I asked AMD (the Car Care Nut on Youtube) about this sound and he told me to get it on video, so I did. It's hard to describe (especially with the stupid backup beep) but kind of sounds like a hum of two thin sheets of metal rubbing together.) Yes, it makes the sound every time I back up. Our 2017 Prius makes no sounds like this when backing up, and never has. Have a listen....anybody else have this? (It is an AWD car but not sure if that makes a difference.)
that's your VPNS vehicle pedestrian notification system. it was adjustable in 2017, now it is required by nhtsa. it is on forward and backward up to around 18mph, but the conditions have to be right to hear it inside the car. toyota has had it since 2012 nhtsa was petitioned by the federation for the blind, because they were being killed by prius left and right because they were too quiet. the back up beep is for you because toyota drivers are all old and senile, and can't detect which direction they are going
Thats what I am hearing, its the "HUMM" for pedis unless I am not hearing what you are describing. Set a gopro shoot a video of yourself moving forward and in reverse , you'll hear the hum
Yup! It's the pedestrian warning system. Much louder outside the car on the new ones. My 2017 is almost inaudible on the loudest setting. Gotta make sure the EVs are 10 times louder than the RAM 2500 diesels.
Yes if it's previous to the 2021 MY. It's the first item on the customizable feature list in the 2017 owners manual. The manual says a dealer has to do it, but lots of OBDII phone apps will also allow you to change this along with a bunch of other settings.
