Prius Multi-Function Display Broke-- $1300!!

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: Vizzy
Critic...

I would send the CEO of Toyota USA a snail main indicating how due to this issue it will be the last toyota product you buy and you will also deter your friends and family from purchasing their products as well. Make sure you let them know how dissatisfied you are!

Their refusal is a HUGE ERROR...and it will cost them business, make sure they know this. Send the letter Return Receipt Requested Certified Mail.


Extending out from my last post above, I guess I'd have to both agree and disagree with you. I disagree with the implied premise that this is somehow a Prius-unique problem. It's not. All cars nowadays have electronic parts that are alone brutally expensive, and whose failure can render major systems, or the whole car, inoperative. This is not, I repeat NOT, a Prius issue or a Toyota issue. It's a modern car issue, period.

As I said before, on my 98 Regal GS, the climate control display faded away, shortly after I had driven out of wty. Buick/GM told me to screw off and buy a new one myself. It has been a while, but IIRC, a new one was over $700 and a yard had a good one for $400-ish (almost ten years ago). I got so infuriated with their attitude about the problem that I haven't been back to GM... I fully well realize that when the wty is over, it's over, but still, this wasn't some item that had just worn out over many years of good service. It was plainly a bad unit that just took a little too long to fail. I assume, Vizzy, that you'd agree that this was just as HUGE an error as Toyota's in this case?

BTW, as with the Prius, I could still operate the Regal's climate control via hard buttons, but it was pretty much "in the blind" as I guessed at the settings selected.


So here's a question for everyone: Is there any principled difference between my Regal's climate display failing, and my being told by GM to suck it up, and what seems to have happened to this Prius?

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: FORD4LIFE
...

Vizzy do you really think Toyota really cares? Think again. If you think they do you are living on another planet.


They seem to be caring about as much as GM cared when I was left to suck up the cost of the electronic display I just described, above, on my Regal GS. And we all know how Ford has treated customers on borderline warranty situations. . .

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: FORD4LIFE
The Prius is one car that needs the extended warranty and should be traded in when the warranty is over. A friend has a 2010 and has been back to the dealer several times with issues. I do not know anyone who would buy one used.


Other than a reflash of the ECU (for bogus codes and warnings -- a computer problem, not a hybrid issue), our 2004 has been virtually flawless. My Camry hybrid has been the same (but with no reflash needed...). I bought both certified used -- ironically that provides a better wty.

I'm sorry, but your post reflects nothing other than bogus mythology, pure and simple. The computer system in a Prius (or any hybrid) is really no more or less complex than the ones installed in other modern cars (though obviously, the specific programming and actual data processed are somewhat different).

Together, the MFD and the transmission in an HSD car are far less complex than any modern multi-speed automatic transmission. The entire transmission in an HSD car is little more than a glorified single planetary gear set. It is vastly simpler than a conventional automatic, and has vastly fewer parts to wear and fail.

I guess by your reasoning, you should take the same position regarding ANY modern automatic trans car (get the ext wty and trade when its over).

Traction Batteries? Newsflash: the HSD cars have been here for OVER TEN YEARS now, and the mass, expensive battery failures that the haters insisted were just around the corner, JUST AREN'T HAPPENING, PERIOD. A couple years back, Toyota quietly shut down its state-side traction battery warehouse (was a special facility, with trickle chargers, etc to keep the batteries fresh and new). Nobody ever ordered any of them. . .

C'mon, let's keep the facts straight. By all means, DO NOT buy one of these cars if it's not your cup of tea. That said, spreading false myths about ANY car does no one any good.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
not as common in 2006 why? Because of the typical number of hours that it has been on to-date?

Different design and supposedly, it didn't have the QC problem of the units in the 04/05 models.


Mike is absolutely right on this. The 04 and 05 designs (first two years of the hatchback version of the Prius in the US had an ANALOG MFD. From 06 and forward, the MFD, while looking very much like the previous design, is a purely digital unit. While the old unit was a solid performer (ours, other than a scratch on the screen, is still performing perfectly), some customers had issues (like the subject of this thread, I assume). The newer digital unit is even more reliable and less prone to problems.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
...
isnt the computer part of the powertrain? it tells you everything that is going on with it... How else can you watch battery SOC, that all hybrid systems are a go, etc?


The ECU in the HSD cars is no more or less a part of the powertrain than it is in any other car. A little known fact: the Prius has an easily-selected option by which the driver can simply shut the MFD off altogether and drive with only the instrument panel visible. The only system that's lost under that option is NAV, if you have it. All other features work just fine from the instrument panel and the buttons on the steering wheel.

If you wanted to, you could drive your Prius for its entire life without ever powering up the MFD.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
I like the Prius vs the .50 BMG better.....



Video is chock full of false facts (nobody EVER claimed, except perhaps some extremist owner, that the Gen-I Prius could do 66 mpg...). Oh yeah, and that version of the Prius has been out of production for OVER EIGHT YEARS!!! Perhaps we might try using some CURRENT INFORMATION. Is that too much to ask?

 

[Jim 5]

Originally Posted By: ekpolk
Originally Posted By: FORD4LIFE
...

Vizzy do you really think Toyota really cares? Think again. If you think they do you are living on another planet.


They seem to be caring about as much as GM cared when I was left to suck up the cost of the electronic display I just described, above, on my Regal GS. And we all know how Ford has treated customers on borderline warranty situations. . .


I think it's a path Toyota's going down that will lead them in the direction GM has gone. Not a good one. Anyone who has owned a GM has experienced this kind of dealer treatment over the years...even well within warranty. But GM seems to be changing in my experience, and it could be that toyota is moving in the wrong direction.

My dad's last 3 vehicles were toyotas after he got a letter at 120k miles for his first '89 toyota saying that if he'd ever had to replace the headgasket, send toyota the bill and they would pay for it. He did and they did. That told him alot about the company he was dealing with, and their view of standing behind the product and its quality. He's bought Toyotas ever since and has been very pleased with them. Previously, I can remember him buying GM's throughout my childhood. The '89 toyota was his first after growing fed up with GM's general attitude towards their customers. I hope for toyota's and its shareholders' sake they don't go down this path.

 

[Vizzy]

Originally Posted By: FORD4LIFE


Vizzy do you really think Toyota really cares? Think again. If you think they do you are living on another planet.


I think they do actually...because anyone that takes the time to send that type of letter will undoubtedly
make sure that as much negative attention as possible will be given, through the traditional media, and the internet, which can do a HUGE amount of damage to a company, and at this juncture Toyota simply cannot afford to have additional bad press. Yes, they care about yet more fodder for damaging their reputation even more....

Bottom line ANY company cares about a volume of lost sales because it damages their profitability

I wouldn't be surprised if Critic actually would receive another (possibly used, but perfectly functional) module at no cost as a gesture of good will IF he writes this type of letter.

In this case persistence is EVERYTHING!

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Actually my sister had alot of issues with her brand new 07 Camry...The dealer [Deerfield Toyota] was useless and arrogant...She wrote and e-mailed Toyota headquarters...They never responded...They basically told her to drop dead...Six months later [only 5K miles on it] she traded it in for a Ford...She said not dealing with Toyota anymore was like a burden lifted off her shoulders...She bought Toyotas since the early 80's.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: Vizzy
...
In this case persistence is EVERYTHING!


Now with that, I fully agree.

=============================================

Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
Actually my sister had alot of issues with her brand new 07 Camry...The dealer [Deerfield Toyota] was useless and arrogant...She wrote and e-mailed Toyota headquarters...They never responded...They basically told her to drop dead...Six months later [only 5K miles on it] she traded it in for a Ford...She said not dealing with Toyota anymore was like a burden lifted off her shoulders...She bought Toyotas since the early 80's.


Toyota will either listen to such anecdotes and learn, or face the consequences, whatever they may be, either way. My experience with Toyota has not been perfect, but all things considered, it is still better than it was with GM (though admittedly, my last GM experience ended almost ten years ago).

 

[Vizzy]

Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
...She wrote and e-mailed Toyota headquarters...They never responded..


I bet she didn't send the CEO a certified mail return reciept requested letter.

E-mails are worthless for this type of situation, it indicates that you are not SERIOUS when you use them in this context and companies know this.

The critical part is that IMPORTANT people at the organization need to SEE this communication and if you just shoot them an e mail (or a ordinary letter) the brass tack handlers just make it disappear, they can't do that with certified mail, certified mail to be signed only by addressee is even better, a bit more expensive but they get where they are going many times!

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: Vizzy
Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
...She wrote and e-mailed Toyota headquarters...They never responded..


I bet she didn't send the CEO a certified mail return reciept requested letter.


It was not sent to a CEO or sent certified.

 

[Vizzy]

The best piece of advice I can give anyone that wants results from a major company or organization is to FORCE documentation, and insist that the communication is seen by the top brass like the CEO or CFO.

I think part of reason why any big company reacts to these type of documented certified letters is because they think legal action is not far behind. GREAT, let fear help things along if need be.


Sorry to hear that she didn't know better at the time.

 

[LS2JSTS]

Originally Posted By: ekpolk
Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
I like the Prius vs the .50 BMG better.....



Video is chock full of false facts (nobody EVER claimed, except perhaps some extremist owner, that the Gen-I Prius could do 66 mpg...). Oh yeah, and that version of the Prius has been out of production for OVER EIGHT YEARS!!! Perhaps we might try using some CURRENT INFORMATION. Is that too much to ask?


Take the "facts" up with Jeremy...As for my part, the video was clearly intended as humour. I think thou dost protest too much.

Or in the words of a great man Sgt Hulka..."lighten up Francis"

 

[Jim 5]

Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
Originally Posted By: Vizzy
Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
...She wrote and e-mailed Toyota headquarters...They never responded..


I bet she didn't send the CEO a certified mail return reciept requested letter.


It was not sent to a CEO or sent certified.


I once couriered (marked "Personal and Confidential") a garment to the CEO of the GAP complaining about an obvious lack of quality. I ended up receiving a courier package with an apology and vouchers worth about $500 worth of swag from the gap.

The trick is getting the CEO to read your letter. If you take the time to send something that the CEO's staff will be reluctant to open (marking it "Personal and Confidential"), and make it look formal by sending it via courier, you have that chance.

Also, a respectful, reasonable and honest tone is very helpful.

 

[Vikas]

I can't stop laughing! A piece of used garment sent to CEO with "Personal and Confidential"!! Were there any compromising pictures or stains?

- Vikas

 

[Jim 5]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
I can't stop laughing! A piece of used garment sent to CEO with "Personal and Confidential"!! Were there any compromising pictures or stains?

- Vikas


Nope, I was a college student hoping to hit the jackpot. And I did. $500 worth of clothes from the gap in 1991 outfit me for a long time!

 

[ThirdeYe]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
Brings back memories of the G.M displays in the Buick Riverias,they didn't stay in production long.


My friend's mom has one of those. They've replaced/fixed the digital display a number of times and it just completely went out again. They can't see how much gas they have, how fast they're going, etc. so they're just going to retire it finally.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
I will not buy a car with navigation, etc. It is all prone to breaking, and not cheap to repair.


^^Big 2nd! I hate all that electronic stuff on cars. I had an Olds that was all digital and electronic. It all quit working after awhile. That`s what I LOVE about my Z32. It`s all analog,very basic,with no bells or whistles. It`s only got the necessary gauges.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
Originally Posted By: ekpolk
Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
I like the Prius vs the .50 BMG better.....



Video is chock full of false facts (nobody EVER claimed, except perhaps some extremist owner, that the Gen-I Prius could do 66 mpg...). Oh yeah, and that version of the Prius has been out of production for OVER EIGHT YEARS!!! Perhaps we might try using some CURRENT INFORMATION. Is that too much to ask?


Take the "facts" up with Jeremy...As for my part, the video was clearly intended as humour. I think thou dost protest too much.

Or in the words of a great man Sgt Hulka..."lighten up Francis"


Hey, I'm light... YOU selected and posted the video, not me (making YOU the endorser of its content). The only thing I protesteth is the drum beat of the Spinella crowd who just won't give up. Again, the HSD cars, now in six flavors (not to mention the successful designs from GM, Ford, Nissan, etc.) and they're still chugging along just fine.

Mike was certainly within the broad range of "reasonable" in starting this thread. What I object to is that it gets steered toward the suggestion that this is a somehow a hybrid-specific issue. It's not. Just that simple. So, how is this "protesting too much"? It's the simple, unvarnished truth.