1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

What is covered under Hybrid Warranty and for how long?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by ace, Aug 17, 2009.

  1. ace

    ace A mini-tank with snow tires

    Joined:
    May 4, 2008
    34
    2
    0
    Location:
    Ames, Iowa 50010
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I'm down to the wire on deciding if I should get the Extended Warranty or not on my 2008 Prius with 35,500 miles (I have to decide this week :eek: ). So far nothing has gone wrong except my bluetooth did not work when I got the vehicle and the dealer replaced the computer which fixed the bluetooth problem. That is my only issue so far. It has run beautifully for over a year. I love my Prius !! I've been changing the oil myself regularly every 5000 with full synthetic, changed the air cleaner too.

    What I am afraid of is the unknown, which to me is the computer and Hybrid parts. I have been told the computer is $4000 if it goes out.

    What exactly does the Hybrid warranty cover and for how long. Does it include the computer?

    Has anyone ever had the computer on the Prius go out, and if so how much does it run to fix it or replace? Is that a possible do it yourself project?

    What other big ticket items are common problems, if any, in the first 100,000 miles on a Prius?

    I most always lean towards not getting extended warranties, but for some reason this decision to get one or not on the Prius is harder for me. My experience has been when I do make a warranty claim, which is rare, there is a weasle out clause, or they give me the run around about some small technicality, and it never covers it anyway. If I had to pay $4000 out of pocket for a fix, it would hurt, but I could pull the money out of savings. I'll probably keep my 2008 Prius for at least another couple more years till a better mpg car calls me.
     
    #1 ace, Aug 17, 2009
  2. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    7,663
    1,038
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    You are correct. On average a buyer loses money on an extended warranty. $1000 is a lot to pay for money-losing "peace of mind". Take the price of it and buy a 12 month bank CD so that it will make a profit for you.
     
    #2 richard schumacher, Aug 17, 2009
  3. icarus

    icarus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2007
    4,884
    976
    0
    Location:
    earth
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I would save your money. (Please read the same conversation in the "$400 headlight" thread in the gen 2 maintenance section.

    Consider this. By the time the Hybrid component warrantee expires (150k?) the car will be ~6 years old. By that time, the supply of wrecked/damaged parts cars in wrecking yards will be more significant, so that availability in the event of normally reliable parts will be better. Personally I am not worrying about what/where/when. The odds are in your favour if you don't by the warrantee. Remember, these are profit centers for the business, they calculate the odds, and guess what? They win way more than not. They try to sell you "peace of mind" but I would rather have piece of cash!

    Icarus
     
    #3 icarus, Aug 17, 2009
  4. ace

    ace A mini-tank with snow tires

    Joined:
    May 4, 2008
    34
    2
    0
    Location:
    Ames, Iowa 50010
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks, That is what I am leaning towards doing, not getting the warranty.

    I did some more searching through the forums and it looks like the Hybrid Component Warranty on my Prius is 100,000 miles and 7 years (since I bought it in Iowa, would be longer in CA). But not sure if it covers the computer. Probably doesn't cover the computer.

    Here is a link to another thread that talks about the length of the warranty: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...d-battery-warranty-whichever-comes-first.html

    I haven't seen any indication that the 2008 model Prius has any common big ticket maintenance problems.
     
    #4 ace, Aug 17, 2009
  5. icarus

    icarus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2007
    4,884
    976
    0
    Location:
    earth
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    It is an interesting argument that I haven't heard a satisfactory answer to, that is, if the car (and ergo the hybrid components) can't run with out the computer, shouldn't it be part of the "hybrid" components?

    Icarus
     
    #5 icarus, Aug 17, 2009
  6. icarus

    icarus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2007
    4,884
    976
    0
    Location:
    earth
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I think you misunderstood the original question. The question was, "what is covered by the "hybrid component" section of the original warrantee, not what the extra cost extended warrantee cover.

    Icarus
     
    #6 icarus, Aug 17, 2009
  7. stream

    stream Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2008
    2,977
    452
    14
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    I don't think he misunderstood anything--he's posted 8 times in the last 1.5 hours, plugging his friend who sells extended warranties. ;)

     
    #7 stream, Aug 17, 2009
  8. icarus

    icarus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2007
    4,884
    976
    0
    Location:
    earth
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Troll?

    Icarus
     
    #8 icarus, Aug 17, 2009
  9. LRKingII

    LRKingII New Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2009
    679
    132
    0
    Location:
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Ya think?
    Nah just some poor guy trying to help a friend....and get a few $$$ kick back.:rolleyes:
     
    #9 LRKingII, Aug 17, 2009
  10. ace

    ace A mini-tank with snow tires

    Joined:
    May 4, 2008
    34
    2
    0
    Location:
    Ames, Iowa 50010
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    My thoughts: While I've been traveling around the U.S. I've talked to about a half dozen other Prius owners of earlier models with high miles, I have never found anyone yet that has purchased an extended warranty and they are all fine with it, and no problems. They all tell me Toyota's are reliable and high quality.

    So ... as I understand it there are 2 Prius warranties

    Warranty #1) 0 - 36,000 mile bumper to bumper
    Warranty #2) 36,001 - 100,000 (more in CA) mile Hybrid Components only warranty

    Is this correct?

    Just wondering what if any of the big ticket items are covered on Warranty #2? I know the batteries are, I suspect the computer isn't, I've read that some converter is covered too. I suppose all of this info is in the manual :)
     
    #10 ace, Aug 18, 2009
  11. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,474
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    No. There are at least four warranties:

    3 year / 36K mile "bumper to bumper"
    5 year / 60K mile powertrain warranty
    8 year / 100K mile hybrid components warranty
    Federal (or California) emissions control warranty

    Do you not have the warranty booklet that tells you exactly what is covered under each warranty? If not the toyota.com website has some general information:
    Toyota Warranty and Coverage

    Also, when you say "computer", note that Prius has many ECUs. In general I would not worry about the failure of an ECU. In the rare event that happens you can always buy a used unit from a salvage yard.
     
    #11 Patrick Wong, Aug 18, 2009
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)