Hello there, My wife and I purchased our 2002 Toyota Prius three months ago, and it seems that it has been in the shop more than it has not. The check hybrid engine light has appeared for the third time and at this point, we are debating trading in, but I hate to see such a great vehicle go, especially since it might only be one more repair. Here are some specs: Mileage: 129,000 Recently error codes: 7/7/2016 - I'm waiting to hear back from the shop 6/6/2016 - Error codes: P3130, P3125 Replacements: Water pump, coolant, belt 5/14/2016 - Error codes: cannot locate Replacements: B1S1 oxygen sensor, manifold Location: We live in Kansas, so its a flat, clean drive to and from work. We have purchased the vehicle for $3000 from a close friend who had taken great care of it. We need a reliable vehicle that will last us another three years while I continue my education. I guess what I am asking is whether this is standard wear-and-tear and these repairs will become less frequent, or if we may have a vehicle that requires more repairs than it is worth. Thank you
welcome! i'm no expert, but i think it's more age than mileage. sometimes, things wear out from non use, as much as over or normal use. if you need a reliable car for 3 years, i would look around for a corolla/camry/etc. old hybrids will be more expensive to repair. all the best!
A 2002 car is going on 15 years old. It may just be a false hope that you think this car will need only 1 more repair before it becomes reliable. At 15 years old and a hybrid.....it's a combination that will continue where it'll be in the shop more than in your garage.
What is the odometer reading? Since you bought the vehicle from a friend, did you get the prior service history of the car? If so, what other repairs have been performed? Did your friend have knowledge of the faults which were repaired in May and June, prior to the vehicle sale? I am wondering if you are dealing with a backlog of problems due to deferred maintenance. Those faults are not unusual for the Prius especially if the car has logged 100K+ miles. It will be interesting to see what is the dealer's diagnosis of the latest problem. It is reasonable for you to be wondering whether this pattern of monthly repairs is going to continue or not. I don't think it is possible to answer that question until more time is logged with the car.
