Transmission repair costs

I don't think we've heard of anyone who needed a transmission repair, outside of warranty or insured accident repair...?

Consumer Reports confirms anecdotal reports that these things are highly reliable.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(findlj @ Aug 12 2006, 08:21 AM) [snapback]302062[/snapback]</div>

The Prius has no transmission in the normal sense: no clutch, no shifting gears, no torque converter, no clutch bands. There's not much to go wrong. I've never heard of a Prius needing a new transmission.

Tom

 

There have been some transmissions replaced, in both Prius models. The number seen on all the internet groups is in the 10-15 range total. Some of the message threads did not end with a final explanation by the victims, but my general impression is that even for the out-of-warranty vehicles, Toyota ended paying at least part of the cost.

Based on the slimmest of evidence that dirty, contaminated, or deteriorated fluid may contribute to failures, experiments are now underway by PriusChat members and others to see if an added fluid filter is an appropriate add-on. Even without that, it is worth considering replacing the fluid on some long interval like 60 to 100 k miles.

Call it what you will, the Prius transaxle/transmission/CVT/PSD/HSD seems to have a lower maintenance cost for the average user than does a conventional automatic transmission.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(findlj @ Aug 12 2006, 07:21 AM) [snapback]302062[/snapback]</div>

One 'do it yourself' reported the change took a little over 40 hours of labor. He replaced his with one from a salvage vehicle. I've seen the prices of engine-transmissions going for $1,000 on Ebay. As for labor, well I'm paid at $50/hr so $2,000 seems a fair price. I think you could find a shop to do it for less.

A better approach that Doug alluded to is avoid the problem in the first place. The earlier, NHW11 (01-03 Prius) model appears to need more owner attention than the NHW20. However, all mechanical vehicles need some TLC. Changing the oil in the NHW20 on a 60,000 mile interval is 'money in the bank'.

I also want to echo the comment that a Prius transmission is God's gift to simple. It has a few more moving parts than as a manual transmission yet the convience of an automatic. It has a fraction of the number off parts of an automatic and it much more efficient. The fewer parts there are, the fewer the failure modes. Better still, the smooth electric power reduces the vibration load, another bad-thing ™ mechanically. Finally, it doesn't have a separate cooling loop and near as I can tell, doesn't need one.

http://hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/pri_T_cold.html

Bob Wilson

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bwilson4web @ Aug 15 2006, 11:59 AM) [snapback]303535[/snapback]</div>

well, while i don't know the details of the diy, keep in mind 2 factors. 1: in a shop the time will be a flat rate thing and not dependent on how long it takes the tech to do the job as much as what the allotted time is in The Book... the only 40 hour job DH has ever done was the first complete teardown, diag, and rebuild of one of the new truck engines- much more intensive than tranny replacement, and 2: $50/hr is a pretty lowball estimate for dealer labor rates, around here you're talking at least $80 and i've heard higher elsewhere.

 

Well..... my 2005 just had a transmission failure. While it is rare, it does happen.

 

Welcome!

You've searched pretty deep for this old thread. There's hundreds of more up to date threads about trans failures. We are seeing alot now because of the age of the 04-05-06's. Lots of used trans axles on ebay and autobeyours.com. Trans axle swap is being done by many diy'ers here too.

How many miles on your Prius and did you ever have the fluid changed and where do you live please.

 

I have 150K miles and my transmission crashed. The dealer said that this is rare. They quoted me $3000 to repair but were wrong it cost me $4200. They said the transmission is in 2 parts and it is so rare that the transmission goes out the repair job was new to them.

Paul sends.

 

As suggested in #6 and #9 above, a relatively economical alternative would be to have a used transaxle installed.

 

I like to check out this website just for fun: History is a good thing to see how things work out....

4 Complaints: 2014 Toyota Prius Power Train Problems

 

Especially Gen 1 had Motor/Generator failures, Gen 2 had more bearing failures. We may be too early to see Gen 3 failures.

Gen 1 Prius Transmission Repair, P3009, P3120, P3125 - Luscious Garage | Hybrid Specialists This is why we worry about suspended metals.

Gen 2 Prius (2004-2009) Transmission Failure, P0AA6, P0A92, P0A7A - Luscious Garage | Hybrid Specialists All we can do is change the ATF before failure.

 

I actually had my transmission fail in my 05 prius at a little over 120k.it happened in northern Utah and the local dealer had no idea how to fix it. They had to get a guy from Salt Lake to come up to do the swap.

The part had to be shipped from California. Toyota wouldn't cover it since it was out of warranty. The cost with labor was 6k.

Anyone else with a similar story? We were the only owner except for someone who drove it for 5k miles.

SM-G900P ?

 

it's rare, but it happens. one of those things i like to warn newbies about when they say they are going to spend every last dollar on a used pri.

 

I like how the new component just kinda jumps in there, when she does the replacement. Powerful magnets at work.

 

Needed a used trans this summer at about 215k. Cost was about 2k installed at Toyota dealer.

 

very reasonable, really. are you burning any earl?

 

Gen2 used transmissions are still plentiful at salvage yards. Should cost $2000-$2500 installed. Gen2 easy to install once you get the inverter and subframe out of the way.

 

more than a new one from the dealer? wow.