Gen 3 Certified Preowned 33,000 Miles - New Brake Pads?

33,000 miles is the lowest mileage I have ever seen Prius brakes replaced. I have seen some replaced in 50-60,000 mile range if owner was hard on brakes. I am more concerned with rotors being listed as turned. I don't believe, like all newer cars, that those rotors are designed to be cut or turned. They are customarily just replaced. Take it to an independent dealer to verify what you are being told. Carfax should list other maintenance done and any recalls taken care of or open.

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Hybrids that sit for long periods can develop at lot of surface rust on the brake rotors which causes a nasty but non-damaging grinding sound when first driven till the rotors are cleaned of the rust. A dealer could interpret this as a problem (or just profit on an unknowing customer) and do some brake work.

 

were they definitely the fronts?

 

it's definitely unusual, if not unheard of. do you have ownership, service and accident history?

 

It sure does beg the question, "Why?". Typically, a Prius shouldn't need brakes until well after a 100k miles. Due to the regenerative brake system the Prius brake pad hardly touch the rotors during normal operation. Only at speeds below 7MPH, do the brakes actually mechanically apply.
My thought is that they did the brakes so it would qualify as Certified Preowned.

 

I thought a disabling accident would disqualify this from being certified.

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I agree with CNYhybrid.
I thought the whole idea behind an official Toyota Certified Used Hybrid was to get a Hybrid that had NOT been in a "disabling accident".
But doing some cursory and admittedly quick research, I can't find anything from Toyota that actually SAYS it can't of been in an accident.

The closest statement I can find?

"Each Toyota dealer is required to order a full CARFAX® Vehicle History Report™ with results showing NO ineligible requirements."
If someone has more information, I'd be curious.

But I can't really find a comprehensive list of what constitutes "ineligible requirements". I can't really find a statement saying the vehicle CAN'T have an accident in it's history?

But IMO, if the Carfax is showing the it HAS been in an accident? I'd pass.
Why pay the premium for a "Certified Used" Hybrid that admittedly has an accident in it's past?

 

Carfax isnt the only vehicle reporting company that keeps all records on ones car. There is another auto reporting company like Carfax along with Toyota will have all records done at a dealer. I recieved the report after bank papers signed and to find what I did disturbed me to the core. It had 2 accidents, 5 different owners, so i took the car to a friend whom does one the the states best body and paints, he can spot flaws of any kind, and only passenger door replaced and that was only work done besides touch up paint.
The interior new or like new. And runs still great, it is now at 160 miles and now im holding my breath. I can let you know of the detailed report name if you still need it.

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Did the dealer disclose this or did you find it out through your own research?

 

I seem to recall that in order to be Toyota Certified there can only be body damage to no more than two panels, neither of which required removal from the vehicle. The premium for a certified vehicle is approximately $1,500. I'd walk away from this as there are just too many questions and doubts.

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Same, same.^^^

 

That is not true at all. The amount of friction braking occurring depends upon how hard the brakes are applied, not upon the speed of the vehicle. Get up to 80 MPH and mash the brake pedal to the floor. There is no way regenerative braking alone will cause the result you are going to get. There is a Hybrid Assistant app you can get for android that connects to an OBDII "live" scanner that will show when friction braking begins - and it is at a lot lower level of braking than you would think.

Generating electricity requires a conductor (rotor of the generator), a magnetic field (stator of the generator), and relative motion between the two. The wheels have to be turning to provide the relative motion required for generating electricity for the regenerative braking and resulting charging of the battery.

 

My first brake inspection, around 40K kms, the pads were around 7.5~8.0 mm. They start around 10 mm. I would say we're really easy on them.