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Forced Recall for Gen 3 Inverter Software Upgrade

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by JC91006, Aug 9, 2016.

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  1. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I was going to hold off the Inverter software upgrade recall on my Gen 3 car but it seems it's being forced onto owners now. My registration renewal came in and I can't register the car without the proof of recall performed. There's also a stop sale on the car until the recall has been performed.

    So there's no longer a choice of not doing it.......
     
    #1 JC91006, Aug 9, 2016
  2. prev93

    prev93 Member

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    ...and why would you choose NOT to do the upgrade?
     
    #2 prev93, Aug 9, 2016
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Because the recall states if your inverter fails and you have not done the recall, the inverter would be replaced free of charge.

    After you do the recall, you now have a limited warranty on the inverter......that expires.
     
    #3 JC91006, Aug 9, 2016
  4. ILuvMyPriusToo

    ILuvMyPriusToo Senior Member

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    What strong arm tactics!
     
    #4 ILuvMyPriusToo, Aug 9, 2016
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i'm going to have trouble adjusting to the law and order when i move to cali.
     
    #5 bisco, Aug 9, 2016
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  6. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    You don't need to adjust, just enjoy the nice weather and scenery;)!
     
    #6 Raytheeagle, Aug 9, 2016
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  7. RMB

    RMB Senior Member

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    I did not receive any recall notices at all.
     
    #7 RMB, Aug 9, 2016
  8. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Your car should have been built after the recall.
     
    #8 fuzzy1, Aug 10, 2016
  9. RMB

    RMB Senior Member

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    Bought my Gen 3 in March 2014, production was probably Sept or Oct 2013. I am a bit concern after searching in PC about inverter failure that can get my family stranded somewhere out there.
     
    #9 RMB, Aug 10, 2016
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  10. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    I too am concerned about inverter failure. The recall was done on ours before I bought it.
     
    #10 dorunron, Aug 10, 2016
  11. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    A little digging finds that this was fixed a bit later than I remembered. It covers production to early February 2014:
    Inverter IPM - 15 year Warranty Enhancement ZE3 | PriusChat
    https://techinfo.toyota.com/techInfoPortal/staticcontent/en/techinfo/html/prelogin/docs/cp/e0etofaq.pdf
     
    #11 fuzzy1, Aug 10, 2016
  12. RMB

    RMB Senior Member

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    #12 RMB, Aug 10, 2016
  13. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    15 year warranty is not sufficient for you? I don't understand your logic. Please explain.
     
    #13 dorunron, Aug 10, 2016
  14. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    One is an unlimited warranty, one is a 15 year warranty (with mileage limit I think). If I was given the choice, I would choose the unlimited warranty.

    Also I believe there's a condition on the 15 year warranty, it has to be a specific failure in the inverter that would be covered. The recall notice doesn't specify a specific condition.....just a failure would be covered and you would get a new inverter.
     
    #14 JC91006, Aug 10, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 10, 2016
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Quickly skimming @fuzzy1 's pdf (post #11), and looking through my Toyota Canada notice, I see no mention of a warranty changes. It says that if they find existing damage to the transistors in the inverter they will replace the inverter prior to applying the software update. Both the US and Canadian doc's say this. Mine, word-for-word, is:

    Additionally, in the unlikely event your vehicle has experienced the condition described, the dealer will replace the inverter assembly prior to the software updates.

    Your focus is on a letter US owners got after the update, I think, extending the warranty to 15 year? Could you post that, or a link?
     
    #15 Mendel Leisk, Aug 10, 2016
  16. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I think you are right with the wording. For some reason I recalled reading a different wording that specified a replacement inverter would be given if the recall has not been done. Whatever I read may not have been official Toyota language.

    Either way, there is a 15 year UNLIMITED MILES warranty now. I would liked to have kept the "dealer will replace the inverter assembly prior to the software updates" instead of having a set 15 years.
     
    #16 JC91006, Aug 10, 2016
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  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    All said, I'd put my money on getting the software update. My sense post-update was that the car slipped into electric-only more easily, that's all I noticed. I didn't mention anything about this to my wife, yet out of the blue she remarked about this too, so not just me.

    Regardless of the warranty machinations, I'd say getting the update asap is the best bet.
     
    #17 Mendel Leisk, Aug 10, 2016
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  18. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    I strongly agree. A reduced risk of getting stranded a long way from home by a part failure now, seems more valuable than quibbling over who pays for the replacement part should the failure occur when the car is more than 15 years old.
     
    #18 fuzzy1, Aug 10, 2016
  19. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    What was the manufacturing cut-off date?
     
    #19 Rebound, Aug 10, 2016
  20. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    See the Toyota link back in my post at #11.
     
    #20 fuzzy1, Aug 10, 2016
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