I just bought a 2017 Prius with 141,000 miles. Everything seemed fine at first. But only a few hours after I got it home, I tried to drive it again and after half a mile, a bunch of warning lights came on. It started with a warning about the collision system, then the brake system, and finally a hybrid system failure.
I had it towed back to the dealer. They told me the water pump had failed and they’re going to replace it.
I do have the option to back out of the deal completely.
It was priced pretty well though…
Do you think the dealer’s explanation makes sense or is this a red flag?
I’d be careful with that water pump explanation. The mileage you mentioned is right around when the heat exchanger in the catalytic converter usually starts failing. A lot of shops misread this as a head gasket or water pump problem.
Also, if the car was sitting unused before they sold it to you, the 12v battery might have dropped and triggered all those errors.
I’d ask the dealer to check both the heat exchanger and the battery, and tell them clearly you’re ready to return the car if they’re not willing to put that in writing.
I figured the price was lower because of the mileage and the condition. The seats are pretty worn and stained, and the body has a few scratches and dings.
But I need something reliable. I don’t have access to rides or pickups in my area.
If both the hybrid and ABS lights are on, there’s a good chance the hybrid battery pack could be going too. That’s expensive. If I were you, I’d return the car unless you’re in Houston, where I can take a look for you.
At my shop, those repairs would still cost a few thousand. A dealer would likely charge way more.
Oof… was the Carfax clean when you bought it? Most dealers make you sign something saying it’s sold “as is” — so they might not take responsibility. You could still talk to them and see what they say, but once you’ve left the lot, it can be hard to make them take the blame. Hope it works out for you.
Unless you bought it from a Toyota dealer and have a hybrid expert near you, these kinds of cars can be a pain when things go wrong. I run a hybrid shop in Houston and I can tell you repairs are never cheap.
