I'll second the recommendation for the Car Care Nut. He runs a garage that specializes in Toyotas and so is in a position to see what problems people run into. I wouldn't worry much about the battery in a Prius, except for one thing: there's a fan that pulls air in from the cabin and blows it across the battery to cool it. If the previous owner had a dog there's a good chance that both the fan and the associated ducts are full of dog hair. The intake is on the passenger side of the rear seat; you can shine a flashlight into that and can see immediately if there's a problem. Toyota eventually added a filter on the intake, but the earlier models don't always have them, and pet hair can get into the most surprising places. Cleaning it out isn't difficult but involves taking everything apart and then putting it back together again, usually several hours of labor.
The other known problem with the 3rd generation Priuses (2010-2015) is the EGR system. First you get carbon buildup in the EGR, then oil gets into the wrong places, then the head gasket starts leaking, and you're looking at an expensive repair. I don't know any simple way to test for this, other than to have a mechanic check it out. As the CCN says in his video, it's all about the maintenance history.
FWIW, I'm pleased with my 2015 Prius, but I've only had it a few months and I paid around $19K for it. If something is selling for less there's probably a reason.
The other known problem with the 3rd generation Priuses (2010-2015) is the EGR system. First you get carbon buildup in the EGR, then oil gets into the wrong places, then the head gasket starts leaking, and you're looking at an expensive repair. I don't know any simple way to test for this, other than to have a mechanic check it out. As the CCN says in his video, it's all about the maintenance history.
FWIW, I'm pleased with my 2015 Prius, but I've only had it a few months and I paid around $19K for it. If something is selling for less there's probably a reason.
Statistics: Posted by telemark — Fri Dec 08, 2023 10:23 pm — Replies 15 — Views 1873