2010 Prius Rearview Mirror Obstructs My View Even When Pushed All the Way Up

This has been irritating here as well - from day 1 when pulling out of the dealer's lot.
I'm 6', and coming from an SUV, like to sit a bit higher I'd guess. But with the seat adjusted to my liking, my hair is about 3" from the headliner - the rearview mirror is consistently blocking clear view of objects in that right/front area. I need to lower my head/eyes when making right turns, etc. And the A pillars appear to be a bit thicker than "other cars" and the long pitch places them more into front/side view blockage. So I see myself moving my head around when making turns to check those blind spots.
I see why Toyota could not have mounted the mirror any higher as the view angle to the rear would cut off some vision.
But I do wish they would have foreseen this issue and placed the Homelink control buttons above the mirror.

 

I agree that it can block views. I think part of this is how stream-lined the front end of the car is. For one, you sit quite a bit back from the windshield that most other cars, which decreases your ease of vision ahead of the car. The windshield also seems to be a little smaller than on the G2 models. This being the vertical size, because width wise the car basically stayed the same. I keep my seat higher up, because I never liked sitting down and having my backside sit lower than my knees. It's just not comfortable for me.

I do agree, though, that the mirror could be moved higher. Typically, there is a base piece that is "glued" to the windshield and the rest of the mirror slides onto this piece. I've had instances in other vehicles where the base fell and I had to buy the windshield mounting concoction from the store to re-mount it. I would imagine that you could remove this and mount the mirror higher up on the windshield. I would expect some "goo-gone" stuff could remove the adhesive and then you could just rub down the windshield with some rubbing alcohol to clean it and then re-mount the sucker. Anyone wanna try and let us know how it works??

 

I crashed my Prius a day after I got it. My windshield cracked in the crash and I am instructing the body shop to go ahead and mount the mirror as high up as possible.

 

I've noticed this is an issue in more and more cars I've driven in from various manufacturers. I don't know why.
I guess I've gotten used to noticing half a car or half a person as folks have suggested, and don't consider it a horrible problem any more.
As I've said elsewhere, I think the blind spots created by the non-glass parts of the Prius body are a problem, especially on the right and at night (given that there seems to be a time when, no matter how I adjust the mirrors, the headlights have disappeared from the side mirror but don't really appear yet to my limited perhipheral vision as putting the other car beside me). That bothers me a lot more.

 

That is one way to getter done! Could you take a picture of the base when it is finished and what you think of it in the new position? Thanks.

 

Keep in mind they have to make room for the LKA camera (for the ATP/Tech package) in the overhead console directly above the mirror, so it's going hang a bit lower in order not to block the camera, especially if they standardizes this height across the board and don't use a different height for trims without the AT package. It's not like Toyota can simply take your suggestion to mount it higher, unless they find an alternative location for the LKA camera.

 

If you stand inside the car and look at where the mirror attaches from outside the car, there is no obvious bracket. It really does look like it is just glued.
Now of course times change, but when I had the windshield replace on my 1980s Honda Civic the mirror did just glue on. I remember because it fell off while I was driving! It seems also that it would be far cheaper to go with glue than embedding brackets in the glass manufacturing process.

Anybody know for sure?

 

Like CycleDrum, I flipped my mirror upside down (rotated it 180') so that it is higher up. That was something I read early on in PriusChat after I bought my Prius, and it really helped me adjust to it. The downside of this is the night-dimming toggle doesn't work, but I never used that much anyway.

A couple other useful hacks included removing the tab in the rear wiper so I can lift it up all the way when washing the window, and adding a small paper blocker to get rid of the green glow on the windshield at night (not sure if that still exists in the 2010). Now if I could just improve the view around the front pillars when taking a corner.

(I didn't answer the poll because I have a 2006, not a 2010).

 

I know exactly what you mean. I'm 6'2" also but i dont have the mirror problem in the prius. My seat is all the way back, all the way down and fully upright.

One of the first things I look at when I'm car shopping or driving someone else car is if I can see through the windshield or if the mirror is blocking my view.

Like you said, it can be a big annoyance when trying look ahead right or up a right corner

Many years a ago I needed room for the kids but didnt want a mini van. We went looking at mid size SUVs. I had the mirror problem in every one exept the ones out of my price range.

I gave up and bought a Maxima, loved that car

 

I am 6"2" -- and in my 6 month Prious ownership **magically** avoided accidents because of this mirror. Three times I did not see cars at the intersections, "hiding" behind the mirror, and once I almost ran over a teen kid, crossing the street and I was turning left... Way too scary. So I totally agree with you, cycledrum --location of this mirror DOES impose a big problem for me.

 

2010 Prius Gen III dangerous front blind-spot in right front quadrant caused by rearview mirror AND thick A-pillar.

After 3 months of ownership I have had 4-5 near misses at intersections with other vehicles. Blind spot at between 12-3 O’Clock due to windshield mounted mirror combined with A-pillar. I am 6’0†with seat adjusted all the way back, height up (top of head 1†from headliner), incline at near perpendicular – bad lower back aggravated by poor seats with little to no lumbar support.

Never a problem with any car over 35 years of driving including wife’s current 2010 Camry, multiple Volvos, Taurus and others.

Based on other posts (thank you) I flipped non-Homelink mirror which helped somewhat. Also, pivoted articulated arm upward to get max height. Still 1†available above mirror and below headliner. Will pay to have professional remount mirror higher – again for safety. Too dangerous not to do this for others and self/occupants, especially in small, lightweight car.

Love other suggestions.
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