1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Missing hubcaps too often?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by vafoodie, Jan 21, 2012.

  1. vafoodie

    vafoodie Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2010
    14
    1
    0
    Location:
    Yorktown, VA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I have had my Prius for a year and a half. In that time, I have lost two hubcaps. This seems excessive in contrast to my previous Camrys. Has anyone else had this problem? Do you think they are being stolen or might there be a manufacturing issue?
     
  2. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,964
    2,612
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I pulled mine off the week I bought the car, and put tiny Toyota caps over the 1 1/2" holes. The alloys underneath look pretty good.
     
  3. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,121
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I'm a taxi driver (and you know how we drive) with 60k+ miles and haven't lost any.

    Must be your driving! ;)
     
  4. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,348
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Lost one during 200 mile trip for Thanksgiving right after 20,000 service. Called Dealership to explain and was told they would replace it when I got back. They also said this happens if not popped back on all the way. I believe them too. I pulled one off the first month when considering center caps, and they are very secure.
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    55,410
    38,644
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Could very well be theft. They're pricey, and not secure.

    The 15" wheel's cover was the THE thing that tipped us towards the Canadian model with 17" wheels. If we were in the same situation now, I might go for the 15" and just pull the covers off right away. Unfortunately then you have an alloy that looks so-so, and an exposed center hub opening to deal with.

    Going with a plastic wheel cover over a 15" alloy was not a good decision by Toyota, IMHO.
     
  6. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2010
    4,539
    1,433
    9
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    The car is rejecting them, it's like when a wart falls off.

    If for some reason you really want to keep, them, be sure they are pressed all the way into the wheel all around the wheel cover. You can put that kind of cover 1/2 way on the wheel and it will seem like it is fully mounted unless you look closely.
     
  7. kornkob

    kornkob New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2011
    128
    15
    0
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Or the roads in your area.
     
  8. Tech_Guy

    Tech_Guy Class Clown

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2007
    868
    123
    0
    Location:
    Silicon Valley, CA --- Land of Fruits & Nuts
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I saw one Prius that had a couple of Ty-Wraps on each wheel to ensure that the hub caps would not fall off.

    I took the hub caps off my car. - If you don't have them, can't lose them. (The KISS philosophy really works.)

    Keith
     
  9. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,744
    6,541
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    It could be the roads, or your driving, or perhaps you took them off to clean the brake dust out of the rotors and didn't get them back on juuuuuuuust right.
    I've only got 22,000 miles in type, but the roads here are NOT what you would call smooth, and I'm NOT a gentle driver with 'my' G3 (cause I didn't pay for it... :) )

    I haven't lost any in 21K, and I've had my covers off 3-4x.

    YMMV.

    FWIW, I agree with the KISS principle.
    Just take 'em off. I'm not really wild about the tuning fork look of the OEM rims......but they're not any worse than the plasticky wheel covers!! :D
     
  10. Judgeless

    Judgeless Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2009
    1,821
    255
    0
    Location:
    Cleveland, OH
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I lost mine 5 minutes after I got home. All four are up in the attic in a plastic bad.
     
  11. nkirk

    nkirk Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2011
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Where did you get the tiny Toyota caps??


    Thanks