Toyota Prius Plus - What Toyota don't tell you!
Discussion
We have owned a 2013 Toyota Prius + from new which up until 2 months ago ran perfectly fine but then got in to drive one day and noticed ABS and Traction Control warning lights come on – car under warranty so booked in at local dealership who diagnosed that the ABS wiring had been chewed through by a rodent – this cost £289 to replace that bit of wiring and car was booked in again as they needed to investigate further.
Turns out that the rodent i.e. a large mouse had entered through the right rear wheel arch and got in through the plastic trim to the 12V battery in the boot and enjoyed a light starter of ABS wiring followed the main course of battery vent hose and some wiring at the positive terminal of the battery.
Having now enjoyed its meal, it then migrated through the vehicle chewing on the leather seats along the way, burrowing under the Hybrid battery and caused the following damage.
All well and fine, I hear some say, it’s the risk associated with living in a semi-rural environment but what concerned me it that from Toyota (as well as Subaru and Honda) switched the composition of the protective sheath of their wiring harnesses to a soy-based covering around 2012 which not only attracts rodents and is tasty, but also provides some nutritional value.
Toyota have been aware of the problem for a number of years and have been subject to several class action lawsuits in the USA but Toyota refuse to acknowledge the problem as a manufacturing defect.
The problem has been so bad in the USA that Honda have listed ant-rodent tape as an official Honda approved part (Honda part 4019-2317.)
I have provided the Toyota dealership with said tape but they understandably refuse to use it unless Toyota UK give them the go ahead.
Therefore, in effect, the car is not fit for purpose. It is clear to me that as a hybrid vehicle, the Prius range is particularly dependent on electrical systems and their ongoing integrity and thus safety.
For me, the issue is not only the repair of the existing damage but also the fact that it very likely to be damaged again because the wiring remains susceptible because of the nature of the underlying design problem, the use of soy-based wire harness covering. Therefore a 5 year warranty is not only worthless but meaningless in light of Toyota’s approach to the damage.
So in a nutshell Toyota have refused to contribute anything, financially or advise-wise and deny this is a manufacturing defect.
We have lost faith in the car as in my view it will simply be attacked again. To put this into perspective, I own a number of modern and classic cars, none of which have been affected at all.
LIST OF DAMAGE
Previous repair to replace ABS wiring: total £289
Now they have quoted £1138.95 plus VAT to carry out the following:
- 3 hours labour to remove the hybrid battery to gain access for the repairs and to refit the battery - £360
- Condenser £13.60 (Part #: 90980-11070)
- Terminal £16.57 (Part #: 82998-74030)
- Terminal £6.62 (Part #: 82998-24250)
- 4 x Terminal £15.72 so £62.88 for all 4 (Part #: 82998-24260)
- 2 x Terminal £16.67 so £33.34 for 2 (Part #: 82998-24410)
- 2 x Terminal £19.20 so £38.40 for 2 (Part #: 82998-12800)
- Sensor/Temp £64.06
- Sat navigation GPS Antenna Kit at £63.48
- Another 4 hours labour for £480 which is £120 per hour
So far, Toyota UK contribution: £0
Toyota UK Technical assistance £0
Dealer contribution £0
Now I am not a VW fanboy but when we have had warranty issues with 2 of our newer VWs, the attitude of VW was in complete contrast to Toyota - bent over backwards to sort the issues, follow up phone calls to ensure all was Ok, etc, etc.
Mouse entry point
This is what the car looks like now!
Turns out that the rodent i.e. a large mouse had entered through the right rear wheel arch and got in through the plastic trim to the 12V battery in the boot and enjoyed a light starter of ABS wiring followed the main course of battery vent hose and some wiring at the positive terminal of the battery.
Having now enjoyed its meal, it then migrated through the vehicle chewing on the leather seats along the way, burrowing under the Hybrid battery and caused the following damage.
All well and fine, I hear some say, it’s the risk associated with living in a semi-rural environment but what concerned me it that from Toyota (as well as Subaru and Honda) switched the composition of the protective sheath of their wiring harnesses to a soy-based covering around 2012 which not only attracts rodents and is tasty, but also provides some nutritional value.
Toyota have been aware of the problem for a number of years and have been subject to several class action lawsuits in the USA but Toyota refuse to acknowledge the problem as a manufacturing defect.
The problem has been so bad in the USA that Honda have listed ant-rodent tape as an official Honda approved part (Honda part 4019-2317.)
I have provided the Toyota dealership with said tape but they understandably refuse to use it unless Toyota UK give them the go ahead.
Therefore, in effect, the car is not fit for purpose. It is clear to me that as a hybrid vehicle, the Prius range is particularly dependent on electrical systems and their ongoing integrity and thus safety.
For me, the issue is not only the repair of the existing damage but also the fact that it very likely to be damaged again because the wiring remains susceptible because of the nature of the underlying design problem, the use of soy-based wire harness covering. Therefore a 5 year warranty is not only worthless but meaningless in light of Toyota’s approach to the damage.
So in a nutshell Toyota have refused to contribute anything, financially or advise-wise and deny this is a manufacturing defect.
We have lost faith in the car as in my view it will simply be attacked again. To put this into perspective, I own a number of modern and classic cars, none of which have been affected at all.
LIST OF DAMAGE
Previous repair to replace ABS wiring: total £289
Now they have quoted £1138.95 plus VAT to carry out the following:
- 3 hours labour to remove the hybrid battery to gain access for the repairs and to refit the battery - £360
- Condenser £13.60 (Part #: 90980-11070)
- Terminal £16.57 (Part #: 82998-74030)
- Terminal £6.62 (Part #: 82998-24250)
- 4 x Terminal £15.72 so £62.88 for all 4 (Part #: 82998-24260)
- 2 x Terminal £16.67 so £33.34 for 2 (Part #: 82998-24410)
- 2 x Terminal £19.20 so £38.40 for 2 (Part #: 82998-12800)
- Sensor/Temp £64.06
- Sat navigation GPS Antenna Kit at £63.48
- Another 4 hours labour for £480 which is £120 per hour
So far, Toyota UK contribution: £0
Toyota UK Technical assistance £0
Dealer contribution £0
Now I am not a VW fanboy but when we have had warranty issues with 2 of our newer VWs, the attitude of VW was in complete contrast to Toyota - bent over backwards to sort the issues, follow up phone calls to ensure all was Ok, etc, etc.
Mouse entry point
This is what the car looks like now!
Edited by arguti on Tuesday 6th February 13:28
wisbech said:
Why would you expect a Toyota dealer to use Honda tape
It appears to be the only manufacturer-approved deterrent on the market; the dealership have said they are happy to use it if Toyota head office allows them to do so. The thing that gets me is that this has apparently been an ongoing issue since 2012 and yet the there is zero interest expressed with respect to a solution or any dialogue - they have not acknowledged the potential safety issue - from what I understood, the bloody mouse had eaten through the wiring for the overheating sensor for the hybrid battery- and the battery sits between the front two passenger seats!
I would have expected some feedback, interest, sympathy or reassurance along the lines of "sorry we realise that has been an issue for a minority of owners and our technical bods have advised X or Y"- I don't expect them to foot the whole bill. At least Honda indirectly acknowledge the issue at the very least.
Never mind......
arguti said:
It appears to be the only manufacturer-approved deterrent on the market; the dealership have said they are happy to use it if Toyota head office allows them to do so.
The thing that gets me is that this has apparently been an ongoing issue since 2012 and yet the there is zero interest expressed with respect to a solution or any dialogue - they have not acknowledged the potential safety issue - from what I understood, the bloody mouse had eaten through the wiring for the overheating sensor for the hybrid battery- and the battery sits between the front two passenger seats!
I would have expected some feedback, interest, sympathy or reassurance along the lines of "sorry we realise that has been an issue for a minority of owners and our technical bods have advised X or Y"- I don't expect them to foot the whole bill. At least Honda indirectly acknowledge the issue at the very least.
Never mind......
Cars have always been damaged by rodents, it is not unique to Toyota. As you've pointed out Honda owners have experienced this issue.The thing that gets me is that this has apparently been an ongoing issue since 2012 and yet the there is zero interest expressed with respect to a solution or any dialogue - they have not acknowledged the potential safety issue - from what I understood, the bloody mouse had eaten through the wiring for the overheating sensor for the hybrid battery- and the battery sits between the front two passenger seats!
I would have expected some feedback, interest, sympathy or reassurance along the lines of "sorry we realise that has been an issue for a minority of owners and our technical bods have advised X or Y"- I don't expect them to foot the whole bill. At least Honda indirectly acknowledge the issue at the very least.
Never mind......
I also know of numerous owners of other brands that have been affected by this. As I've already said, this is an insurance claim.
Toyota didn't install the mouse that chewed through the wire so it isn't their issue.
Sh*t happens. This is why we have insurance to cover the replacement of items we can't afford to replace ourselves when it does.
Last year i was stopped by the side of the road, and a deer, startled by a Tractor plowing in the field nearby, lept out of the hedge, and onto the bonnet/windscreen and roof of my car. It did £4k worth of damage as it clambered over my car. Thing is, BMW know that cars can get hit by Deers, and yet they completely failed to design the car to withstand that sort of thing. It's a design defect clearly...........
(up to that point, i'd had 26 years of driving without a single insurance claim)
Last year i was stopped by the side of the road, and a deer, startled by a Tractor plowing in the field nearby, lept out of the hedge, and onto the bonnet/windscreen and roof of my car. It did £4k worth of damage as it clambered over my car. Thing is, BMW know that cars can get hit by Deers, and yet they completely failed to design the car to withstand that sort of thing. It's a design defect clearly...........
(up to that point, i'd had 26 years of driving without a single insurance claim)
Zoon said:
arguti said:
It appears to be the only manufacturer-approved deterrent on the market; the dealership have said they are happy to use it if Toyota head office allows them to do so.
The thing that gets me is that this has apparently been an ongoing issue since 2012 and yet the there is zero interest expressed with respect to a solution or any dialogue - they have not acknowledged the potential safety issue - from what I understood, the bloody mouse had eaten through the wiring for the overheating sensor for the hybrid battery- and the battery sits between the front two passenger seats!
I would have expected some feedback, interest, sympathy or reassurance along the lines of "sorry we realise that has been an issue for a minority of owners and our technical bods have advised X or Y"- I don't expect them to foot the whole bill. At least Honda indirectly acknowledge the issue at the very least.
Never mind......
Cars have always been damaged by rodents, it is not unique to Toyota. As you've pointed out Honda owners have experienced this issue.The thing that gets me is that this has apparently been an ongoing issue since 2012 and yet the there is zero interest expressed with respect to a solution or any dialogue - they have not acknowledged the potential safety issue - from what I understood, the bloody mouse had eaten through the wiring for the overheating sensor for the hybrid battery- and the battery sits between the front two passenger seats!
I would have expected some feedback, interest, sympathy or reassurance along the lines of "sorry we realise that has been an issue for a minority of owners and our technical bods have advised X or Y"- I don't expect them to foot the whole bill. At least Honda indirectly acknowledge the issue at the very least.
Never mind......
I also know of numerous owners of other brands that have been affected by this. As I've already said, this is an insurance claim.
Toyota didn't install the mouse that chewed through the wire so it isn't their issue.
But they did install the bait......
Zoon said:
REALIST123 said:
But they did install the bait......
Rodents will chew anything, tyres, wood, breezeblocks.
Interesting that Toyota have changed the harness covering in 2016 from the affected specification used from 2012-2016 - I wonder why - from my chat to them, they don't seem to know why....let's leave it there.
I've had a number of cars chewed on our drive including most recently two Skodas , one chewed though the gear lever gaiter, seats and fan motor assy, and also under bonnet the fuel lines and some damage to plastics, the other* ate through the under bonnet wiring chewing all the coil wiring and plugs*
You have a rodent issue not a problem with your Toyota
- Skoda repaired this foc just had to pay for parts
You have a rodent issue not a problem with your Toyota
ncbbmw said:
arguti said:
Toyota have been aware of the problem for a number of years and have been subject to several class action lawsuits in the USA but Toyota refuse to acknowledge the problem as a manufacturing defect.
Who won?Zoon said:
REALIST123 said:
But they did install the bait......
Rodents will chew anything, tyres, wood, breezeblocks.
They installed the vegetable based covering to the wires which makes it attractive to rodents. Rare to hear of a dumber thing.
The US class action will hopefully find them out.
Having said that it’s not just Toyota and Honda, lots of them are using the stuff, even now though the issue is well known.
Probably of little comfort to the OP, but it could have been worse....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bFdZp3eefM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bFdZp3eefM
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