The Toyota Prius has been one of the most beloved hybrid cars in the past 15 years, but before one buys a used Prius, these are some of the most common questions should pop in your mind. How good is the condition of the used Prius? Is it worth the money you pay for? What are the commonly reported problems in used Prius cars? What are the things to look for when buying a used hybrid?
Buying a used Toyota Prius has been very common because it has been in the market for over a decade now. The hybrid model is one of the fastest selling cars every year, despite lowering fuel prices. It is readily available in the used car market in large quantities.
When you are about to buy one, you should look for a couple of important things and at the same time also know which year’s Prius you should buy to get the best hybrid experience.
You can read about transmission of Toyota Prius here.
Buying a Used Prius
The process of buying a used Prius could be an enjoyable yet complex one.
The car has been around since 2002 and there are dozens of models available from different years. When you come across a chart that shows consumer complaints, you could easily find that the numbers are rather high in particular years.
An infographic released by the website carcomplaints reveals that the Toyota Prius 2007 edition has the highest number of complaints. The numbers are equally high for the 2008 edition and slightly lower for the 2010 edition.
In general, newer Prius models have fewer issues.
The only catch is that if you are going to buy a 2016 model, it is not going to be that cheap and you wouldn’t be able to buy it for less than $10,000; only an older model would be priced in that range.
Knowing what kind of used Prius problems arise and in which year of manufacture should help you make the decision.
Here is a list of problems before we look at each one in detail:
- Most Widely Reported Issue in Older Prius Models
- Headlight Issue in Used Prius Cars
- Battery Issues on Very Old Models
- Wholesome Replacement of Worn Out Parts
- Availability of Parts and Cost
Let us now look at each of these more closely.
Before you read on about the issues, watch the following video about problems to look out for in a used Prius
Most Reported Issue in Used Prius Models
The most widely reported was the excessive engine oil consumption issue found in older Prius cars. The problem was reported by hundreds of car owners from all over the web in consumer complaint forums and car forums.
According to user blogs, within years of using their cars and despite always getting it serviced on time by authorized Toyota dealers, the vehicle started consuming too much engine oil within a short period of time.
It consumed about three quarts every 500 miles. As years passed by, the car owners confirmed that the problem persisted and became much bigger than it used to be.
The particular complaint arose from 2006 and 2007 Prius models.
Headlight Issue in Used Prius
Once again, the models released in 2007 and 2008 are the ones that have received the maximum number of complaints.
The first issue is the headlight problem that tens of car owners have complained about in the forums. While Toyota has fixed it in all the recent models released in the past few years.
According to statistics, the headlight issue on the Prius started as early as 2006 and goes all the way up to the 2012 model.
The problem is that when one is driving the car, one of the headlights will suddenly go out which creates a big issue when they are driving at top speeds. In some cases, both the headlights got switched off automatically while on the move.
Those who consistently drive within the city in brightly lit conditions don’t find it to be an immediate issue and can wait for it to be fixed by itself.
However, when driving on rural roads and in the countryside where there are literally no street lights, it poses a huge danger. The driver could bang into another vehicle or to the side of the road when there is no light, even before he or she could realize the problem and slow down their Prius.
When people tried to change the headlights, it didn’t immediately solve the problem. When they tried to switch off the light and switch it back on, it would work for sometime before it fades off again.
Many owners were annoyed by this issue that they couldn’t continue their trip and were forced to waste a lot of time and money in fixing the problem.
Battery Issues on Very Old Used Prius
Many buyers are interested in exploring the world of hybrid cars and they have a very limited budget.
For example, you can say if they have like $10,000 or even less, the obvious choice would be to buy the most popular hybrid car, the Prius. But, the world of PHEVs and other futuristic battery technology is yet to be perfected. If the car is maintained in perfect condition and is regularly driven around, it might have come up with expensive parts that need to be replaced.
If you come across an older Prius model, that is from 2008 or even older, like 2005, it is going to be a complex situation
In many cases, you might have to completely change to a new battery and even if Toyota is willing to provide you a compatible battery to use, purchasing it at full cost will void the purpose of trying to find a used Prius for $8,000 or less
Besides, for the same cost, you can find a gasoline car from Toyota, be it a Corolla or a Camry that is much easier to drive around and may not pose many practical issues as this hybrid model would.
Check with the owner to find how many miles they have driven the car for and the battery usage before signing the contract.
Wholesome Replacement of Worn Out Parts
Most car lovers would immediately suggest the Toyota Prius as the best electric and motor engine car available on the market, even as a used vehicle. But it does come with a couple of shortcomings that you should take into account.
The Prius works the best with hardly any need for repair or expensive replacements, especially when it is still under 100,000 miles in terms of distance covered
When doing
However, car enthusiasts and savvy owners of used Prius models suggest that you should never buy one if your budget is less than $10,000 in its entirety.
Availability of Parts and Cost
Here is a quick overview of how much each important component in a Prius would cost.
The battery costs around $2,500 to be completely replaced by a new one.
The transaxle is the most expensive part as it costs about $5000 for a brand-new part.
Inverter costs about $4000.
All these estimates don’t take the current models and many other factors into
Toyota offers 8 years of warranty for the battery and even 10 years in CARB states.
When you have a good idea of what kind of car you are buying, have your budget sorted out and love the Toyota Prius, you can take a leap and get into the exciting world of hybrids, but make sure to take all these issues into account and prepare to overcome them by planning ahead.