Toyota’s popular hybrid is reliable & light on fuel. But you should consider its unique battery & warranty issues before buying a pre-owned Prius.
Every car regularly driven on the road today has a battery. Normally, it is used for starting the engine along with powering electronics like the radio, security system, and other convenience features. One might think that a hybrid car, with its big battery on-board, might be able to eschew its smaller battery. But in fact, hybrid cars have two batteries. A traditional battery, plus the much larger, and more powerful “traction” battery used for the drive wheels. In this article, our aim is to discuss the hybrid battery, as they are not quite as simple as a traditional battery. For current or prospective owners of the Toyota Prius, this article is for you.
On a quick note, if you find yourself in need of replacing the low-voltage 12-volt battery, there’s some good news. The 12-volt battery in the Prius is about as conventional as it gets and should be readily available at most auto parts stores. This is a battery that weighs about the same and functions the same as car batteries that came decades before it.
For the Prius, you’ll want to make sure it is an AGM battery. AGM stands for Absorbed Glass Mat, and both emit and charge differently from a traditional lead-acid battery. This is required for proper performance of electronics of the car, as well as being a spill-proof design. They are a little more expensive than a lead-acid battery, but not by all that much.
Toyota’s Prius arguably changed the automotive landscape when it debuted back in the early 2000s. Since then, it has gone through four generations, with similar battery packs in the three most-current generations.
Pre-owned Priuses: Batteries & Warranties
Since we all know batteries have a lifecycle to them, you may be wondering about the battery pack in a used Prius. We’re here to display how mileage, charging technique, age, climate, and more can help maintain a long battery life. For the purposes of this article, we will cover what courses of action to take when looking at a hybrid battery that has lost all of its zap.
First, we’ll start with warranty. Toyota Nation states that in California and other CARB states, Toyota’s warranty covers a Prius hybrid battery for 10 years or 150,000 miles. For perspective, that’s anything 2011 or older. Outside of CARB states, your warranty covers 2013 and newer Toyota Hybrids. That means the entire second-generation Prius and a good majority of the third-generation cars are not covered under warranty.
If your heart is set on buying, or you already have an older Prius, you’ll want to find out the condition of the battery.
Keep in mind, Toyota’s warranty for the hybrid battery covers mechanical faults as part of manufacturing defects. According to one of Toyota’s blogs, lack of use is not considered a manufacturing defect. Toyota has a number of systems in place to keep the battery from fully depleting its reserves while being driven. But, if the car sits for an extended period and the battery goes flat, it can’t be re-charged. Again, Toyota says that’s not a defect. The cost of replacement is on you.
Toyota’s second-generation Prius, known as the XW20, was made from 2003 to 2009. You know this car very well. The signature shape is instantly recognizable, but mind you, cars from this generation are getting close to – if not surpassing – 15 years old. So, you may be wondering, “are the batteries any good?” Well, that depends.
Plug Life: Prius Batteries Lifecycle
If your heart is set on buying, or you already have an older Prius, you’ll want to find out the condition of the battery. Torque News recommends some items like the Carista OBD2 port adapter and the Dr. Prius App. These items tell you just about everything you need to know about the current health of the battery in any particular Prius. But The Drive says you can also look for poor fuel economy, rapid depletion of battery power, and electrical faults as signs of a bad battery. Chances are, you’ll be lucky and find out your battery is fine. Many of them can rack up some impressive miles.
But what if it does end up needing a replacement? Well, if you’re out of warranty, things are going to get pricey. But thankfully, you have options. The first is to go to Toyota and hand over quite a large sum of money. Another article from Torque News shows costs at the dealer could come up just shy of $3,000. That’s almost enough in some cases to essentially total out the car.
If the dealer is too expensive, other options are available. With the complexity and high voltage, we do not recommend doing a replacement on your own. There are serious dangers with handling the voltage of a hybrid battery, and only trained technicians should attempt to service, repair, or replace a hybrid battery.
If the car sits for an extended period & the battery goes flat, it can’t be re-charged. Toyota says that’s not a defect. The cost of replacement is on you.
But you don’t have to get your battery from Toyota. Sure, you can pluck one for a few hundred dollars from a salvage yard, but you’re getting an older battery that may soon fail. One aftermarket supplier called Green Bean has reconditioned hybrid batteries with a five-year warranty. Prices range from $1,500 to $2,000. And depending on where you live, they offer free installation.
We know what you may be thinking: “Tesla’s are fast, so can I increase my power with a higher performance battery?” Unfortunately, no. The car’s computer dictates how much energy should be given to the eclectic assist motor, and it wouldn’t draw more simply because more is available.
So, if you find yourself with a Prius, and looking at imminent battery replacement, it’s not the end of the road. Plenty of aftermarket companies now offer a solution to this rare, albeit worrisome issue.
Check out Vehicle History for Prius specs.
Photos by Toyota; Teddy Leung, Artzzz, and Yocamon/DepositPhotos
