Prius v (lowercase v) Touch Screen

My touch screen has been unresponsive twice.

I was able to use the steering wheel controls, though.

I'll see how it goes.

Joel

 

Apparently getting this replaced isn't hard, but getting the right head unit is. Reported the problem with he touch screen to the local SoCal (Glendale) dealer when we had to return to get the actual vehicle manual and the 2nd key fob that they couldn't locate when we bought the car in April of this year. The service tech entered the problem into the system quoting the TSB number I got from here, which he was surprised to find was an actual bulletin and said that at the first scheduled service they would address the problem. So it's August and after 3 months of putting up with the screen randomly freezing up and not responding our 5,000 mile service came around. I reminded them of the problem, they took it to the service manager and he approved the replacement. Of course, they didn't have the unit in stock so it would take 7-10 days to get it. A week later got a call the radio was in, took it in and after 1.5 hours of sitting in the waiting room, I was informed they sent the wrong unit. The one that they got had NO navigation on it. SO now I'm waiting another 7-10 days to get this issue resolved. I'm grateful that they didn't fight me on the replacement and I'm sure citing the TSB helped me getting the replacement approved under the service contract. I just wished that the dealerships knowing this is a ongoing issue with new models would have thought to have some of these head units in stock to be ready for customers who aren't happy with a ongoing month after month defect that they need to correct to satisfy the customer.

 

They aren't going to be able to get any to have any stock. My dealership ordered mine on July 1st, and they told me that it would be in by September 31st because it is on national backorder. I still don't have it so it looks like the estimate may be correct. Unfortunately you are going to be further down the list so it may be near the end of the year before you get it, and of course you won't know if it fixed anything because it will not be hot outside anymore. I stupidly purchased my vehicle in April while the problem first occurred during the TEST DRIVE. It is going to be at least a year later from that date before I know if I have a working replacement.

 

I guess I got lucky. I purchased my v 3 weeks ago and just had the unit replaced this past weekend. My wife encountered the touchscreen issue the day after we bought the car -- the following day I started emailing or calling the general manager daily. At some point I stopped getting responses directly from the GM, and the service manager started calling me back to give me updates. He would tell me that he was pushing his supplier to get the parts in sooner, which I considered to be lip service, but he was apparently able to deliver.

In case there's anyone angry enough to pursue legal action, it seems there's a case to be made (unfortunately, this is my first post and I need to have posted 4 times before being allowed to post a link, which is why I'm not including a direct link).
Go to google and search for this: "Toyota is selling cars with a known defect and they are not informing consumers. Is this a case of consumer fraud?"
You're looking for a result from the legal advice site, avvo, which should be the only result if you leave the quotes in the search.

Having my problem fixed has taken most of the steam out of my anger, but I still don't think it's right that Toyota is not taking a proactive approach to either fix the problem or inform the consumer prior to purchase.

 

Unfortunately, corporations are like that! Unless there are life threatening consequences, I don't think they'll come knock on our doors to inform up we're eligible for free repairs. Many who might not even think of checking up the issue online will think it's normal behavior, move on and deal with it. My thought is that if I pay extra for a techology package, I want it to work flawlessly!

I'm calling my dealer today for an appointment, hopefully there are no backorders here in Canada.

 

We had a similar issue with the nav head and in three trips to the dealer, the first of which we showed them the video of a frozen screen, we got it replaced. This is far from an isolated problem but on the second visit they had to go deep to identify the exact unit. I thinking they are using several suppliers and specific unit codes must have to matchup to the other computers. Hope this is the end of the issue.

 

Very thankful to have found this thread. Have had our 2015 Prius v for 4 days, and each day have encountered the unresponsive touch screen syndrome multiple times. Will contact the dealer.

 

Took my v into the dealership yesterday and after looking at it they ordered a new head unit. It will take a few days to get it in stock, and installation is scheduled for next Wednesday (6 days from when it was ordered).

 

Hello all,

I purchased a 2015 Prius v II, on July 27, 2015. On July 28, 2015 I noticed that my touchscreen became unresponsive. It may have froze on 27th, but the Maui Toyota salesman played it off like he could not find the energy consumption screen. After all the papers had been signed, Elvis offered to take a drive around the block to show me some energy saving driving tips. During the drive, Elvis, the self-proclaimed "Hybrid Expert" at Maui Toyota, was trying to show me the Fuel Consumption while driving. He started pressing different buttons and said he couldn't find what he was looking for. We got back to the dealership and parked. Elvis then had me press the car's power button off, then press the button on. When the prius turned on, he was somehow able to find the screen that he was looking for. It didn't register with me that the touchscreen may have had an issue during the check out drive. Elvis called around July 31 as a courtesy call to see how I was liking the prius. I told him about the touchscreen issue and he said that if I turn the car off and on again the screen will reset. Then it hit me that he experienced this problem during the check out drive and had run me through the reset procedure at the dealership. He knew about the problem and let me drive away, rather than say, "hey, I think this screen has an issue, can I offer you another car?" The issue has gotten worse - it freezes with more frequency, radio stations jump before the touchscreen freezes, the screen will jump to other Mode screens without initiating the change.

I felt so betrayed even though this repair is covered under warranty. I filed a complaint with the GM and, of course, he denies that they knew anything about the problem. I called Servco Pacific, Toyota's distributor in Hawaii and they stated that if more people that report this issue is happening, Toyota may issue some kind of recall or offer some kind of extended warranty. So, if you haven't done so yet, go to your Toyota Service Center and let them know that your having this issue. Also, make sure to video and document when this issue occurs.

Thanks for you time. John Anonymous

 

Not sure if you have had this problem resolved, but take a video of the touchscreen when it freezes and show them. I was getting stonewalled too until I brought in a video of it, and now they will fix it under warranty. Good luck.

 

We too have had the problem of an unresponsive touch screen. We received the car in June. Less than a week later, the first time the screen became unresponsive we were crawling along in a traffic jam on a local Interstate near us. Radio station died out completely which was first clue something happened, although for a minute or so thought it was the station itself. Found the problem was the touch screen when we tried to change to another station. Could not get navigation map to display or anything else to work. Outside temperature was in the mid 80s, and the inside of the car was lower since the a/c kept working. Stopped at Toyota dealer on the way to our destination, and when service guy started car, everything worked fine, and we had no more problems the rest of the day.
It seems our problems only occur when the temperature outside is in the 80s and above and the car has sat in the sun for an hour or more and temperatures inside quite a bit warmer. Suspect it is some kind of thermal protection to keep the system from burning up similar to what happens on this computer which shuts down when the internal temperature reaches 90 degrees. Went to a different dealer for another problem, and brought up the problem of the frozen touch screen. They did some kind of reset, and we did not have problem for more than two weeks, but recently has happened each time car has been sitting in the sun for some time and gotten quite warm inside since a/c is not running with nobody in the car. Once car interior has cooled a bit, system usually starts working again, or if car is turned off and restarted after running for a bit.

Certainly is an inconvenience, but also out of the way to go to a Toyota dealer. The second one we went to, said they would replace the unit if we had more problems with it, but not enough time to go there since it is almost 30 miles away, plus whatever time I would have to wait for the repair. Of course if the new unit has the same software, etc. as the old unit will just be trading one problem unit for another.
Glad I am leasing so that if the problem is not rectified, can turn car in after 3 years and walk away.

This is the only snag we have had with this car. On the other hand, have had two Camry Hybrids, and never had this problem with them,
nor for that matter any other problem.

BTW, notice in the owners manual that there is a caution that during cold weather system may be slow to work. Wonder how that will sit with our northern owners from Michigan, Minnesota, etc.

 

I have had my Prius v a week now and the problem happens all the time. I have already notified the dealer and they have gotten approval to replace the unit so here's to hoping it fixes it.

 

I have problems, but do not have an iphone, so that is not the situation here. Wife and I have different phones that pre-date smart phones. They do connect via Blue tooth. System freezes regardless of which phone is connected at the time. The first few times the screen became responsive, our cell phones were not even on or connected.

BTW the computer I am typing this response on turns off without warning when the internal temperature reaches 90 degrees to protect the components and hardware, etc. from heat damage. I wonder if that is what is causing the freezes of the Toyota touchscreen, as most of our problems have occurred when the outside temperatures are above 80 degrees and the inside temperature is much higher from the car sitting in a parking lot for awhile. If so, that is strange, because nothing like that has happened with the two Camry Hybrids we have owned.
One was a 2007 which we turned in at the end of a lease for a 2010. We still have the 2010 Camry.
If it is a heat related issue, feel sorry for those people in New Mexico, Arizona, and big parts of California that frequently endure temperatures in the 90s and higher.

 

The dealer replaced the head unit yesterday. Time will tell if that fixes the problem. I'l report back with my findings.

 

When they replaced the head unit, did you lose all your contacts for phone? How about destination points for GPS?
In other words, did you have to go back and re-enter all your personal data and preferences?

 

Yes - I lost everything. Had to repair my phone, re-program destinations points, etc. However, I had the car for only about a week before getting it fixed, so there was little I had done regarding customizing things like contacts, destination points, etc.

 

Phone contacts and the like are not stored in the head unit, they are downloaded from the phone each time you start the car. Yes, you'll have to re-register the phone.

 

Great to hear that. My unit is scheduled to be replaced on Sept 26. Looking forward to any feedback on your replacement.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I have noticed that the touchscreen is more temperamental on hots days, but I have had the screen freeze at night. Great car otherwise. My unit is scheduled to be replaced on Sept 26 - I had to bring the service center a video of the screen freezing for them to to do the repair. I will report back if this fixes the problem or not.

Just out of curiosity, the number on my touchscreen face plate is 510056 - does this match anyone else's? and Do you know why the service needs that number to replace the unit?

 

Okay. Thanks. Good to know. Not sure when I will or if I will replace the head, because my problem only seems to occur when it is quite warm in the car after sitting in the sun for awhile. Have to take my Camry in for service. Will use a different dealer for that, and will ask them what they are doing regarding the Prius v problem.