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

2016 - Strut Nut - Technical Bulletin

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by TLCESQ, Oct 21, 2016.

Tags:
Page 1 of 4
  1. TLCESQ

    TLCESQ Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2014
    30
    31
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Recently developed obnoxious knocking sound inside vehicle. Could not determine cause. Spent 2 hours in dealer service; they couldn't identify cause of noise. Even dismantled entire back interior down to steel.
    Took it back for more investigation and they found a new Tech Bulletin identifying issue whetr the nuts securing the struts back out over time due to vibration, causing the struts to rattle. Seems to be an issue with many (200+ incidents so far). So, if your 2016 starts to rattle, this may be the cause. Quick fix with updated nuts and I'm back to a very quiet ride.
     
    #1 TLCESQ, Oct 21, 2016
    pilotgrrl, marcpablo, That_Prius_Car and 8 others like this.
  2. goldfinger

    goldfinger Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    535
    402
    0
    Location:
    Buffalo
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I might have this. I've noticed an occasional clunk from the rear suspension. You wouldn't know the bulletin number would you?
     
    #2 goldfinger, Oct 21, 2016
  3. Gen 2 Tom

    Gen 2 Tom Active Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2016
    333
    286
    0
    Location:
    Lincoln Park NJ
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    When you here symptoms of a bad disease, you swear you have it. I know I heard a clunk back there the other day.
     
    #3 Gen 2 Tom, Oct 21, 2016
    krmcg likes this.
  4. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

    Joined:
    May 15, 2008
    2,592
    2,390
    0
    Location:
    Whittier, CA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Plus 1
     
    #4 krmcg, Oct 21, 2016
  5. TLCESQ

    TLCESQ Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2014
    30
    31
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    This wasn't a one-time or random sound. It happened quite frequently at low speeds, even on smooth surfaces. Only relief was at highway speeds.

    Unfortunately, do not know #. Check with dealer?
     
    #5 TLCESQ, Oct 21, 2016
  6. randomwalk101

    randomwalk101 DYI'er

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2012
    532
    270
    0
    Location:
    texas
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    TSB 0144-16
     
    #6 randomwalk101, Oct 23, 2016
  7. Gen 2 Tom

    Gen 2 Tom Active Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2016
    333
    286
    0
    Location:
    Lincoln Park NJ
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Any one know if that nut is tightened from the cabin side, or under the car? I would like to take a look at mine.
     
    #7 Gen 2 Tom, Oct 23, 2016
  8. randomwalk101

    randomwalk101 DYI'er

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2012
    532
    270
    0
    Location:
    texas
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Cabin
     
    #8 randomwalk101, Oct 23, 2016
  9. Gen 2 Tom

    Gen 2 Tom Active Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2016
    333
    286
    0
    Location:
    Lincoln Park NJ
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Anyone find it yet? Take a picture?
     
    #9 Gen 2 Tom, Oct 25, 2016
    RCO likes this.
  10. Archimedes

    Archimedes Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2016
    70
    45
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I typed in the number but nothing came up relating to Prius

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #10 Archimedes, Oct 28, 2016
  11. jasmine1979

    jasmine1979 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2016
    2
    2
    0
    Location:
    mabelvale
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Just had our first strut replaced at 15000 miles and now the second one at 23000...So far not very impressed with the 2016 prius.....
     
    #11 jasmine1979, Nov 11, 2016
    Coast Cruiser and RCO like this.
  12. Gen 2 Tom

    Gen 2 Tom Active Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2016
    333
    286
    0
    Location:
    Lincoln Park NJ
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Strut replaced, or the nut tightened?
     
    #12 Gen 2 Tom, Nov 12, 2016
  13. frankemtp1

    frankemtp1 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    10
    26
    0
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    I had the same problem and it took two trips to figure it out. In order to hear the issue drive with windows closed and fan and radio off. The fix is easy and no issues after the bolt was properly torqued. I suspect a robot was having an off day.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
    I should add that it is a 2016 Touring 4 that is by far the best car that I have ever owned .
     
    #13 frankemtp1, Nov 12, 2016
    Last edited: Nov 12, 2016
    RCO likes this.
  14. Ben Little

    Ben Little Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    7
    4
    0
    Location:
    PE, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Technology
    I've heard a clunk from the rear left side but only when I was driving on a road that was being repaved. Dont hear anything on paved roads or at highway speeds on bumpy roads. Got a 16000 service coming up, probably ask then, see how far I get.
     
    #14 Ben Little, Nov 12, 2016
  15. robsnyder20

    robsnyder20 Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2012
    374
    301
    0
    Location:
    SW Florida USA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Has anyone noticed this when braking only, I seem to have a ticking noise when braking? I agree, hard to hear unless it is very quiet, but annoying now that I have noticed this and happened to have the radio off
     
    #15 robsnyder20, Dec 3, 2016
  16. tucatz

    tucatz Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2010
    501
    416
    0
    Location:
    Manzanita, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    My vehicle has the same rattling issue in the rear suspension. My 2016 is an early build and I've only had it for 2 months 3600 miles but I developed the rattling issue right away. I have an appt at my local Toyota next week and hope a (relatively) simple repair involving taking off all of the plastic and felt parts to get to loose bolts on the suspension struts will fix it.
     
    #16 tucatz, Jan 3, 2017
  17. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),24 Venza Limit,B52-D,G,F,H

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2009
    2,802
    1,170
    0
    Location:
    Auburdale FL
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    Noticed this on both of mine plus a little cold engine start up rattle.
     
    #17 ETP, Jan 5, 2017
  18. first_superior_prius

    first_superior_prius Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2016
    76
    115
    0
    Location:
    Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I have noticed this... sounds like it is coming from both sides of the vehicle in the trunk, but from inside. That sound familiar to folks that have had the strut nuts tightened?
     
    #18 first_superior_prius, Jan 6, 2017
  19. altdel

    altdel Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    70
    36
    1
    Location:
    Danville, CA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    On mine, it sounded like coming from the right side of the trunk inside the car. For me, it was very reproducible; you stand behind the car and push down on the right rear bumper in quick succession. You can hear the noise as a low-pitched clicking sound.
     
    #19 altdel, Jan 6, 2017
  20. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2016
    2,267
    2,571
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Coast Highway
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Some owners are having the entire struts replaced. They claim that is part of the Technical service bulletin.

    I called the parts department at the Toyota dealer, and he told me they were replacing the struts with the same struts! Same part number. Is Toyota re-installing the same bad struts? :ROFLMAO: Why does that not surprise me.

    I don't think the problem is with the struts, I think the issue is with the bad nuts that are coming loose. This new Prius sure is becoming very disappointing.
     
    #20 Coast Cruiser, Jan 6, 2017
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 4