The fact that Toyota had not a single hybrid battery stocked in the U.S. suggests two things: either they can't keep up with the demand for replacement batteries or battery failure is so rare they don't keep any in stock.

If the former, by now this site and media would be loudly complaining. So, I suspect it's the latter. Sorry you got the one that went bad, but 1 out of several hundred thousand cars is not bad. Not bad at all.

 

Why are we feeling sorry about this battery failure???? He is about to get a new one that will probably last another 150,000 to 200,000 miles. AT NO COST.. A little inconvience, but not really a bad thing.....

 

This topic piqued my interest, so I posted in the Prius forum https://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/...53/#post235317

EDIT...wow that forum is really dead.

 

Called my dealer's service department (a real honest guy), he said in ten years there, he's only seen 2 Prius-es come in for battery replacement. He's serviced quite a cars few well into the 100M-150M range and one with over 200M.

 

Got a reply...

looks pretty good...

 

does it have a regular 12V battery? did they check that before thinking it was the hybrid battery? my escalade hybrid died while I was washing it and listening to the NFL playoffs in XM. after charging it and jumpstarting it, the dealer deemed the 12V was bad hence they replaced it. the 300V hybrid battery was okay.

 

I think you answered your own question: Either they don't know what the hell they're doing and run out of the batteries, or it is such a rare failure that normally they don't keep it in stock, make your pick. I would speculate one cell (or is it a segment?, whole pack has over 200 something C cells, if I remember correctly) failed.

 

I picked up my 2007 Camry Hybrid from the dealer May 19, 2011 with a gas pedal recall fixed and its new hybrid battery which is warranteed until it reaches the remainder of the 100,000 miles which is about 34,000 miles. I talked to a service guy and he said he has been there for about 12 years and this was about the fourth car he has seen in for a hybrid battery in that time period. Two of those cars (both Prius) had been in a rear end collision. I was only involved in small fender bender once two years ago where my front passenger side quarter panel was replaced and there was no engine damage. It has been less than twenty-four hours and everything seems to be working fine. This is a rare occurence from what i have been told by the dealer and the people in the forum, so hopefully this battery will last for 160,000 miles putting my Camry at 226,000 when and if I need another hybrid battery.

 

I just read a post but have not checked back with the dealer on this info, but someone posted that new batteries are warranteed for 12 months by Toyota which makes plenty of sense. There is no way that I will put 34,000 miles on my car in a year anyways, but this information is good to know.

 

miles, make sure you are not in CARB state. if you are, you have 150 000 miles warranty. there's extended time period too, i simply do not remember it.

buddy, I know it's a hassle and I am sorry it happened. I am glad you have it fixed. FYI, hybrid batteries are in such a low demand, that you can buy one off ebay for fractions of what they want for it at dealership. used, of course, but hey, it's A LOT cheaper.

I am trying to understand this statement:

hopefully this battery will last for 160,000 miles putting my Camry at 226,000 when and if I need another hybrid battery

what do you mean? why it's supposed to last only till 160 00 miles and then be replaced? why not 200K or 300K miles? be positive, brother. good things happen to positive folk.