Liquid spill in fore part of cargo area

If you bought your vehicle without being aware that the HV battery was behind the rear seat in the cargo area you obviously did not do any research or bother to read the Owner's Manual. Also, water and other liquids and electricity do not mix, never have never will. There are warnings in the Owner's Manual about liquid spills in the cargo area.

Is this a Toyota design fault ? No. It is a HEV - Hybrid Electric Vehicle meaning that there is a high voltage battery on board.

Could Toyota have made the battery housing more waterproof? Possibly, but it is air cooled and needs air flow from the cabin through the battery housing to keep the batteries cool.

 

The day I bought my v I put a waterproof mat in the cargo area, as I really use it to load cargo. (I have a second mat backwards over the back seats, as I only use it to move cargo)

Remember if they did not centrally locate the HV Battery, you would be here fussing they did too little to protect it. No one who makes any product that works can be perfect. It is why the only thing made in America any more is lawyers.

Best of luck with your lawyers, I bet they make more on you than you made on Toyota.

 

Not sure where you live, if might be worth going to a hybrid specialist that could make sure the batt connections are free from corrosion.

 

They sell mats for this purpose. I have em. I could spill 4 litres and it would safely be contained within the confines of the mat. At least 3 makers in the US. I bought mine at the dealers.

You were told not to spill, that gives you the responsibility to prevent accidents. The responsibility for the spill is entirely yours in my opinion. You didn't mean to do it but you failed to take common sense preventative measures.

Next time you carry jugs of stuff, use a cardboard box to put them in and pack em with other stuff to give them stability. This is a trick I learned in my last car, not a Hybrid BTW, when a milk jug spilled. It spilled onto a similar "rubber" mat which I removed and hosed off.

 

I would buy two of these, mount one normally at the back of the cargo area, and one backwards over the folded down seats.
Universal Size Rubber Cargo Mat Black 1 PC Trimmable Trunk Liner | eBay

Or, if you spill a lot, here is a much pricier custom fit one that would contain fluid 1 cm deep.

WeatherTech Digital Fit Cargo Mats 2012 Prius V Cargo Liner Black Mat | eBay

 

No, Lawyers are for those who don't take responsibility for their own actions. I have never needed one.

 

I just carry a lot.
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/580144_10200812465216319_348794417_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/22437_1348787722119_4829746_n.jpg

 

Seriously. As if the HV battery knows the difference between an intentional spill and an accidental spill?

Where do you think the battery cooling air goes after the fan sucks it through the vent? It goes through the HV battery housing, then is ducted through the cargo area under the top deck to the auxiliary battery compartment and then is exhausted to the outside of the car.

 

1. Since a cargo area is a cargo area, it needs to behave like one, its not a pharmacy.
Mine does.

2. Spills occur, due to human error, accident and unintentional, and the HV battery area should not even "know" about it because it should be PROTECTED given the nature of its environment in the same way it is protected on the underside from water spray.At first glace, this only prevents any manufacturer from building Hybrids, but taken literally it prevents cars at all. I have no idea why you think cars are protected from water, they are not.

3. If the venting of the cooling air goes through the cargo area floor then we should be warned to keep it clear not carry any cargo and Toyota would not produce rubber mats which totally cover the floor and literally choke the venting.
Actually pet owners have more trouble, as the hair does choke the vent fan.

4. Toyota prides itself on continuous improvement. I would think Toyota actually follow Prius Chat to discover potential issues and get a sense of customer issues, which if they play "customers" I would expect them to be positive and sensitive.
Just as we do not read Japanese, I doubt the Toyota engineers read English. So your assumption is largely wrong. Some US Marketing drones do read PriusChat, but they have no feedback to Japan.

 

I think all cars should have an enormous airbag eject from the front bumper to prevent engine damage in the event of an unintentional (i.e. accidental) front-end collision.

 

So should I be concerned with ourchasing a 2012 Prius v? Based on this string, I have a little one and one on the way. They are sure tomake a mess in the back. i also have a Siberian Husky that sheds.

Was about to purchase a v but based on this discussion, I am cncerned about the practicality of the cabin. Though Toyota markets this as a family car so...

Thoughts?

 

There's plenty of Prius owners with little ones. Just take OP's experience as something to learn from and take precautions when or if you decide to buy the car (i.e., keep vent cleared, line the cargo area well if you suspect you might spill). These precautions don't take away practicality in daily use, so you don't really have to worry about anything.

 

As a force of habit, when it take any liquid containers off of the shelf I ALWAYS check the caps and give them a extra twist to insure they won't leak. It's called an"OUNCE of PREVENTION". Items such as fabric softeners are prone to have loose cap from people opening them to take a whiff.