1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

2012 PIP - Bad Inverter

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by 20)^Black, Apr 6, 2013.

  1. 20)^Black

    20)^Black My Third Prius - 2012 PIP

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2010
    5
    6
    0
    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I was driving my 2012 Prius PIP up a slight hill yesterday when the "!" lit up and I got a hybrid system error -- told me to stop the car when safe. I did not notice any change in the drive performance. Since I was within 2 miles of the Toyota dealership (Kearny Mesa in San Diego), I drove there. After a day in diagnosis, they told me that the $10,000 inverter needs to be replaced, that the part is presently unavailable ... on back order. Wow! I have 12,000 miles on the car. What would cause this and should I be concerned about future issues? (This is my third Pri.)
     
    JMD likes this.
  2. babybird

    babybird Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2011
    117
    44
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    $10,000 for the inverter? Seriously? That can't actually be right can it? It sounds so high that I can't help but question the diagnosis (other than it must be covered under warranty). I'm not qualified to answer my question or yours, but that price just sounds stratospheric to me. I know the PiP uses electrical current a lot differently than a regular Prius, but is the price difference really that large?
     
  3. 20)^Black

    20)^Black My Third Prius - 2012 PIP

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2010
    5
    6
    0
    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Yes, it is covered under the warranty. They quoted $10,000 if I had to purchase the part (labor extra). Seems unbelievably high to me too.
     
  4. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    7,027
    3,241
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
  5. 13Plug

    13Plug Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2008
    581
    104
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,144
    50,053
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    so, i have to ask myself, 'self, do you trust a dealership that is clueless about the price to make the correct diagnosis and repair?'. and myself answered, 'no way, time to move on down the road.'
     
    babybird likes this.
  7. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    7,027
    3,241
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Now you know how $10,000 battery change rumors got started. :D
     
    babybird likes this.
  8. rogerv

    rogerv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2008
    1,639
    317
    14
    Location:
    Simi Valley, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I agree with bisco, find another dealer for this repair and for service, especially after the warranty runs out. Makes one wonder if it is even a correct diagnosis. Please come back and post the results when the job is finished. Good luck.
     
    babybird likes this.
  9. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2010
    6,035
    3,855
    0
    Location:
    Rocky Mountains
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Yeah their pricing is way off. Also leads me to believe they are clueless and just want to rip Toyota off for warranty.

    It could be something very simple like the inverter coolant pump, or just the coolant itself low since it happened on a hill.
     
    babybird likes this.
  10. ukr2

    ukr2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2007
    1,009
    275
    31
    Location:
    Victor, NY
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    Call Toyota Care and ask for their opinion about what the Dealer reported.
     
    babybird likes this.
  11. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2013
    2,327
    859
    1
    Location:
    Cool CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Why did you cross it out? $ 2126 , that's a good price. But back to the real issue. I wonder if this is going to be a problem on the PIP. Very premature . Let us know if the dealer finds the cause.
     
  12. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    7,027
    3,241
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    I haven't crossed anything out.
     
  13. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2013
    2,327
    859
    1
    Location:
    Cool CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    . That's Weird, yesterday the link was crossed out and today it is clear again.
     
  14. Francos

    Francos Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2013
    118
    18
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    This dealer rips Toyota, not you. I am now worrying about repairs out of warranty. Some services (hybrid system) may only be done by Toyota dealers. It looks like that some of dealers lacks the basic moral stands.

    Does Toyota have some rule for dealers regarding service pricing? price on parts, and labor etc.
     
    babybird likes this.
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,144
    50,053
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i don't think toyota will reimburse them for more than a set price, no matter what they tell the customer. as for customers, it's buyer beware and it pays to shop around.
     
    babybird likes this.
  16. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    7,027
    3,241
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Yep, Toyota will pay the dealer X amount for the part and the labor. If it's cash, it's between the dealer and the customer, so that's when you shop around.
     
  17. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,121
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Strange. I am one of the few to have actually had an inverter go pop on me and it went in a similar way to how you describe BUT, and it's a big but for a reason, the replacement part was kept in stock here in the UK where Prii don't sell as well as in the US and it cost £1,500 ($2,280) including our 20% sales tax/vat. Labour costs for diagnostics and to fit the item came in at £250/$380. I was out of warranty, yet Toyota paid for the part and I paid the labour costs.

    Not sure where you get $10,000 from. Certainly doesn't reflect my well documented failure back in January 2013.
     
    babybird likes this.
  18. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    7,027
    3,241
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Some dealers tend to exaggerate to make themselves look like heroes and that they're doing you a favor. ;)
     
    babybird likes this.
  19. DLee

    DLee Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2012
    81
    18
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    And the result of dealer deals like this is a bad reputation for the PIP. I am sure this misinformation fuel affects sales.
     
    babybird likes this.
  20. Alexey Kryuchkov

    Alexey Kryuchkov New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2013
    2
    1
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Hey, 20)^Black, I have one PlugIn crushed in front. Inverter case is damaged. I quote Toyota and new one is around $2160. So if you change inverter, take an old one back - I buy for $400 + shipping to Florida. :)