how to secure spare tire after lock-down mechanism failed

Wow. Pics?

 

Common problem. Been driving with the scissor jack bracket and spare tire unclamped for years. Hasn't bothered me in the slightest although I suppose in one out of a billion prius accidents, the scissor jack could fly with drone-like precision into my head.

 

It's not uncommon at all to drive with the spare not tied down in the back your car would have to get upside down for the spare to drop out and hit the headliner and then what You're upside down in your seat belt and all of that been there done that not with the spare tire but upside down in a car as in on the roof but still sitting in the seat after a wreck so if I'm not mistaken the stud is easily dealt with You can either cut the stud off drill the hole out chase the threads so that you have the I'm not sure what it is 6 mm or whatever hole and then get the new plastic nut or is it a plastic stud sticking out of the piece that goes and I have to go look I haven't moved the spare looked at it in years but you can easily recreate the hole for the stud or drill the stud out make a thread clean up the thread screw a new stud in lock tighted or put a dab of spatter on it from your TIG welder and now everything is restored or do absolutely nothing I don't even carry a spare that whole well back there is empty in all four of my generation twos If I have tire plugs and injectable Fix-A-Flat and air generally in the car and then the last 20 years I can't even think of having to use any of that usually when something's in the tire like a nail or a screw I wind up getting back to the house noticing the tires a little low and well there you go.

 

The welded nut in the well broke free? If so, maybe a replacement rivet nut?

note to self: might be time to pull the spare out again, check it’s pressure. Put a drop of oil on that hold-down bolt too.