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Gen 4 Prius Issues

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Zac N, Dec 6, 2017.

  1. Zac N

    Zac N New Member

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    Hello everyone,

    This is my first Prius, originally bought for my girlfriend, but soon became mine due to issues. So we bought it 4/2016 had 3 miles on it. The car was great for about 4 months, then it started being weird in all sorts of ways, listed below.

    Started having a hard clunk when shifting from Park to Drive. (All toyota techs swear sounds normal)
    When at a stop light, would roll forward slowly when gas engine would kick on, regardless of brake. (After brake recalls, it will lurch a good few inches, unless brake isn't slammed to the floor, then it lurches about a foot)
    In park would lurch a good 6 inches forward when gas engine kicked on.(solved by brake recalls, now just kind of rocks back and forth)
    Center console usb and 12v plugs would stop working randomly.(was told no issue found, until I had tech drive with me and even his charger stopped working, was then replaced)
    The first year and change, I went through 4 wind shields(not cheap almost $800 a pop, the one replaced after june 2017 seems to be holding up)
    Randomly will lose all drive power, giving me about 1-2mph thrust at stop lights.(has happend 3 times to me, once to my lady, who then traded me cars out of fear)
    At times refuses to pair with any Bluetooth connection.(dealership says phone problem, we have tried iPhones, Samsung's, and LG devices together, nothing)
    Connects fine to mine most of the time, my ladys always gets this weird screen on prius dash and wont allow steering controls to skip, rewind and volume.
    Engine revs crazy high, going down hill everytime, randomly at flat freeway speeds when you take your foot off the gas, revs high and maintains speed. Both of which severely limit braking power as it revs through braking.(neutral is the only solution to regain braking/stop rev, Toyota says its normal)
    My electric battery takes forever to recharge, and drains in a matter of 1-3 miles.(Toyota says its normal, I just need to drive conservative) I do, drive score averages between 70-89, in traffic 90+
    I used to get between 50-65mpg that first 4 months. Dropped to 47-55mpg for the next 8 months, since my last service it has been between 21-41mpg, seriously. (Again dealership says be conservative)
    Kept having TPMS and check engine lights come on.(TPMS was solved by them replacing a sensor, check engine was said to be loose gas cap, I checked that first each time, only to eventually fail a dealership smog the 3rd time, and this totally different colored gas cap be put on, was charged for smog, no gas cap on service report though, got part numbers from service manager to verify) this one bothered me as CA emissions says I shouldn't have to pay for failed smog tests.

    I get dealership services every 5k miles. Currently have 65k (I know I drive a lot, jobs far). Have my filters including HV replaced/checked every time they need it. I bring issues up to service technicians, with little or no resolution. Most of the time putting blame on me, or they tell me some story of why, and how its the cars normal function. I have been to 4 different dealerships, 10 of 16 services being done by the one by my house. I even offered to let the service manager drive it home for a week so he could see, was of course told no. I keep detailed records of each service, logging reported issues that I brought up, and have all my service reports. Most issues brought up never end up on a service report, but I note them down in my service log each time anyway. A few have ended up on service reports though. My lady wont drive it at all, shes to afraid that another power failure will happen, a high rev or something will get her to hit or be hit by another car.

    Now, I have to know from fellow prius owners, is this stuff normal for these cars? I love the car when it runs good, my favorite car is even a Toyota. But I have never had a car act this weird, or had service departments tell me without a code, we wont fix, or go exploring for the problem. Anyone have either same issues, solutions, words of wisdom, or advice?

    Thanks for any help,
    Zac
     
  2. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

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    It would seem you might prefer a fiat, some do, most don’t, but if Toyota doesn’t suit you, well, try a fiat.

    Or, if you really want to nitpick, get a tesla, self driving, you can interact with your computer as the case by case if inadequate technology streams by.

    Imagine the problems if the US had no consumer proctecting agency, Oh Wait, we just lost it, OK, so let’s forget consumer protection, how bout, imagine the problems if there were no EPA, Oh Wait, we just dismantled it, Time for a fiat.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!
    sorry to hear about your problems, i would say most unusual.
    what dealership are you using? have you documented everything and investigated the california lemon law?
     
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  4. Zac N

    Zac N New Member

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    It was bought from Temecula Toyota, and is serviced mostly out of Corona Toyota.

    I have documented everything along the way, you should see the writing all over my maintenance log, and folder for it. I have looked into the lemon law, it says most of the time it has to be 3 or more attempts at the same thing, 2 for safety issue. The brakes would constitute the safety issue, but the dealership hasn't logged a break issue, since installing the clip 1/3/17, a full two months after I got my notice and went in for them. I have my notes, of me taking it in and asking them to check, but how well would those really hold up?

    Brand wise they are my favorite, I just think this car was made on a Friday right before lunch.
     
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  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i would contact the consumer affairs office of your ag. no point in having a law and not availing yourself of it if possible.
    have you called toyota customer service, and/or tried another dealer?
     
  6. Zac N

    Zac N New Member

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    Relooking through the paperwork there are a few notations from the service people, at customer request check brake lining, calipers, disks, and such just no actual complaint of mine. I have taken it to a couple different dealers, since the issues and brake clip. I get one liner or insanely short work orders back after letting them know about brake/rev issues. The last shop Tustin Toyota was where I ended up getting charged for a failed smog, and the service guy just noted down my pad thickness. Had a hv service done there as well, an the whole track, guard and fan were dirty after. Looks like he just swapped filters. Whole other box of worms with that one lol.

    Thats a good idea, Im just worried the next Toyota I go to buy, I'll get screwed on. I more or less needed validation from another prius owner.

    Appriciate the help/opinion, off to the governmental circus I go.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yeah, you have way more issues than i have ever read. interesting that the battery cooling system was dirty, that is very unusual. do you carry heavily shedding pets a lot?
     
  8. pilotgrrl

    pilotgrrl Senior Member

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    Has any place ever noted any error codes? Maybe you should get one of the OBD II devices and Torque Pro to see if the car is throwing any error codes.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  9. Zac N

    Zac N New Member

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    The list of problems, was from when I first got the car until now. Currently my issues are battery charge and drain, the brake issue when gas engine kicks on, the clunk shifting from park to drive(kinda got used to), the rev an brake power loss, bluetooth randomly, and power loss randomly. Like I said I keep good notes lol.

    I have a pitbull but his spot is in the hatchback. It potentially could be from my daughter. Her feet would hang about there.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not sure what would be coming off of her feet.:p you still have a list of issues way longer than i recall having seen on a car that young. mine is 5 1/2 years old with 55k and zero issues.
     
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  11. Zac N

    Zac N New Member

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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    keeping a system connected has shown to affect the cars performance.
     
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  13. Zac N

    Zac N New Member

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    See thats what I was hoping to hear. I have a friend with a couple years old prius c, he has like none of my issues, an hes been telling me to talk with a lawyer for a good while.

    My previous Toyota had no issues what so ever as well. Just this ones very temperamental.
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yeah, lemons do happen. even for toyota. you need a meet up with a regional factory rep. also, you should drive another gen 4, to see if it displays any of the same behaviors, to make sure it isn't your perception.
     
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  15. Zac N

    Zac N New Member

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    Ahhhhh crap, now I am going to have to pull the obd out, drive for awhile and find out. I can't imagine it could give me that many issues though. About a week at work and Ill find out for sure, its around 100 miles each way.
     
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  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agreed, it may be one or a few, or none at all, but not all.
     
  17. Zac N

    Zac N New Member

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    Thats a good idea, I want to be 100% sure before I start a lemon process. I can imagine its a pain, to go through. An I was good with the issues up until I started getting charged for them. Unfortunately finding info on alot of my issues is hard with it being a gen 4. Hence why I am here, to get good feed back from actual prius owners.

    Again I appriciate it.
     
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  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you may want to look into mini vci. it has toyota tech stream, which is the proper software for reading prius trouble codes. it's only 25 bucks on amazon, but you need a compatible laptop. i'm not educated, but there are tons of threads here.
     
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  19. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    Since you have a Prius Two, with the NiMH battery, I’d suggest checking if your car’s VIN is in the range to which the Hybrid Vehicle Control ECU software update (T-SB-0241-17) applies. If so, and the update hasn’t already been installed, the dealer should do it at no charge under the Hybrid System Warranty if you report either of the two symptoms I mentioned in that thread.
    Similarly, has the Entune head unit software been updated to at least version 010148 (T-SB-0279-17)? The Basic Warranty expired at 36,000 miles, so this update might not be free, but if you’ve complained before about Bluetooth trouble and make it clear that you just want the dealer to install the update, not to do more troubleshooting or replace the head unit, I’d hope they would update the software for you at no charge, especially if they’re getting your scheduled maintenance business.
     
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  20. mark27lim

    mark27lim Active Member

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    zac ur list of issues is mind boggling..if that's not a lemon prius i don't know what is. like someone suggested maybe one way is to swap gen4s with someone who's willing for a week and let them give u their opinion after. and you would be able to notice the difference yourself as well. or maybe it's easier to spring for a one week rental? i don't know. feel for you though. mine is about a year and a half old, only got the rear suspension rattle but otherwise love the car