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

2010 Prius with a Hybrid Inverter system failure

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by jamoswife, Oct 22, 2015.

  1. jamoswife

    jamoswife New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2015
    3
    6
    0
    Location:
    North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    My 2010 Prius had a failure as I was trying to accelerate and it quit working and multiple lights went on. I took it to the closest dealer and they said that it was not covered because I had 103000 miles. Does anyone know if this is the same thing it was recalled for? It is going to cost 2647.00.....sigh!
     
  2. Fore

    Fore Don't look back!

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2011
    494
    107
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    #2 Fore, Oct 22, 2015
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2015
    pjksr02 likes this.
  3. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    [​IMG] RECALL Subject : Inverter Failure may cause Hybrid Vehicle to Stall
    Report Receipt Date: FEB 12, 2014
    NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V053000
    Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
    All Products Associated with this Recall [​IMG]

    Details [​IMG]
    13 Associated Documents [​IMG]


    Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

    SUMMARY:
    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 through 2014 Prius vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module (a component of the hybrid system) contains transistors that may become damaged from high operating temperatures. If this occurs, various warning lamps will be illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle will have reduced power allowing it to only drive a short distance.
    CONSEQUENCE:
    The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. The hybrid system could also shut down completely resulting in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
    REMEDY:
    Toyota will notify owners and dealers will update the software for both the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and the hybrid control ECU, free of charge. If an owner experiences a failure of the inverter before the vehicle receives updated software, the dealer will replace the inverter assembly with a new one at no charge. The recall began on March 21, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
    NOTES:
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to Home | Safercar -- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).



    If the IPA module in the inverter failed and your VIN is in the affected batch then this recall should cover it. I do not believe there is a mileage restriction.

    If the inverter coolant pumped failed and the inverter shut down because it got too hot then the coolant pump replacement would not be covered by the recall. Since the dealer mentioned 100000 miles I presume you are completely out of warranty.

    We need the diagnostic trouble codes behind those lights to provide better info. Now that the car has cooled down, will it boot up? Do you see turbulence in the inverter coolant tank? Out of warranty I would look for used parts and someone willing to install them.

    BTW, welcome to the site. Sorry we had to meet under these circumstances.
     
  4. jamoswife

    jamoswife New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2015
    3
    6
    0
    Location:
    North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thank you both for the quick responses. I was in a panic as their pop and then I lost power. I'm not sure what codes there were, I could find out. My prius was recalled and I went into fix it a while ago. I didn't think too much about it until I googled it and found so much great info on your site. Thank you for your links and info.
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Some people have got inverter warranty extension letters, but by no means everyone. Not sure what the criteria was, certain areas? Or? You should definitely ask the dealership to talk to Toyota, see what they can do. The inverter has recognized weakness, hence the recall, which was a software modification, intended to reduce the stresses applied to it during acceleration.
     
  6. jamoswife

    jamoswife New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2015
    3
    6
    0
    Location:
    North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I can not thank you guys enough! I called toyota customer service and they said maybe they could help with some. Then I called back the Toyota service guy and read him some of the things that JimN and Fore posted (like they were my words-thank you so much) and the service guy found the information where the repair was under warranty. THANK YOU so much. They covered it everything. I am so greatful. Thank you so much!
     
    CR94, Tande, Aaron Vitolins and 3 others like this.
  7. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2013
    684
    1,226
    0
    Location:
    Queensbury, NY
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Great new jamoswife, glad to hear your dealer had a little revelation regarding inverter failure. Funny how the dealers sometimes need to be informed about their own warranty policies...

    Correct me if I'm wrong Mendel and JimN, but didn't Toyota extend the inverter warranty on E0E affected Gen 3's to 15 years or unlimited mileage?

    Edit: here is the ZE3 letter. Would this only apply to some E0E Gen 3 owners?...
     

    Attached Files:

  8. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Yes, the VIN has to be in the ranges covered by E0E. If at least one of the listed codes isn't set by a failure then the E0E extended warranty does not apply.

    jamoswife, if you keep track of your fuel economy please let us know whether or not there is a significant difference with the new part. I'm glad we could help. If you had paid for the repair you would have to file a claim with Toyota for reimbursement.
     
    m.wynn likes this.
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Some owners got warranty extension letters, some not. Was it a US only thing, or sporadic there too?
     
  10. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    It's not every Gen3 or every 2010. The earlier the production date the better the chance of having the early version of the software. I don't know when the new version of the software went into production vehicles.
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
  12. Nanodog

    Nanodog Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2011
    3
    3
    0
    Location:
    Connecticut
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    (The last posting in the above is of particular interest: someone who got the recall, did not get warranty extension letter, but did get warranty extension.)[/QUOTE]

    I just had the IPM Transistor go... all the symptoms that others have described. I don't believe I ever received the warranty letter, and didn't receive the recall.

    However after questioning the $3500 quote for repair Toyota covered it completely under warranty.

    It's definitely worth the discussion and escalation to have Toyota look at it... It supposedly went from my service writer > Dealer Warranty Manger>Toyota Warranty>Toyota Warranty "Specialist" to get resolved.

    5 days waiting for the part and I'm back on the road.

    Thanks to all of you above for bringing this to light. Toyota.png
     
    m.wynn and Mendel Leisk like this.
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Look at all those 0.00's. :)
     
    m.wynn and Nanodog like this.
  14. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2013
    684
    1,226
    0
    Location:
    Queensbury, NY
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    This is not the first report of ZE3 warranty honored without having had the E0E done prior. Those who have chosen to not have the E0E because they didn't want to risk the "performance downgrade" are sitting pretty, especially with the lawsuit and media blow-up likely keeping Toyota on the high road for the time being.

    But for an IPM failure owner who has passed on the E0E to get the ZE3, they'd end up with the E0E done by Toyota during the repair anyway. This particular situation would require the owner buying the IPM out of pocket and diy-ing the repair to keep their hot-rod Prius at original software spec:rolleyes::D...
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Geez, I never noticed any performance difference post-update, apart from a slightly increased tendency to slip into electric-only, which I liked. Not sure I've ever floored it though.
     
  16. Boffin

    Boffin Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2017
    43
    65
    0
    Location:
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  17. bjb120

    bjb120 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2019
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Saint Louis
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    One
    I have just now done the software update on my 2010 Prius. It has 148,000 on the clock. I got a check engine light that came on after i had gotten the car back. It showed code N/A, so I cleared it and it has not come back on. If it does come back on, it will most likely be a faulty inverter correct? Will Toyota cover it? Will it be backed by their new 15 years unlimited mile warranty?
     
  18. SAJPRIUS

    SAJPRIUS Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2018
    19
    4
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    My 2010 Toyota Prius has 175000 mileages on it and went into safe mode March 17, 2020 four emergency lights showed up on the dash; drove to an auto parts store, put on an OBD2 device, got codes P0A7A Generator Inverter Performance and P0A94 DC/DC Converter Performance. I was told by a mechanic that the codes indicate inverter and that it needs replacing. I am going to Toyota on Monday 18, 2020 to have them do a diagnostic to confirm for sure.
    I found the warranty enhancement program about warranty extension and the safety recall E0E documents here on Prius Chat, will bring them with me when I go in. Anyone have advice about what to do or how to handle this situation?
     
  19. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2009
    532
    225
    2
    Location:
    Connecticut
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    What did they tell you?

    Does your warranty "enhancement" have an expiration date on it? IIRC, some vehicles' enhancement expired already; not much of an enhancement, in my opinion.
     
  20. SAJPRIUS

    SAJPRIUS Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2018
    19
    4
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    You can find the article in Car Complaints website. Titled:
    Toyota Prius Inverter Failure Lawsuit Moves Forward