2012 Prius v Groaning Noise

We have been informed by Longo Toyota ("largest Toyota dealership in the world") that there is a fix pending. This will require part replacement; however, the new parts will not be available until late January sometime. Toyota technical support identified an issue with the brakes that causes the noise but does not impact braking performance, I am told.

Longo service is managed by the best Toyota technician in the world, the only man awarded honors in both Japan and the U.S. I am told he was involved in diagnosis and sought resolution. I tend to believe them.

 

I got the same information in Germany. But no further details yet.

 

My Prius v does this at 56 degrees and it's driving me nuts!

 

I live in the Coachella Valley and the temps just started dropping dramatically. My garage door does the same thing when the temps drop. BIG MISERABLE GROANS like the lube has turned like cold peanut butter.

 

My V was making this noise after about 2000 miles. We took it in two weeks ago and the noise hasn't been back. My wife picked it up so I didn't get the full story but it hasn't made the noise anymore. She told me that the technician told her the brake was slightly melted. Temps have been right around the freezing point, with lots of rain. They found it right away without any hassle or anything.

 

In central Al with southern temperatures and groan is present at around 40 degrees. Very troublesome for first Toyota. Was just about to take to service and wanted to read additional information. Will not accept this as acceptable. Toyota needs to find answer.

 

I am finding the moaning and groaning of my new $28, 508 car intolerable. Every time I speak with someone from Toyota I am told they will call me when they have a fix. I have decided to seek restitution by invoking the "Lemon Law". It appears that in Washington State I must first notify Toyota in writing about my problem prior to initiating court action. I understand that The Dispute Settlement Program offered by Toyota is a third-party arbitration service administered by the National Center for Dispute Settlement. I am currently awaiting forms from Toyota. If any of you have any knowledge about this law, or how best to proceed, I would appreciate your help. I plan to make all aspects of this procedure public, so that others with similar complaints can be helped as well. Wish me luck.

 

Please read my post - I also find this unacceptable.

 

I do the same thing .

 

FWIW, we never use the parking brake, have never heard the noise. Car is garaged, so far has not seen any temperature below about 43°F.

2012 V5, purchased in August, 7000 miles, Toyo "Proxes A20" tires.
Also a 2005 Gen II, 107,000 miles, garaged next to the V, did spend a couple of months outdoors in cold (35-40°) weather in JAX a couple of years ago, never heard the noise.

 

We also live in Washington and have the groaning noise. The car was purchased in September and was taken to the dealer today. Toyota told us they are working on a fix for the problem, but do not know the cause yet. The service department said the car is safe and they would call us as soon as they get word from Toyota on what to do.

 

FWIW: our V now has 8500 miles. The groaning noise is starting to die down, but it is still there and very noticeable on certain days. At the 10K service, I will ask the service writer if a fix is on the way. Love the car, hate the groan.

 

9700 miles on ours. Took to dealer yesterday for 10K service and told them (again) about the groaning noise. When I was in at 5K they had no idea about it and couldn't replicate it. This time they are fully aware, but I have been told there still isn't a fix. They confirmed that it is not a safety issue so may be a while until there is a TSB. I must say it happens less often than it did, but still very annoying. Will let you all know if I hear from them.

 

3500kms. Prius v began doing this around 2500kms. Located in Toronto, where it's been cold, snowy, and wet for the past month or so. I noticed it only happens when it's wet out and after an extended period parked in open areas/structures (ie outside, open parking garages). It does not happen after pulling out of my underground parking space.

It stops after a few minutes or so. I'm waiting for the summer to see if it will still occur. Not too worried.

 

I live in California and have had my Pruis V since October. My car just starting groaning (almost sounds like the brakes grinding,,,, very loud) once the weather started getting cold. Notice it seems to happen more if it is cold and damp as opposed to a dry cold. Have an appointment next week but the Toyota tech said he had never heard of any complaints on this. I advised him to go online and take a look at all the complaints

 

Where do you live in CA? Novato Toyota is aware of the problem.

 

Same poblem here in Minnesota in slushy cold wx. My new V had only 1500 miles on it and groaned out of the driveway
each morning for several blocks and then would quit making noise. I tried settting and releasing the e -brake which help some but not enough so talked with Toyota and took advice ffom them and a case number they gave me and went to my selling dealers servidc shop. They told me they ground the brake pad at a angle which seems to have corected the noise problem. Toyota has issued a case number on this problem so hopefully a nation wide alert will be sent to Prius V owners so they can get this fine car in its best operating condition. Keeping my fingers crossed that I will not hear that noise again

 

Grind the brake pad so it contacts the rotor less and gives you less stopping power? Just doesn't seem right as I'd think the more contact the more friction. And grinding would mean less wear for you to use up stopping the car.

Or is it the emergency brake they ground down?

See if you can get more detail about what brake, what edge on the pad and how much they ground off.

 

i notice a groan when i have the car at my camper (on the ocean) it's outside. when i have it home (in the garage) it doesn't make the noise. i thought it was the salt air, but it does happen when it's cold. but not when it's been in the garage.

 

I hear a sound like that if I've washed the car and it's sat for a few hours before start up. My guess is surface rust on the brake rotors. If that's the source, it's not serious, just irritating. A few revolutions of the wheel and it goes away?

Of course, this is with a reg Prius, and the brakes are likely similar, but there could be some difference in the designs that exacerbates the problem on the V.