The Ultimate Guide to Toyota Prius Battery Problems

BY HYBRID & EV BATTERY REPAIR - INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Last Updated: May 2021

Real-world, practical experience with Toyota Prius HV battery issues is paramount when dealing with an aging Prius. Here is some wisdom after fixing thousands of Prius batteries for customers.

1) Prius Dashboard Lights & Reduced Performance

Your check engine, VSC, triangle of death, and exclamation mark just came on. Your gas mileage has plummeted. Your Prius has over 100,000 miles and you're afraid that the problem is your High Voltage (HV) Prius Battery. The big one.

A sense of panic comes over you - because this is the problem you've been dreading. Is your Prius's time up?

First, take a deep breath. Your Prius may very well have a lot more time and miles left before going to the junk yard.

Second, remember that most Prius vehicles drive for 200,000+ miles without any major problems. These are amazing cars.

Now, practically speaking, where do you go from here?


2) Professional Diagnosis

First, it's very important to accurately diagnose the issue. The Toyota Service Shop is a great place to start - but not the only place. Well-qualified and well-reviewed, reputable hybrid battery repair shops are another option. The key to diagnosis is to make sure that the mechanic has a powerful vehicle scanner that can pick up all of the correct codes. Most repair shop scanners do not pick up the appropriate codes - they only pick up very general purpose codes - and diagnosis from these codes can be highly problematic and lead you to spend thousands of dollars without solving the true underlying problems with your vehicle.

Frankly, your local Toyota dealership is the best bet for Prius diagnosis if you're not in or near the state of Indiana where we can properly diagnose the vehicle for you. When requesting a diagnostic from Toyota, you need to request UP FRONT a detailed print-out of the diagnostic codes when they are finished. This should be included in the diagnostic fee at no additional cost. Make sure they hand you the print-out before paying for the diagnostic. You have to fight for your own interests as a consumer.

3) Prius HV Hybird Battery Repair

After a proper diagnosis removes the possibility of an underlying issue (like an electrical fault, inverter water pump, or transmission issue), we can now address the issues inside your Prius battery.

WARNING: Toyota Service usually gets it right, but we have seen them misdiagnose underlying issues as HV battery issues.  You should call us to get a second opinion - we can give you some insight over the phone after a diagnosis from Toyota.

Contact us now or see below for your repair or replacement options:


CONTACT US

We offer mobile service for the greater Indiana area and local service in Indianapolis:

605 Sheridan Rd, #8305
Noblesville, IN 46060

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Prius Battery Repair or Replacement Options


DIY Best for High Mileage Prius

$900? +

No Warranty

  • Time Consuming
  • Electrical Safety Issues
  • Need to purchase specialty equipment
  • Questionable process
  • Potentially a total waste if you don't actually know what the problem is
  • No Warranty

Toyota Service Dept. Dealership Pricing

$3000+

12 Month Warranty

  • Perfect for Big Spenders
  • 12 Month Warranty from Toyota

WARRANTY: We offer a 12-month warranty on our renewed Prius hybrid batteries. We offer a Limited Lifetime Warranty on new batteries.

Other Common Prius Maintenance Issues

In Indianapolis, we can handle most Toyota Prius repairs for you - typically at least 30% less than the dealership.

Inverter Water Pump

Gas Gauge Issues ('04-'06 Prius)

Don't let your Prius run out of gas.  '04-'06 Priuses can say you have 2-3 bars of gas left, when in fact your on empty.  Not having enough gas causes your HV battery to do all of the work - this runs down the battery and causes HV battery failure.  One simple fix to try is filling the Prius gas tank, jumping the vehicle, and see if it resolves your "battery" problem.

FAQ

Looking to trade in your Prius? We pay 2-3x vs. the dealership.