Toyota Recalls 75,000 Prius Hybrids

[DelawareValleyDem]

DETROIT-Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it is recalling 75,000 Prius gas-electric hybrid cars because their engines can stall due to an electrical problem.


Involved in the recall are some 2004 and early 2005 model year Prius cars. The cars have a gas engine as well as a battery-powered electric motor that can run separately or together to save fuel.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051013/ap_on_bi_ge/prius_recall

[tammywammy]

1. Wasn't the complaints in the news a few months ago?

It has to do with something causing the gas part of the engine to shut off. Fortunately no one has been hurt.

[lcordero2]

2. make sure to take down serial numbers for other parts of your cars

a relative of mine turned in a mazda rx-8 for a recall. When he got it back, the car started having problems with its handling(the steering wheel was less responsive) and its shocks (bumpier ride).

[uncle ray]

15. you're suggesting they replaced other parts

than what the recall was for?

[lcordero2]

18. in order to FUCK people

[uncle ray]

35. well ok then.

[DBoon]

3. happened to me about 2 months ago

gas engine shut down, idiot lights looked like a christmas tree.

I was able to drive very slowly to a safe place about 3 block away just on the electric motor

[tammywammy]

7. How fast were you going when it happened? n/t

[DBoon]

26. Stop and go surface street traffic

LA's Koreatown during "rush" hour.

[shenmue]

4. Uh-oh

I'm still hoping to get a hybrid, in a year or two if I'm lucky. Glad to know about the issue so they can get it out of the way.

[Gregorian]

5. Ha! Just got off the phone with a friend who's happy with his Prius.

He loves it.

And that's coming from a guy who sold his Ferrari Testarossa to get a hybrid. For what that's worth. Prolly nothing.

[Beaverhausen]

6. I love mine

and I have a later 2005 so I think I'm safe from this recall.

[truthisfreedom]

8. new technology... i'm surprised they work as well as they do!

[obxhead]

9. On a positive note.

Toyota is making the recall widely known so as to fix their error. Detroit tends to hide these kind of thing from my experience.

[DemoTex]

10. Max nix. I'll still buy one when I can.

Unless Toyota comes out with a hybrid Tacoma pickem-up truck. A Tacoma with 50 mpg would be my ideal vehicle. Know what I mean, Vern?

[Kablooie]

11. Best car I've ever had.

I've had it about a year and a half now and love it!

There have been some recalls before but they were mostly less than an hour to upload a new program into the computer.

It has a tendency to relax you when you drive so you drive more carefully and can manage jams with less stress. This is a common comment from new owners.

Oh, and it takes 9 gallons to fill the tank and about 450 miles between fill ups.
That's relaxing too.

[Paulie]

22. Same here, you can pry my Prius from my.....

25,000 miles in 10 months. With my 72 mile commute I'd be a dead duck with oil prices!

[Orsino]

29. "...Cold, Dead Hands."

I've been able to exceed 61 mpg per tank, if I drive really carefully--I can count on 56-58. I commute over 200 miles per week.

[Paulie]

32. More like my Cold, Dead Butt :-)

Almost two hours each way on by backside. If I had to pay $50 a tank a couple times a week, I'd probably have to quit my job!

[Up2Late]

12. They are coming, they said a few weeks ago that...

...they are expanding their Hybrid lines to about 17 different cars and trucks.

[DemoTex]

13. Why not? They are selling like hot-cakes.

I'd pay sticker-plus for a Tacoma hybrid.

[Up2Late]

25. I was at Toyota today getting my car fixed,

(Check engine light on, A/C compressor stopped working all of a sudden) And saw some awesome Tacomas. I really liked the Speedway Blue, PreRunner, Double Cab with the TRD Sport Package, which included the 100w/400w electrical outlet in the bed. Why do they call them "PreRunner," and are they full time 4WD?

$26,000.00, 75% American Parts, Sweet! :evilgrin:

BTW, My Dad just got a Hybrid Highlander and it only got 26-28 MPG in the Highway. What does a non-Hybrid Highlander get?

[xxqqqzme]

14. yes I do - that's what I want

a little hybrid pick-up. It would B perfect for all the volunteer work I do; all the stuff to move around.

[all.of.me]

20. yeah, four-door, five speed with comfy back seats!

50 mpg. i'd be stylin'. the perfect vehicle.

[DemoTex]

24. Japan listens ... Detroit dies.

Sad indeed.

[pelagius]

36. I'm waiting for that one, too! n/t

[Tight_rope]

16. Damn...and I was going to buy one in December....Oh well...

I guess it will be the Altima

[tammywammy]

17. You can always look into

Volkswagen TDIs (Diesels). Also good mpg, and you can get off oil by using biodiesel in them. :)
Check out the links in my sig.

[LostinVA]

19. Did you get the Beetle yet, Tammy?

Love my Golf TDI!

[Heewack]

37. It's not that big of a deal

It sounds like a simple fix and this minor problem sure shouldn't stop you from getting one.

[Paulie]

21. This is HUGH!!!11!!! Software update and some grease!!!

OMG, teh Prius sucks!

This new technology (the Prius has been around since 1997 in Japan), it's so new, and such an unknown. TDI is the way to go, even if it pollutes more than a Prius does in a year, veggie-gas or not.

I mean, Toyota is going to flash the computer and put a dab of grease on an electrical connector. And people make this sound like it's then end of the Hybrid Synergy Drive based Toyotas! WTF people!

The other part is this isn't even a Recall, it's a repair campaign. I wonder how much the Yahoo reporter makes from the american auto mismanagement companies?

[Nihil]

28. Yeah ... GM have still got a PR department haven't they?

From the OP article:

> No one has been injured by the defect, and it hasn't caused any
> reported accidents
> ...
> NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) closed its
> investigation after Toyota said it would voluntarily recall the
> vehicles.
> ...
> Toyota dealers will repair affected vehicles for free.
> ...
> The vehicles may need to have their software reprogrammed.
> Dealers may also apply a waterproof grease that will prevent
> water from getting into the electrical system.
> ...
> .. the defect isn't related to the Prius's gas-electric hybrid
> system and could happen in any vehicle.

If only Ford or GM would be as responsible with regard to their products
as Toyota are ...

The only part of the Detroit manufacturing kombine that is up to date
and still works is the PR department.

[hatrack]

31. Just waiting for the WSJ Editorial Board to chime in

"END OF THE LINE FOR HYBRIDS" or some such bullshit. :eyes:

[meisje]

23. Is this the end of the Hybrid Synergy Drive?

:shrug:

[Coastie for Truth]

27. Only the end for Bob ("Yer Father's Buick by Harley Earl") Lutz

as his GM becomes "Junk Bond" and its Delphi Division goes into Chapter XI.

Did you ever notice that after General Motors finishes "Swifting Boating" any repair and adjustment in a competitor's car, it's like a Joe Corsi-Karl Rove attack on Kerry or Valerie Plame..

Now I remember the Corvair and the Olds diesel. ;)

[foflappy]

30. Honda had a similar recall

due to software update. Fixed problem with over rich combustion. Love my 50 mpg Honda Civic Hybrid.

[montanacowboy]

33. I LOVE MY PRIUS

GET 62 MPG CITY; 53 HIGHWAY

SO WHAT IF THEY HAVE TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE? BFD

[lonestarnot]

34. Buying a Honda hybrid when it's time... for now like Honda civic.