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2004 - 2005 Prius Repairs

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Patrick Wong, Sep 17, 2008.

?

Which failure has your 2004/2005 experienced?

  1. HID headlights

    2 vote(s)
    3.3%

  2. MFD

    11 vote(s)
    18.3%

  3. Inverter coolant pump

    6 vote(s)
    10.0%

  4. Engine coolant pump

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  5. Inverter

    1 vote(s)
    1.7%

  6. Transaxle

    3 vote(s)
    5.0%

  7. Traction battery

    3 vote(s)
    5.0%

  8. Front struts/rear shocks

    4 vote(s)
    6.7%

  9. Brake system problem

    3 vote(s)
    5.0%

  10. Catalytic converter

    1 vote(s)
    1.7%

  11. O2 or air/fuel ratio sensor

    3 vote(s)
    5.0%

  12. Engine misfire due to water in spark plug wells

    3 vote(s)
    5.0%

  13. Stereo or nav problem

    3 vote(s)
    5.0%

  14. Other drivetrain problem (pls comment)

    2 vote(s)
    3.3%

  15. Other non-drivetrain failure (pls comment)

    7 vote(s)
    11.7%

  16. No failures

    33 vote(s)
    55.0%
Multiple votes are allowed.
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  1. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    2004 - 2005 Prius Owners only:

    I'm interested in seeing how reliable the older 2G models have been. I'm limiting the poll to older 2G since various engineering changes were made in 2006.

    The poll will allow you to vote for multiple choices, so if you have had more than one listed failure, please vote for each one.

    If your 2004/2005 hasn't logged any failures, please also vote. For purposes of this poll, let's not count an SSC (aka recall) as a failure. The hybrid vehicle ECU reprogramming and intermediate steering shaft replacement are examples of SSCs.

    My 2004 has 61K miles. So far the MFD was replaced under warranty and I replaced the rear shocks at my expense at around 30K miles since one side was seeping oil. However after I removed the old shocks I found that their compression behavior was similar to the new shocks, so in retrospect they still had some useful life remaining. Knock on wood, the HID headlights have been reliable so far. I had the intermediate steering shaft replaced and the ECUs reflashed per the SSCs.

    If you voted for an "other" failure, please reply with the details.

    Thanks!
     
    #1 Patrick Wong, Sep 17, 2008
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,193
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    1) I've replaced my MFD
    2) I've replaced my front Struts recently
    3) I had the Fuel filler and gauge/combination panel TSB done
    4) I had a new SKS ECU and keys...but this was due to the dealer error during an SSC, not a problem with the system.

    That's all I can think of. I'm at 79,000 miles on a very early '04 (delivery Oct. 21, 2003)
     
    #2 efusco, Sep 17, 2008
  3. miscrms

    miscrms Plug Envious Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2007
    2,076
    523
    5
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Have had a few things, coolant leak and a AC compressor, but this car had a prior front collision and I believe both items were related to that event. The only other thing we've had done is the steering TSB, which was preventative. I consider that no failures, though I'm only at 35k miles.

    Rob
     
    #3 miscrms, Sep 17, 2008
  4. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks for voting, Rob; I agree that failures resulting from accident damage should not be counted.
     
    #4 Patrick Wong, Sep 17, 2008
  5. San_Carlos_Jeff

    San_Carlos_Jeff Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2005
    871
    160
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
    I'm one of the "No Failures" guys, at 47000miles.

    Although there is some sort of funky substance seeping out of my lower dash. That's going to be another post topic when I finally get a picture of it...
     
    #5 San_Carlos_Jeff, Sep 17, 2008
  6. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2005
    15,232
    1,563
    0
    Location:
    off into the sunset
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I've had the water in the plugs problem, repaired out of warranty, unfortunately. I also had recalls done for the brake light switch and the steering, but I had not noticed these to be problems. Overall, it's been very reliable. It's only got about 60,000 km - too bad it's not the greater of mileage or time that counts for warranty expiration.
     
    #6 hyo silver, Sep 17, 2008
  7. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2007
    4,374
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    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    nothing yet
    well the ac condensor but thats because a stone hit it! and started leaking.
     
    #7 Flying White Dutchman, Sep 17, 2008
  8. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
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    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I think this should count as a legitimate failure.
    I hope that this is not a mouse-related problem!
     
    #8 Patrick Wong, Sep 17, 2008
  9. pviebey

    pviebey New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2006
    78
    1
    0
    No problems at all with our 2005.
     
    #9 pviebey, Sep 17, 2008
  10. Dunlin

    Dunlin Senior Birder

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2008
    13
    0
    0
    Location:
    Grays Harbor, WA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    My late 2005 (August) has 36k miles and no repairs needed.
    I did replace the tires at 27k, but that's normal wear for the OEM tires.
     
    #10 Dunlin, Sep 17, 2008
  11. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2005
    9,810
    466
    0
    Location:
    MD
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    manufacture date 2/05, 56k miles
    1. replaced window run to stop a rattle- warranty
    2. replaced visors- warranty
    3. replaced upper glove box door- warranty
    4. steering shaft recall- warranty
    5. replaced squeaky CHS water pump, but no failure prior to replacement- warranty
    6. replaced halogen headlights and taillights- $20

    i wouldn't expect the 04-05 HIDs to be a problem, they weren't an issue until 06.

    and damnit, my car is not old. :)
     
    #11 galaxee, Sep 17, 2008
  12. captnpops

    captnpops Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2005
    17
    2
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    no failures... 72,000 miles!
     
    #12 captnpops, Sep 18, 2008
  13. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2007
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    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
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    wy? every car can have this its more a unlucky moment.
    its not a failure in design of the car systems or build and no warranty replacement.
     
    #13 Flying White Dutchman, Sep 18, 2008
  14. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I assume that we are talking about a small rock kicked up by a truck or car in front of the Prius while driving on the highway. It is predictable that this will happen occasionally if a driver logs sufficient miles on the road.

    I can accept cosmetic or windshield damage resulting from such an incident and would not fault the car's design if such damage occurred. In fact I have a small dent on the roof of my 2004 where a rock bounced off the windshield (without damaging the glass) and hit the sheet metal.

    However I think it is reasonable to expect that the Prius will not suffer mechanical failure due to this issue.
     
    #14 Patrick Wong, Sep 18, 2008
  15. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2007
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    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    so my condensor failing because off a small rock hitting it is not a legitimate failure
     
    #15 Flying White Dutchman, Sep 18, 2008
  16. PA Prius

    PA Prius Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2007
    754
    241
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    Location:
    SE Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    All has been well, currently at 96,000 miles

    PA P
     
    #16 PA Prius, Sep 18, 2008
  17. IDrivePrymaat

    IDrivePrymaat Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2006
    67
    12
    0
    Location:
    SoCal
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    #17 IDrivePrymaat, Sep 19, 2008
  18. Bill Lumbergh

    Bill Lumbergh USAF Aircraft Maintainer

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2005
    537
    7
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I've got a loud bearing in my hot coolant storage pump when it's really cold outside, but since I live in northern CA, it's no longer an issue.

    I chose "no failures", 29K miles.
     
    #18 Bill Lumbergh, Sep 19, 2008
  19. Presto

    Presto Has his homepage set to PC

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2005
    1,326
    24
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    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    2k5 Prius... going on 3.5 years, and no issues.

    I would expect more problems/failures with the 2k4 MY since it's the first year of a new generation.
     
    #19 Presto, Sep 19, 2008
  20. birdsquared

    birdsquared New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2007
    46
    2
    0
    Location:
    Burnaby, B.C., Canada
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    No problems with my 2004, though I only got it in December of last year. It's at 110K miles (got it with 95k), and no problems were noted in the previous (one) owner's service log.
     
    #20 birdsquared, Sep 20, 2008
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