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Inverter failure Australia

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by PriusAus, Jan 4, 2015.

  1. PriusAus

    PriusAus Junior Member

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    My local dealership says my Prius needs a new inverter - $4,500. Could it be due to the software update recall? Help! I have so many questions - please see all my questions at the bottom.


    I have a 2009 Prius ZVW30R (2010 model), bought it second hand in March 2014 no warranty and it had 51,000 kms at the time. It's now on 61,000 kms. I started the car last week and all the warnings lights were on and there was a message" check hybrid system". The car would not go into drive mode and I couldn't change the gear to drive. Radio and air con worked though. I called my local dealer here in Australia and they told me to get it towed to them. 3 days of diagnosis later, they say they think it is the inverter and this part costs $4,500 excluding labour. The diagnosis is costing me $578.

    Also, I did receive the Feb 2014 recall letter about the Hybrid System ECU software update in Sep 2014 and got it done on the 10th Oct. And I just did a log book service 1 month ago.

    My questions are:

    1. Could be due to the software update recall and the software being faulty? I've read on this site and over the net that several people had the exact same issue.

    2. Would I be able to make an appeal with Toyota to cover the inverter costs? I've read that other people who had the same issue got all their costs covered - including their rental car costs but they are all in the US.

    3. Anyone in Australia experiencing the same problem?

    4. How do I know if the software update was performed when I took the car in? They didn't give me a certificate or anything when I got it done.
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    It's best you contact Toyota for assistance. Many have done the recall and still had a failure. In the usa, Toyota has extended the warranty on the inverter to 150k miles
     
  3. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Some Prius in the US have an extended warranty for the inverter.
     
  4. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    #4 RRxing, Jan 4, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2015
  5. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    1. The purpose of the software update was to detune the inverter response to try to prevent future inverter failures. Chances are your inverter failed in spite of the recall.

    2. Toyota is extending the warranty to 15 years in the US due to the number of inverter failures. It would be hard to believe that this is not true in Australia. I would definitely appeal to Toyota.

    Keep us posted.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  6. PriusAus

    PriusAus Junior Member

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    Wow! 15 years is a long time. The standard warranty here is still 3 years and 100,000 km ( no increase) and 8 years/ 160,000km for the battery. I'll definitely make an appeal and I don't think it should make a difference that I'm not in the US.

    At the moment, they haven't given me the diagnostics yet as they want to make sure it's the inverter before writing the report and are still running tests.
    I'll keep you guys posted.
     
    jdcollins5 likes this.
  7. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    The Inverter is considered as part of the Hybrid System so is included in the 8 years / 100,000 mile US warranty. They are extending the Inverter, or the Inverter Power Module to be exact, warranty from 8 to 15 years for unlimited mileage.
     
  8. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Double check the hybrid system warranty in Australia. Does the car have a full Toyota service history? I ask because my UK Prius had the inverter fail at 71k miles and my particular car only have a 60k mile warranty. Because I had been a loyal Toyota customer having the car serviced by them at every interval, Toyota paid for the inverter and I paid for the fitting. My dealers arranged things directly with Toyota to get this good will payment.

    Six months after I had had my inverter replaced, Toyota issued the worldwide inverter software recall.

    p.s., I'd also question the cost of your quote. My gen3 inverter was quoted at about £1,500 for the part (AU $2,800) which includes 20% UK VAT. Fitting was a further £250 inc diagnosis.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    good point. if in the end you have to pay for it, look for a salvage unit.
     
  10. PriusAus

    PriusAus Junior Member

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    I'll double check the hybrid system warranty. Yes, it has a full Toyota service history, done at each interval. So far, they haven't given me a formal diagnosis that I need an inverter replacement. So far, they believe that's what is causing the issues and said that if a new inverter is needed, it costs about $4500. They are now waiting for a spare inverter to fit in the car so as to ensure that it is indeed the inverter that's at fault before issuing the diagnosis and repair quote. They already told me that the diagnosis is $578 ( 377 GBP) when I got my car towed there. I can't believe the difference in price and warranty between countries!

    Assuming that I will need an inverter replacement, I wonder if I should let them do the work before making my appeal or make the appeal before they start any work?
     
  11. PriusAus

    PriusAus Junior Member

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    Yeah, I thought about that. But I can't find any spare inverters in Australia nor any mechanics who will touch a Hybrid. This country has a limited market!
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    wow, that's surprising. can you buy on ebay?
     
  13. kc410

    kc410 Active Member

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    It seems the only way you are going to get it repaired in a timely manner is letting the dealer continue with their diagnosis/repair. You can proceed with an appeal to Toyota even if you have to initially pay for the repairs - at least you get your vehicle back while Toyota decides what to do. In the end it may come down to which part of the inverter failed. You can read about my inverter failure & how Toyota picked up the tab for everything, even though I was out of the 100K US warranty.
    2010 Prius died - P0A94 - Inverter Failure - Replaced | PriusChat
    A couple days after the repair was complete I posted (in the above thread) that the only expense I had was the towing charge which I had paid cash. A fellow PC member ask why didn't Toyota cover the towing charges also, since it was a warranty repair. I made another trip to the dealer & asked the Service Adviser the same question. He had to make a call or 2 but he came back in a while & said Toyota would cover the towing also. He made a copy of the bill & within a couple weeks I received a check from Toyota for the towing charge.
    Good Luck!
     
    Raygon likes this.
  14. PriusAus

    PriusAus Junior Member

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    Already looked on ebay and none available. All in the US and cannot be shipped here
     
  15. PriusAus

    PriusAus Junior Member

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    Thanks for sharing. You got some pretty good service from your dealer. He gave you a diagnosis in 30 mins and your car back the next day. My car has been with the dealer for more than 1 week and still no final diagnosis...
     
  16. uart

    uart Senior Member

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    This thread reminds me of exactly why I fear owning a hybrid in Australia. Fairly small market for them here and consequently almost no independent workshops that can handle them.

    I've been really lucky with my Gen2, it's been super reliable and I've been able to keep it as far away as possible from the stealer's service dept. My first (and last) experience with them was getting stung $660 for service that basically amounted to nothing more than an oil and oil/air filter change. Grrr :eek:
     
  17. PriusAus

    PriusAus Junior Member

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    Great to finally see an Aussie member. $660 for service! My last service at 60,000 cost $280 one month ago.
     
  18. Ilovemyprii

    Ilovemyprii Junior Member

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    Private messaged OP
     
    #18 Ilovemyprii, Sep 7, 2016
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2016
  19. J Yousefi

    J Yousefi New Member

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    I have the same issue and asked to pay $4500 - It seems the extended warranty is not applicable to Australia -
     
  20. J Yousefi

    J Yousefi New Member

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    Hybrid Inverter system - Toyota Prius 2010 - Australia

    I was driving my car and just before I inter into a roundabout, my car lost most its power and all hazard lights came up. I drove the car to a dealer and they advised me the Hybrid Inverter system of my Prius 2010 has failed.

    They charged me over $500 for diagnose, estimate of cost repair $4500.00, turnaround 2 month and the manufacture will not cover the cost as the car is more than 3 years old.

    I called the Toyota and the Western Australian consumer protection, but unfortunately they said I have to pay the costs and if not happy with the decision it can go to the court.

    I am wondering if others have had similar issue with this type of cars.

    Your comment will be highly appropriated.
     
    P Singh likes this.