Does anyone know of a good Prius repair shop in Boston? Hybrid Battery or rodent issue?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Henrietta, Nov 3, 2025.

  1. Henrietta

    Henrietta Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2018
    16
    8
    0
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Our 2012 Prius plugin Advanced has about 125K miles. It’s been an awesome car. Son recently moved to Boston and took it with him- small good size for parking. One day the battery died so AAA came and replaced it (traditional battery). Then he drove it a couple of times. Then he left it for a few days, maybe a week, and it didn’t work. It looked like there were fresh rodent droppings under the hood. The AAA guy towed it to a Toyota dealership who said the problem was the hybrid battery and wants to charge 11K! Uh no. So, 1) we are not 100% that a rat didn’t chew something and maybe it’s not the battery because there were no other symptoms 2) there are mobile Prius battery places that will come and change it they say for less- for like 2K.
    So, do i trust the Toyota dealership that it’s the hybrid battery and have some mobile battery guy change it? Does anyone know of a good Prius mechanic in the Boston area?
     
  2. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,465
    2,429
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    It depends on how much you want to do in examining under the hood yourself and how capable you are.

    In doing so, you can save a lot if money.

    Wear an N95 mask and vacuum all the rat droppings.

    Examine the wiring for rat chews.

    Learn how to repair the wiring. It needs to be done correctly. A poor job might worsen the problem.

    A Toyota dealer will replace expense entire wiring harnesses and components at high labor rates.
     
    Henrietta likes this.
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    114,033
    51,935
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    idk any, but you can try the guys in my signature, leosons.com
     
    Henrietta likes this.
  4. Henrietta

    Henrietta Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2018
    16
    8
    0
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    The guys you recommended were great and I may go to them in the future. Sadly the issue was the death of the hybrid battery. Because it was 2012 plugin Advanced, it was a rarer lithium battery replacement - more expensive and harder to find than non plugins. So we could not use a mobile replacement where they come to you. We went to Greentech in Foxboro- it’s a national company. The car only had 130K miles and has been generally low maintenance but for periodic brake updates until this. I am wondering if the battery dying had something to do with the main traditional battery that died a week or two earlier. That was replaced and things worked fine. Then the car sat unused for a week. And then it wouldn’t start up due to the hybrid battery dying. The new hybrid battery does have a two year warranty and cost thousands less at Greentech than having Toyota do it. But we feel less confident about the car now and are a little worried it’s not so reliable going forward.
     
    bisco likes this.
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    60,255
    41,457
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    With an ailing plug-in battery, and likely rodent damage, might be time to let go.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    114,033
    51,935
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    good to hear another review of leo and sons.
    i can't think of any way the 12 volt battery would affect the hybrid battery.
    the 2012 has some issues around 150,000 miles. blown head gasket and brake actuator, both very expensive.
    if you decide to move on, consider a non hybrid to keep repairs down, and easier to find mechanics.