"Check hybrid system, stop the vehicle in a safe place".

19 days, not happy with the dealership. I understand that a defective part is not their fault, but their communication was very poor. In fact, seven days in to this they called and asked me to go pick up the vehicle. It was ready, they said. So I go to the dealership only to find out they hadn't worked on it and didn't know what was wrong. On the plus side, I got to drive a latest model hyrbid Camry; much more pep to it than one might expect from a Camry.

 

yea, the hycam is pretty sweet.

 

We are now on our fourth day waiting. The dealership says that the inverter/ part is not common. Could arrive today or in three days. We are driving the latest RAV4.… Slurping up gas.

 

most have waited a few weeks unfortunately, i hope yours arrives sooner!

 

I got a new account just to report that my PIP 2015 is having the same problem. Googled this and am now worried that it is a systemic problem with no easy fix. Also have the "Charge interrupted due to malfunction" and then after that, "Check hybrid system. Stop the car in a safe place." Dealer sent the car back with a slap on the wrist and said I did it because I plugged the car in wrong (I shared the outlet with something else, didn't know I wasn't supposed to) and threatened to charge me money. So I got the car back and plugged it in the way they told me to. This morning, same error message. Now have to haul the car back to the dealer to get fixed.

Anyone find out if this is a systemic Toyota issue? People who got parts replaced, did the problem go away?

 

Can anyone give me advice for the best way to contact Toyota about this? Website? Phone? Write a letter? I want to lodge a complaint ASAP.

 

I like the phone option.
Check out posts #29 & # 32 in following thread for phone number options
Will Toyota replace a HV battery if I have 156K in CA? | Page 2 | PriusChat

 

I would suggest taking it to a more competent dealership, preferably one where they've already dealt with this issue, such as the one OnePiP took his to.

 

So the dealership got back to me. The guy says it's a faulty on-board charger, and he'll know in a few days how long it'll take to get in as it's back ordered. In the meantime I can drive the car as long as I don't plug it in.

Thing is...another advisor told me that morning that someone had already brought in a 2015 PIP and my advisor had already determined that it was a charger problem and the charger was backordered 2-3 MONTHS.

I feel my guy is not being straight with me, but I'm not sure it's worth while to point it out to him and just antagonize him. It's not going to fix my car any faster.

I am, however, going to complain about my car to Toyota. Crazy stuff with a brand new car.

 

you should. i think most people have had to wait a few weeks. just a pain in the neck and not the way to treat customers, especially under warranty and more especially with a brand new model.

 

We got ours back yesterday, so that was within six days. The work involved replacing an inverter assembly, part no. G9200-49046. If it had not been under warranty, it would have cost about $2,800. I am glad the hybrid drive train has the longer warranty. It was nice to get 64 MPG on the way home from the dealership in hybrid mode. It was odd though, the dealer didn't have a cable to test charge battery. In any event, so far it is working okay. I hope not to see the "safe place" message again.

 

they usually have an L2 charger, are pips sold in PA?

 

No, they're not.

 

that must be it then. one of the concerns people have about buying out of state. at least they were able to fix it for you.

 

Well there's your problem: You need to find a Toyota dealer that's one California Roll short of a sushi plate. The taco combo plate would work for Chrysler vehicles.

 

Back with more problems. So I was told to drive the car WITHOUT plugging it in, so it will run just like a hybrid car. Well, I did so and the acceleration is acting funny. I have driven my PIP with the plug in battery depleted, and I also have a 2006 Prius, so I think I should know how a hybrid engine drives right?

Car is sluggish to accelerate from stop. It engages the hybrid battery, and then strains the engine all the way up to PWR mode (like, the little red bar on the right of the picture) to get from 15-20mph. Once I hit 30mph it starts driving in a more normal way. It runs fine on the highway.

Anyone else encounter this problem? Think I should risk another trip back to the dealer to take a look, or is it related to my original problem?

 

it is slower than the gen II. try power mode.

 

You should be able to plug it in. Is it just something temporary that the dealers asking you to do?

 

also, the larger battery is basically a boat anchor at this point.

 

Just got my new 2015 Prius Plug In back from Toyota with this problem fixed, permanently I hope. Had the car 4 weeks and less than 1000 miles when the "Check hybrid system" message occured. Toyota had it for 2 weeks waiting for parts. They were not specific to the part(s) replaced but said it was related to the charging system. They gave me a loaner for the two weeks. Have had the car back for a few day now with no repeat problem.