Triangle of Death and Dealer Disrespect

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by dkenglish7, Aug 19, 2006.

  1. dkenglish7

    dkenglish7 Junior Member

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    This recently happened to a friend from work, so my apologies if a detail or two is off.

    She was driving her silver 2004 (22,600 miles) when the car lost power and rolled to a stop. The dash lit up with the triangle of death. A call to Roadside Assistance soon had her and the Prius on the truck to Berkeley Toyota. As the car was being unloaded, the driver explained the symptoms to the service writer. The service writer responded with a rant that "they're always out of gas when that happens."

    My friend is a physician, chair of her department at a large teaching hospital, and part of a 3-hybrid household (a Classic and Civic being the other 2). She interjected that she was quite sure that the car was not out of gas. The service writer glared at her, barked "I wasn't talking to YOU!" and repeated his assertion that they were "always" out of gas.

    The next day, the dealership called with a report that "Your electric motor needs to be replaced, and it will take a week."

    About a week later, the car returns with the following on the service write-up:
    "C2318 low voltage ABS C1310 HV. Related to TSB code P0A72, P0A75, P0A78, P0A7A. Replaced inverter assembly then bleed inverter, coolant system re-check."

    Even in famously-liberal Berkeley, a female customer gets dissed. And even a dealership that claims to move more Prii than almost any other can't tell an empty gas tank from a blown motor from a dead inverter.

    Sure wonder where I should take my car for service.
     
    #1 dkenglish7, Aug 19, 2006
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

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    Hey David,

    That is pretty crappy and disrespect full. 'round these parts we like to post the dealer name and such so folks can get some warning about that kind of thing. That said, as an ER doc you know that the "hoof beats" are usually horses and not zebras, and an inverter assembly failure is a rare occurance...in fact it's likely that it was the first they'd seen even at a fairly busy dealership. And, indeed, the running out of gas thing is not rare at all. That said, that kind of reaction is unacceptible particularly in a commercial environment.



    BTW, I know you...We've met a couple times at AAEM...didn't realize you were on the forum...welcome.
     
    #2 efusco, Aug 19, 2006
  3. marjam

    marjam Member

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    That is a horrible story and I dealer who should be shunned. I am becoming convinced that unless you drive a Prius you have no right to make snap judgements about what is wrong. It is like a doctor telling a patient how to live with MS. You know your body better than anyone else and Prius drivers know their cars. The rudeness of the dealer should be reported as far up the chain as she wishes to go and it should be stated that she would never recommend that anyone use that dealer.

    IMHO :angry:
     
    #3 marjam, Aug 19, 2006
  4. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    well, it's perfectly fine for the guy to think it in his head, but that's just downright horrible customer service to treat someone like that. did she get an apology from the service manager? definitely a place to avoid if that's going on.
     
    #4 galaxee, Aug 19, 2006
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