down with the inside handle on the bottom right then push on the chrome Toyota badge to close.

My ventilation system always comes on in the mode it was in when I turned it off. In auto mode it tries to maintain the preset temperature and if I just have the fan on low, the fan comes on low, however it does tend to default to recirculate which is a minor irritation and a one button press fix, bottom right of the steering wheel from memory.

Why pay all that money for nav when a TomTom is cheap and proven? I agree.

The road noise in my car is about the same as it was on the test drive. You might check the tyres for correct inflation.
I remember when 13 inch wheels were the standard and 15 inch was old fashioned, remember the 10 inch wheels on Minis? What a great fun car!!

Maybe you should sell it and get a Chev, or on second thoughts ...

 

I understand you wanted a hybrid and are unhappy with all the "problems". Perhaps you should have chosen the Lexus Hybrid instead. Would have solved maybe 95% of your complaints.

 

SunWindow, your rant is bs. Go troll somewhere else.

... Brad

 

Sorry for your problems but I'm at 103,000 miles and have not experienced any of the problems you noted. It's the best vehicle I've ever had.

 

The one I got, a 2007, hasn't needed anything, not even the free first year alignment.

My take is people have gotten too picky and too spoiled. It is a throw away society. It isn't necessary to have the latest and the best. Twenty some years ago I wanted a car that had a/c, never had it before. What a luxury to have a cooled cabin in the summer finally. My Granddad got his 58 chevy with a heater, an AM radio would be excessive waste.

The 2007 Prius I have now is a dream car I am very fortunate to own.

 

gee i thought it was 94% would buy another Pri if they had the chance...

seems to me i saw a survey where unhappy Pri owners were nowhere near 6%, was like 1.5% maybe with 4.5 % simply "satisfied"

what i do know is that the Pri ownership was higher than Lexue, Mercedes, Cadillac, etc... and not for a fluke single year either