2007 Prius loud whirring (wuv wuv wuv) noise when driving at any speed

Hi all. So frustrated to be posting this only days after buying this car used.

My 2007 Prius started making this really annoying whurring sound when driving at any speed. Not like a standard engine or electric motor sound. It is a cyclical sound, sounds like "wuv wuv wuv wuv wuv" when driving.

It is loud enough to hear with all the windows closed, and is even louder when the windows open. When passing anything vertical and flat (median, close building, parked cars) the sound reverberates off the surface and is VERY loud to those in the car.

The car was making a electric revving type sound since I bought it when driving, more noticable when passing vertical objects, but I just assumed it was part of the noises the car makes. Now this new whurring wuv wuv wuv noise started this morning and I don't know whats wrong. I had an appointment with the dealership to get an alignment done tomorrow afternoon, and of course I will bring up the noise. But I have no money for repairs right now, and the thought of repairing anything on a car I bought less than a week ago makes me sick.

Sorry for the silly description of the noise, I don't know how else to describe it. Any thoughts?

 

Thanks for the replies! I would assume any recalls would have been done, given that this car was a trade-in at this toyota dealership and then they sold it to me. Would be pretty bad form for them to not address recalls before a sale.

This dealer gives a 1500 mile bumper to bumper warranty, and a 6000 mile power-train warranty on its used cars. I would have to assume wheel bearings would be covered on a bumper to bumper warranty. Just odd that this noise progressed so fast.

Also, I have been hearing a terrible whining high pitch gurgly noise on start-up and shut-down on the two days where it was cold after I bought the car. Found out it is likely this : T-SB-0087-08 "Abnormal Noise from Coolant Heat Storage Water Pump". But now it warmed up considerably today and the car didn't make the noise. Had I known at the time what it was I would have recorded it before it got warmer. If they refuse to replace it because they can't replicate the noise because it's warm I'm going to be mad.

I don't know of any steering column problem, but it sounds pretty serious. Hopefully it's already done. Just puts a bad taste in my mouth to have problems with a car I've had for such a short time. I have bought old beater cars for $1000 that didn't need to see a repair shop until 2 years after purchase... but here I am first week... Bah. Not trying to be negative, just frustrated. I guess I'll find out everything tomorrow.

 

I'm not a mechanically inclined car guy, but I am a research guy. I just looked up various videos about front wheel bearings, and they do not sound like what I am hearing with my car. Also this noise is present even if only traveling 5 mph. And its not a rumble sound at all, it almost sounds like if you have ever had something like a handcrank electric flashlight or something, that winding electrical woom woom woom sound as you crank it. Its like that, but loud, consistent, and just started today. So odd to describe. Bah! lol

 

Well the dealership decided to machine the rotors smooth and guess what... noise went away (almost entirely) So it appars it was something really simple, and they didn't charge me for the repair given that they should have done this before I took delivery of the car. They would not, however, fix the crazy noise from the water pump service bulletin because it was 88 degrees the day at the shop and the car didn't make the noise in the heat. They also did the alignment for free.

So for anyone else who has the same problem in the future, it might be as simple as needing new or resurfaced rotors!