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

Blind Spot Monitoring System Malfunction (3 times!!!!)

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Lu20191, Oct 10, 2019.

  1. Lu20191

    Lu20191 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2019
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    How can I resolve this issue? I bought a 2017 Prius 4 with low miles in April 2019. I didn't notice but it had a painted over scratch on the bumper where the blind spot monitoring system is. Less than 30 days later the BSM system malfunctioned and I returned it to the dealer for service. They said that I had scraped the car on the rear side panel and that made the warranty not cover the BSL damage. So I paid for the costly repair. Now, (October 2019) 5 months later, I am having the same problem and Toyota is saying that it was because I must have driven over a large bump and due to my driving, it is not covered and I have to pay again to have it fixed.

    At this point, I looked up the service records and this same problem was repaired by the previous owner in April of 2017! So? Three times, this has been fixed? How can I resolve this?
     
  2. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2015
    886
    493
    0
    Location:
    Cow-lee-fornia
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    If there was no damage in the area where that sensor is located, you can repeatedly have them fix it for free. But because of the damage you may be out of luck.

    Do you remember hitting that corner of the bumper again?
     
  3. Lu20191

    Lu20191 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2019
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I have not hit anything with the bumper. :(
     
  4. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Can you find any records of an accident? Alternatively, contact TOYOTA and tell them the issue was there in April 2017 and should be warranty.
     
  5. Lu20191

    Lu20191 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2019
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I looked up the records. I bought the car on 4/6/19, 18 days later I brought it in because the BSM malfunctioned, they said that because of the damage, small scrape on the bumper, it was not under warranty and they charged me $341.11 and it took 5 days to repair it. Now, less than six months later, it is malfunctioning again and they again say it is not under warranty because only parts are under warranty and this is labor to re-mount it.

    There probably is no record of an accident because it is just a scrape. I called the Toyota main customer service line and it seems like they are not going to help either. They say that they only cover parts not labor and it seems that the part keeps coming loose and they say it must be my driving. I have not even had a parking ticket, I am a slow safe driver. but the dealership is the one that decides what it covered and it seems that a part coming loose repeatedly is not covered.
     
  6. sorka

    sorka Active Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2008
    1,004
    194
    0
    Location:
    Merced, CA
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    The malfunction was either not ever caused by the scratch OR they didn't fix it correctly the first time.

    In either case, saying that you must have done something like go over a bump to hard is about the stupidest excuse I've ever heard from a dealer. They must prove that something you did cause the malfunction.

    Escalate this through Toyota Consumer Affairs and tell them you'll litigate through arbitration if they don't fix it under warranty.

    Your other option is to go through your insurance. If you have a low comprehensive deductible, they may choose to go after Toyota themselves re-imbursement.
     
  7. sorka

    sorka Active Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2008
    1,004
    194
    0
    Location:
    Merced, CA
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    They are flat out lying. Dealership repairs are covered for parts and labor for 12 months or 12K miles whichever comes first.

    Time to report this dealer to the BBB and escalate through Toyota consumer affairs. I'd also file a complaint with your local state attorney general.
     
  8. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Or - contact the dealer and tell them that you're escalating it via x, y and z. They might see it differently - as litigation would likely cost them more than fixing it.