Generation 4 2016 Prius Head Gasket

I have 2016 Prius Two single owner purchased in California new from delaer in 2016.
very low mileage as of today.- 51K
Everything was going smooth.
When I took my Prius to Irving , TX Toyota Dealer - September 2022 (at around 44K odd miles) they said their is recall Exhaust related code - Warranty code - 170171P
They fixed it under warranty and they said they are not filling coolant completely as it is not covered under warranty.
I took my Prius to Lewisville , TX Toyota Dealer in December 2022 for oil change. they just recommended Brake fluid, which I did not take it.

about 1 week back ( Late February 2023) check Engine light is on, coolant light was blinking. I could not take my car to get it fixed with busy schedule.
On March 1st. my 2016 Prius completely stopped on highway and I towed my Prius to the Richardson Tx Toyota Dealer.
They are saying Car Engine is damaged - Head gasket It is not worth repairing.
I can see coolant is disappearing , no traces on the floor.
Technician is saying coolant is leaking to Engine due to Gasket failure and engine is completely gone.

Technician is saying coolant and Exhaust repair is not at all connected.
I spend couple of hours in google I found to repair 170171P should follow instructions published in the TSB bulletin
T-SB-0135-19 September 26, 201

From the bulletin I am seeing 170171P, pretty much related to Coolant leak to Exhaust pipe
Am I reading correct?

Did Toyota of Irving, TX Dealer did not handle Warranty recall code - 170171P properly?
Did Lewisville , TX Dealer did not do his job of checking coolant level ?

Experts please help
Engine failure 2016 Prius at 51K is insane, this is my 3rd Toyota car. ( Corolla, Highlander)
Is there any possibility Richardson Technician who is saying Engine Gasket Head (Failure) incorrectly diagnosed?

 

These are the codes they have provided when dealer did scan
THERE IS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON.
P00B111, P011511, P148F00 AND P319000.
FOUND ENGINE OVERHEAT VERY BAD. NEED TO REPLACE ENGINE AND WATER PUMP

 

first thing I really doubt if current dealer (RIchardson Toyota) where my car is at right now really did any Diagnosis other than check engine light code scan.
As the report is just 2 line with the below codes and says engine in over heating hence need replacement, and pump has to be replaced.
It doesn't have any of these terms 1) head gasket 2) sludge etc.

Can anyone tell me which code says engine went bad or engine is over heating.
P00B111, P011511, P148F00 AND P319000.

 

Yes Mendel.
Opened the case with Toyota USA.
they are waiting for more details from both the dealers.
I did not hear any positive tone from Toyota USA.
Apparently Engine warranty is 6 yrs/ 60K miles.
My car passed 6 years but not 60K miles, hence not covered.

 

Google is not helping much.

This is what I found so far.

P00B111 - Radiator coolant temp
P011511 -- Temperature sensor - Engine coolant Temperature circuit Malfunction
P148F - coolant leak exhaust
P319000 - Defective Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor

To be honest I did not find any of these codes talking about Engine condition.

 

One thing doesn't connect at all.
At the point where there is no coolant, Car computer/chip shouldn't stop the engine before any damage ?

As I have faced 0 coolant problem with rental Ford Van before (Engine just stopped).
moment I filled it, it started running like a charm.

something like, if you ran out of Gas, Car will stop moving it will not blow off the Engine right ?

 

How come Lewisville , TX dealer did not find low coolant (if it was low in December).
How did my car work from 46K to 50K odd without any light (passed through one oil change).
And how did things started all of the sudden at 50K odd.
Why Lewisville , TX report says Brake fluid change has to be done, but nothing else ?

If Toyota car has 100K+ miles, we can understand problems pop up but at 51K ?

I have 2007 Highlander 115K miles, did timer belt, spark plug etc. touch wood no issues, never saw check engine light.

 

when Irving , TX Toyota dealer drained the coolant and filled to minimum level, if it contains air bubble what are the consequences ?



quick google of running car without coolant results

 

I just got off the phone.
After opening case with Toyota Customer Care Center at 800-331-4331
They could not get any additional info from either of the dealers.
They have closed the case saying.
1. Engine is over heating and hence needs replacement (exactly what Toyota Richardson, TX said) - No information why engine is over heating.
2. Since my 2016 Prius passed 6 yrs/60K miles engine warranty. I have to pay Full price of the Engine.
3. If there was any issue due to T-SB-0162-13 fix done by Irving Toyota dealer. Care would not have run these many miles.

They kind of agreed, it happened all of sudden. might be case for future recalls and additional warranty coverages.
Toyota Customer Care Cente, not willing to spend a penny / second on my case any more to find
a) current state of my car
b) investigate what and how it happened to my 2016 Prius at 51K.

I have launched complaint with NHTSA
mine is 2nd complaint of 2016 Prius - For Engine failure. Someone else filed complaint before mine.


My advice is
If you have coolant light on
Find a technician outside of Toyota dealership as they are not handling the fixes properly
Esp. - T-SB-0162-13.

Toyota Customer Care Center - did not get the TSB number which Irving, TX Toyota Dealer gave on the service record.

How much I can expect from outside market for Engine failed car which has 51K miles on it

 

I am leaning towards replacing the Engine even thought it costs 10K to get new Engine installed as it has only 51K on it.
For 2 reasons.
1. Brand new Prius is close to 30K.
2. I have to spend at least 20K to get Camry/Accord or any of these sedans which has 40 k/ 50K - Dealing with unknown Devil

Dealer is saying if they install Engine (from LKQ as Toyota won't sell engines) they will give 12K / 1 year warranty.

If my 2016 Prius can run another 50K miles it is worth spending 10K on it.
Experts please share input / thoughts on this.

 

I was going through my all the service records.

My August 22 (at 43k) Service record is saying they found P148F




After that they executed T-SB-0162-13 ( at odo 45K) September 22 by replacing





And Now at 51K same P148F again.
And Engine failed completely





It is clearly Head Gasket issue / Manufacturer fault or TSB did not address the issue properly.
But Toyota corporate is not ready to listen and agree at all.

 

I am spkepictal on coolan refill anyways.
Even if they filled it.
P148F will reoccur and finally kills the engine.
That is what we are seeing in this forum.
Problem might start from coolant leak-or disappear / P148F
they will take several routes to fix - most common i have seen in this forum is - T-SB-0135-19
Ultimately death of engine.

We are in Capitalism- very very poor consumer rights in USA.
only Companies are protected

 

Can you explain difference between TSB with covered parts vs recall.
when I called Toyota USA also denying any recall.
Yes probably Front Exhaust pipe was covered under Emissions warranty, still why they have to execute TSB (replacement of Exhaust pipe) without a recall.