2010 Prius stopped in traffic with big boom "check hybrid system"

Inverter removal/replacement is a couple hour job.

I recommend that you file a complaint with NHTSA. If there is a failure pattern in GIII inverters, like there was with Highlander and Lexus RX, then this will help provide impetus for a recall.

 

Glad it is all fixed. Hopefully it is going to be a rare occurrence.

 

Thanks for keeping us updated on this problem. Hope it's fixed for good. I think 1 1/2 hours to do the paper work is a bit excessive but at least they paid for everything, as they should.

 

Did they provide any idea of the repair costs if the car had been out of warranty?

 

Ouch! Glad it was covered under warranty though!

 

Yikes...

 

Just signed up to Prius Chat so I could answer you. I have the exact same issue with my 2010 Prius with 13,000 kms (From BC Canada). My car has been with Kelowna Toyota for the last 8 weeks and they keep telling me they can't find anything wrong. Problem first occured with the same symptoms as yours, loud bang and stopped. Had it towed in to Kelowna Toyota (have extended warranty as well) and they changed the inverter and said it was fine. Picked it up and within 6 days and about 70 kms it was on the back of the tow truck. This time they changed the complete transaxle assembly (never had this issue before according to Toyota) this was week four as they had to order the transaxle from Japan. Picked up the car and was told it was all fixed and they had road tested it. Made it home and part way to work the next day when it died again. Left it and after work managed to start it again and limp back to Toyota, died in their parking lot. They put it on the scope and said no codes came up and it was fine, that is until it died on them. Well it has been there ever since and Toyota Canada and the Dealership has been impossible to deal with. Service Manager and Customer Service won't return calls. Have no idea when I might get the car back and Toyota says they have rented me a car so what's the problem. Car rental is a small Ford Fiesta and I have to cover the insurance. If anyone has an idea I would love to hear it and I can pass it on to the Dealership. The Dealership has said they have washed their hands of it and it is up to Toyota Canada. They have been working with Toyota's Expert (thats a contradiction!!) so I have to wait.

 

Do you have lemon laws in Canada? Sounds like Toyota owes you a new car.

 

Thanks for getting back to me. Good to hear that your car is working well and you obtained a happy conclusion. I will never buy another Toyota after this mess and nothing gets my blood pressure up like the Toyota Cares advertisements on TV. Latest thing I have heard from Toyota is that they are going to replace the inverter again as it might have been either damaged when they put it in or bad from the factory. Now just have to wait for them to bring one up from the US. I read about another person from San Deigo that was having a similar problem. Trying to find out if they have theirs back yet.

 

Well Toyota Canada's worst possible service continues. I just found out yesterday after talking with a service advisor (Toyota Canada Customer Service and the Dealership Service Manager won't return calls) that they now want to replace the entire wiring harness but the part is not available and will take another 3 weeks. I am concerned what other problems this is going to create in the process of the change. This will make it 3 months that I have been without my car, least they haven't started to charge me storage fees!!

 

Does Canada have any consumer protection laws i.e. lemon laws that might allow you to force Toyota to simply replace your car with another one? You have a pretty good case so far. They need to ship that car back to Japan for analysis.

 

It is good to know that someone can understand what I am going through. I just got off the phone with Toyota Canada, had to go through another Customer Service Rep since the one handling the case still won't get back to me. I have asked that they take it to their Senior Management and just give me the trade-in value in cash so I can go buy something else and be done with this. It won't be a Toyota though as I am finished with them and their service. I wish we did have Lemon Laws in Canada but we don't so I am stuck at the mercy of Toyota.Through all this it is the communication that bothers me the most and I have yet to find someone there that actually "Cares" and they advertise. Wish me luck!!!

 

Just talked to the Service Manager at the dealership (finally) and the wiring harness that was supposed to be changed early this week is now supposed to arrive today!! I wish they could get their stories straight, they can't seem to remember what they told me previously. Should have more news by next week - if the part does arrive.