Reliability information on first-gen Prius

I have a 2003 with 115k that I purchased new in March 2003. I just replaced my original battery today though I probably should have done so a year ago (and the replacement is a little larger). In July 2007 I replaced the A/C compressor but outside of tires, those have been the major expenses. I'll note that I also had the headlight lens polished out today as they have been slowly yellowing over time. Outside of these, I haven't had any other noteworthy issues. In fact I have recently ordered a 2009 and will pass the 2003 onto my oldest son when it arrives. I continue to average over 50 mpg with highs in the 55 mpg range from the spring through fall and then dropping to low 40s in the winter.

And yes, I just entered this 2003 Classic onto your database.

 

ScubaG, does that headlight plastic lens repair/cleanup work well? I've wondered...

 

It wasn't completely shot but has been giving me some problems for the past two winters such that I kept a jump starter in the trunk for jumps. It depleted on me when I left it for more than a week or when we had temperatures less than 10 F or so. Earlier this week I ended up having Toyota put a new battery in and this replacement is slightly larger so the bracket was changed as well. It doesn't appear to me that there has been any difference in FE as in fact I'm now finding it harder to maintain 50 mpg as the temperatures here have dropped over the past few weeks. I installed an engine block heater and blocked the lower grill but am still losing mpgs as I had averaged 55 mpg for most of the late spring through early fall.

It is certainly improved but I can still see some slight yellow "streaks" in the plastic lens. However the lights seem to be much brighter. I think that two issues caused this, 1) I stored this car outside for 4-1/2 years and 2) this car has daylight running lights (which I very much dislike and should have had this feature removed long ago). Apparently though there have been a number of Classics brought in because of this. It cost me $90 for the polishing while the replacement lens were going to be $270 each just for the parts. For this differential the yellow streaks are not so bad!

 

I ordered a Prius in September 2000. The car arrived in March 2001. Car was wrecked in October 2003 at 55K+ miles. I installed the Coastal Tech cruise control. Excellent car. Serviced at 5000 miles intervals consisting of oil change and tire rotation. Occasional cabin filter replacement. Three computer replacements all under warranty. One 12 volt battery replacement. Wheel alignment and tire wear were the biggest problem.

Local dealer had an identical car with less than 17,000 miles that I bought within days of the original wreck. Same service history as the first Prius. Had Toyota Cruised Control installed. Replaced the 12v battery last year with the bigger version. In October 2007 at 97,000 miles I started using the car for Courier service. Changed coolant for the engine and inverter at 120,000. Replaced brake pads at 185,000. Car now has 190K+ miles and is experiencing problems that may be catalytic converter and/or main battery related. My mechanic is doing diagnostics and researching the problems. I would like to hear other people's experience relating to the catalytic converter.

I think that the styling of the 2001-2003 is far more pleasing than the later model, but I may have to move up.

 

Hey there, I'm new! I went and signed up to the truedelta reliability website, and it said you don't want my information because there's no survey yet for my car. OK, so I know it's not statistically reliable because you don't have a large sample size, but I think with Gen I you'll never get a large sample size, unfortunately!

Where DOES one find out Gen I reliability information? Anyone got any information? I'm trying to decide whether to replace my 2001 Prius as it has started rattling. It seems to run well still, but I worry about my safety. I already had the main hybrid battery replaced at 5.5 years - it went completely dead as I was driving down the interstate and was thankfully under warranty. There haven't been any problems since then and I'm only at 85,000 miles so perhaps it's just the "8-year itch" hitting me, making me want to change. That and the fact that I like the look of the Gen 3 Prius much better than the Gen 2!

 

Sarah, please more info about the rattle. If it's not dash plastic, and something 'important', we want to help you get it cleared up.

Actually you cna also resolve some dash rattles by cramming some cardboard into the correct spaces between panels. Not really an ideal repair but...

 

Thanks tochatihu.

It's not a dash rattle. It mostly happens when I'm going up or downhill at slow speeds (usually in a parking garage). Seems like it is coming from underneath the car, like something is juddering down there, but I can't locate it as being one side or another.

I did ask the dealer about it last time I took it in (about 6 months ago, admittedly as I went to Jiffy Lube last time I got an oil change) and they didn't find anything. I have since been driving more than I used to, and it rattles more often these days.

There WAS a dash rattle at one point, which the dealer identified as being in the a/c vent, and not dangerous in any way, but it was going to cost too much money to fix so I opted not to. And then it went away - I think that was only happening at really high outside temperatures.

 

I would like to join. I have a 2003 Prius that I bought new in Dec. 2002. It has about 106,000 miles on it. I've had very few problems compared to my previous vehicle.

So far my biggest problem has been tires. I go through them every 25,000-30,000 miles. I don't use the OEM tires.

 

Hi Ritaab, what tires are you using and what pressure to you have in them?

 

I am going to sign up right now. We have a 2001 Prius w/35,000k miles.

 

I just joined today. I have a 2002 Prius with 136,000 miles approx. I too have the check engine light & all the warning lights go on at times. I drive for a while, stop, start again and the warning lights go off. At times the CEL comes on and stays on for a couple of months and then goes off and stays off for months. This has been happening for 2 & 1/2 yrs. now. I've had it checked a few times and the toyota service tells me that I need to replace the catalytic converter. The last time, I was told that I need to replace the catalytic converter and the computer for the price of $3500. That was 7 months ago and the prius is still running just fine without the repairs. In spite of the fact that I was told to not take it on a long trip because it would stop running at any time, I have taken it on 2 long trips that I had to take. No rental car was available. I have not had any problem on the trips and the prius has operated as well as it usually has. Currently the CEL has not come on for over 2 months. I think there is a relationship to the type of gas that I use. I have noticed that as long as I use Phillips 66 or Conoco, the CEL does not come on.
I did have the transmission replaced at 92,000 miles. I have kept the car regularly maintained. I have replaced the tires numerous times, usually every 25,000 to 30,000 miles.
I'm curious if anyone has any info about the CEL. I'm planning on taking a trip to Austin, TX from SE Kansas this week & would like to take my Prius. Each time I take a trip, I have this concern about being stranded somewhere. Any ideas?

 

Since you've noticed that the CEL is sensitive to the gasoline brand that you use, I'd encourage you to continue to purchase those brands that work.

A failed catalytic converter allows the Prius to generate more emissions than it should, but it otherwise has no driveability impact. If that is the only problem your car has, you don't have to worry about taking long trips.

By the way, it is possible that if oxygen sensor #1 is replaced (instead of the catalytic converter), that the CEL will stay off. This depends upon the diagnostic codes that are being logged by the engine ECU.

If you have engine no-start problems when the CEL came on, then you should have the engine ECU replaced with the latest revision (which may be available from a salvage yard.) In that case it would also help to make sure that the iridium spark plugs are in good condition, the throttle body is clean, and the engine air filter is reasonably clean. That is an issue that might reasonably cause you to feel some risk of being stranded along the side of the road.

 

first-gen Prius dash rattle

I've had a similar rattle almost since I got my 2002 on 12/31/2002. It was a dealer demo with 3700 miles and was a Toyota Certified car.
I would hear it sometimes when I was traveling slowly on rough pavement but not always. Took it to the dealer for warranty service. Of course when I went driving with the Prius mechanic the car didn't make a sound. It sounded to me like the rattle of loose tie rods but they checked out OK.
Work was done including stuffing some sort of filler in the seams of the dashboard at the window pillars.
After about the 3rd time in to get it fixed and they couldn't find it or fix it, I gave up.
So for the last 6 years I've just listened and waited to see if it got worse. Recently it seems I'm hearing it more often. With 82K on the car now I'm taking it in to have the front and rear shocks and struts replaced and I'll see if that has any effect. Rear shock is leaking.

Like others I've had to replace the 12 volt (1/08) and am now on the 3rd or 4th set of tires - Nokian I3s in May of 2007 that now have about 20K and look good. These are great tires!
The ECU has been has replaced under warranty twice.

At this point it has gone out of extended and certified warranties and I'm thinking about trading it in on a 09. Or not.

If I keep it I want to replace the CD player with the multi-disk unit and maybe a nav unit...
I have a scangauge II hooked up to watch RPM and water temp. Sure would like someone to figure out how to get the SOC and Battery temps to read.

I will have the transaxle and inverter fluids changed at 90K. At this point I'm more worried about those failing then I am the hybrid battery.

One last thing. If you are running a scan gauge in a classic don't increase the the data refresh rate to fast - it will make the red PS warning triangle light up and the ABS light blink like there is no tomorrow every time the car is started!

We changed over to 10% ethanol year round here in Albuquerque and I took a 3-4 mpg hit. Now that it is getting warmer, I think the mileage is increasing and I am able to run with 0 RPM more often. I'm probably getting about 40 mpg though the guess gauge reads 44.3

Ed

 

Re: first-gen Prius dash rattle

Hi Ed,

If you plan to keep your car, and have an opportunity to buy a used Ecrostech miniscanner, I highly recommend that. This is far better than ScanGauge for the Classic Prius; unfortunately it no longer is available for sale. I had one and sold it after I sold my 2001.
http://www.ecrostech.com/Products/MiniScanner/Intro.htm