I'm shopping for a 2010 Prius III and found one that seemed to have decent miles (75K), decent price ($13,500, with sunroof / solar, and Bluetooth+Nav), and good CarFax. But when we went to test drive it, I noticed three things, the first of which is most concerning: 1) The rear doors had identical shapes cut into the lower corner of the door, with a line going up the frame, parallel to the seam between the door and the car. It was too perfect to be vandalism (and both sides had it, identical, and very deliberate looking), and I couldn't fathom what kind of repair would include that kind of work. Pictures attached. I can't find any pictures online with any Prius with this marking. Thoughts? 2) The headlights were cloudy on the inside, like someone had sanded the inside some. Does that clouding happen? Is this an easy replacement? 3) under the front of the car, seemed like the plastic undercarriage was chewed up a bunch. Reading online this doesn't seem terribly uncommon, but I wasn't sure if that plastic was protecting anything that would deteriorate without being covered. Looking forward to finding a good first Prius, sorry about the long first post!
welcome! the triangle in your pictures is standard, not sure why. some have had success polishing the lenses, not sure how difficult to replace. the plastic oil change door is usually the first part to go. it's mostly for aerodynamics, and not a big problem. all the best with your search!
Anyone know if some cars have this but others don't? I've looked at dozen's of 2010 Priuses online, and walked by a few in my neighborhood, but haven't seen this on any other cards (I should note, I don't know what year / model the Priuses in my neighborhood are, but I've been Googling 2010 Prius III)
There are meant to be two plastic film panels there. If there's actually nothing there, nothing there but the imprint, judging from the mess that's left, coupled with fogged headlights, maybe this is a long-neglected-recently-detailed car. This is what ours looks like, with plastic film intact:
These are transparent plastic ding protector layers, adhesively attached at the factory, with a bunch of dirt or grit collecting at the edges.
Thanks, Mendel, that picture helps! Makes me wonder if we could get a replacement cover, though it does appear to be rusted where it was exposed which doesn't bode well for long-term. I might keep looking then unless there's smart way to fix.
I finally got a chance to give my a complete a thorough washing and wax today. I saw those triangles too; was wondering the same thing! Great timing on your post And I crawled under the engine compartment to get an idea of where everything's at; I plan to do all my oil changes, trans fluid changes, etc. And yep, sure enough I have the same exact issue with the under-the-engine plastic cover plate. A little beat up and even has a few of the holes torn. No damage or leaks; just cosmetic. Still in place but somebody got creative with plastic zip ties under there. lol So I have a replacement on the way. Do NOT go to the dealer for this; or anything if you can help it. COMPLETE rip off. You can get the entire cover MUCH cheaper here: 13 2013 Toyota Prius Lower Engine Cover - Body Mechanical & Trim - Action Crash - PartsGeek And I think it takes the 7mm sized plastic fasteners. I got those on Ebay.
I suspect that few other cars have that much dirt embedded on the film edges. The clean ones are far less prominent.
If the headlights are fogged on the outside (like many older cars) they can be polished out, with either a kit or a buffing wheel with toothpaste.
Others have replied. The marks are "protective" decals. I'd think a heat gun on LOW (or hair dryer) would enable you to remove them...perhaps a small fee would get someone to take off the old, clean the surface, and put new ones on. Clouding on the outside happens over time and is worsened by being out in the sun (UV damage). Clouding on the inside indicates a moisture intrusion issue as the housings are fairly "sealed" so damp can't just get in. Either someone damaged the seals or they are failing. I'd take issue with it because it might just need new seals on the bulb sockets so keep moisture out. Otherwise, someone's damaged the housing. I know someone with a Subaru where his daughter "bumped" something learning to drive. Minor crack, but now the headlamp on that side is fogged all the time unless it's dry out and/or the bulb has been burning long enough to boil off the moisture that gets in.
Hard to tell from your photos, but are the protective plastic patches in place or have they been removed? I believe Toyota put them there following testing when they found those areas more susceptible to damage from road debris (just guess on my part.)
Car was neglected, just needs clean up! Reason: Areas that are likely to have "Paint chipping" are protected with clear films!
If that's not a reflection, the door and the fender are scuffed. That is an awful lot of grime around the plastic film. Either that car did not have the best of care or it lived in a tough environment. Perhaps it is just a result of city life. I suspect you'll be hard pressed to find an older Prius without a scuffed lip or underbody panel. The door covering the oil filter does break off and I wouldn't pay to replace the panel. "Minor" cosmetic issues in my book. The cloudy headlights are a bigger concern. Mine are still clear but they have also been under VentureShield film the entire time. The engine compartment is packed. Replacing the headlight assemblies can't be an easy or quick job. A III-Solar is a tough car to find. MY 2010 had three build stages. The later ones have a USB port and an aux. power port inside the center armrest at the rear.
One of my head lights did the same as yours but I had some sort of burn mark in the corner of the passenger headlight. quote from Toyota was $359 for a new headlight + $120 for install. I went a different route and purchased one from Amazon and it is identical to the one Toyota makes and is a perfect fit! Search on Amazon - Depo 312-11B7R-US7
