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Are Used Hybrids a Pig in a Poke?

Battery Replacement Can Be Very Expensive

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

July 19, 2007

So is buying a used hybrid like buying a pig in a poke?

The weak link in an aging hybrid seems to be the battery system that drives the electric motor.

Prius batteries will last well beyond 200,000 miles or they will need to be replaced almost as soon as the hybrid passes through 110,000 miles, depending who you talk to and who you choose to believe.

All of the evidence on the life span of a Prius appears to be anecdotal without any substantial statistical significance.

So does buying a used Prius make sense? Selling a used Prius certainly makes sense. The hybrids enjoy a good resale value. Even with 100,000 miles on the odometer, a Prius in excellent condition might sell for $11,885 according to the Kelley Blue Book.

That is exactly what Zachery in Homeland, Calif., decided to do three years ago -- buy a used Prius.

“Giving into all the hype, when I went looking for a new car. I decided to go with the money-saving, eco-friendly Prius,” he told ConsumerAffairs.com.

“It had 72,000 miles on it and ran great, for the first year that is. When it came time for the 100,000 mile tune-up it cost me nearly $700. Six months later the computer system failed along with a transmission leak and fuel pump replacement costing me another $2,600,” he wrote.

Ten months after the 100,000-mile problems Zachery received the bad news about his hybrid battery system. “I take it down and get it diagnosed, which turned out to be the main hybrid battery. Another $4,800 to get the system replaced,” he wrote.

“Unable to afford the cost of that last repair, I now own a 2001 Prius that runs for about 2 miles before the warning light and computer system stop the car.”

Needless to say, Zachery no longer considers his decision to buy a used Prius to be a wise expenditure.

“I'm unable to afford the $4,800 repair bill, thus leaving me without a reliable form of transportation. On top of that, I still owe roughly $5,000 on the car itself. Of course all this happens the day I quit my job and start back to school,” he wrote.

Similar Problem

A Texas Prius owner reported a similar problem. "My 2001 Toyota Prius lasted five years and 113,000 miles. Then the batteries seemed to die. My dealer estimated the replacement cost at $7,000. They recommended scrapping the car for parts."

Consumers in the market for a used Prius also need to watch out for problem other than the main hybrid battery system.

Debora owns a 2001 Prius in North Hills, Calif.

“My 2001 Toyota Prius has been stalling intermittently for 3 years. The dealer has replaced the hybrid battery which was on warranty (thank goodness!) and now says they need to replace the accelerator pedal position sensor which is not on warranty and the part will cost $435 plus tax and 3 hours of labor,” she told us.

Mark in Fairmont, West Virginia, owns a 2003 Prius. “My Prius has a steering problem. The dealer informed me that my rack and pinion gear will need replaced at a cost of $1,800.00, “he wrote.

Mark added that he read on the Internet that other Prius cars have steering problems covered by a recall but his was not included.

“I have 85,000 miles on the car,” he said. “I have already replaced the gas tank, and electronic control module. This steering repair is just too much money,” he said.

A reader in Collinsville, Ill., told us he when he starts his 2002, “the engine warning lights come on with their exclamation points and check engine signs, but there is nothing wrong.”

The repair will be expensive. “I was told that I need a new fuel pump, gas tank, and engine control module, at a cost of $2,300,” he wrote ConsumerAffairs.com.

In Colorado Springs, Patrick found his 2005 Prius dead and unable to start. He bought the Prius in 2005 when the car had 19,000 miles on the odometer.

“I looked for any accessories that might have been left on, but found none,” Patrick told us.

“I pulled out the manual and diagnosed a dead 12-volt battery. I proceeded to follow the jump start procedures in the manual. The jump was unsuccessful, so I called a tow truck recommended by the dealer and had it towed there.”

The dealer told Patrick that his Prius was jumped with the cables crossed and the repair will be about $5,000 in parts and labor.

The repair bill will not be covered under the vehicle's 3-year and 36,000-mile warranty.

In Stoughton, Wis., Jim has the other side of the story. “Just to relate my experience with my 2002 Prius. Yes there have been a few items repaired under warranty but what car doesn't get some of those?”

Jim describes his Prius as “the best car I have ever owned.. It's a delight to drive, and my average mpg around 48 in warm weather and 40-42 during wintertime.

Jim said he loves his Prius but then he is the original owner and his hybrid has only 48,000 miles on the odometer.

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