So WAY back, when my 22' Prius XLE was only 3 months old (May of 23') at which point the car had about 20K miles on it, I heard an audible 'beep'.... And suddenly, on my dash, I started getting all kinds of ominous warnings, like: Hybrid System Malfunction Low Braking Power Proximity sensor Malfunction Cruise control malfunction Please see dealer for maintenance ^ each for a couple seconds, as it just scrolled through these messages. Of course I did take it straight to the dealer. "they said" they ran all kinds of diagnostics on it, and: 1) nothing was 'actually' wrong with the car, that these were all false signals, nothing to worry about. 2) but now its not doing it. So if it happens again, just bring it back. Of course a couple days later, it did happen again, so I brought it back > to two different Toyota dealers "twice each" ! Each time it was the same thing, they would mess with it for a bit, it would go away, and they couldn't get it to repeat the problem. So, I'd get it back, drive it for anywhere from a couple of days, to a week.... and 'Beep'.... here's all these false alarms again I guess I should mention, the one "actual problem" I do have when this is happening, is that I can't use cruise control, which freaking kills me, as I always use cruise control for multiple reasons. __________ This ^ was all in May of 23'. Then, just about the time I was ready to give up on the Toyota dealers, it apparently fixed itself, and never did it again until 3 weeks ago. Then it started happening every 2 to 7 days...... Until 2 days ago, when it did it 3 X's in one day, and then 3 X's again yesterday ! So yes, it is absolutely getting worse But after my experience with the Toyota dealers two years ago, I can't even imagine dealing with all that again. I just have less than zero confidence in them. Now, I do Rideshare, and for obvious reasons, I can't have these messages, especially "Low Braking Power" popping up, and freaking out passengers... So, as goofy as this sounds, in the past, and I guess again starting today, I'm going to put a little piece of black card stock up on the dash, to block out the part with all the messages, and just deal with no cruise control Oh ! I know this is getting long, but I think this is pertinent too; I can make this quit happening 100% of the time, by simply powering down, and powering back up 4 X's, and on the 4th time > every time, it goes away ??? Maybe for 1 mile..... or maybe for a full week, and 700 miles ? I'm sure this was what was happening at the dealers too. They'd be messing around with, and the 4th time they powered it down, and back up, they'd be like, Look ! We fixed it. Gee thanks guys. Great job SOOO freaking frustrating. Any ideas ???
Thank you Mendel. Yea, and ya know, I did actually call the Toyota Headquarters 2 yrs ago, and I asked them specifically > What happens if this same problem pops up 1 year, or 2 yrs down the road, when the car is no longer under warranty, and they said, all of my visits to the dealer, and that phone call to Toyota HQ were being recorded, and it it were the same problem that they never fixed the first time, it would still be covered..... However, during the time all this was happening, they noted that I had an aftermarket alarm, and stereo system in the car, and were trying to use that as a way to skirt out of any responsibility. So, before my 4th trip to the dealer, I actually had my stereo and alarm disconnected from the car completely, and it still screwed up. So, I'm confident that these items have nothing to do with the problem, but none the less, I can totally see Toyota using that as an excuse.
Yes, the actual diagnostic trouble codes would be more helpful; because we are just guessing at the problem. The low braking power, would be my main concern. Possibly a valve jamming up in your ABS system - that may disable your CC. If your braking system is compromised or the ECU thinks it's compromised; it's not going to let you activate it if "it can't pump the brakes". It's a safety thing. If the same error codes are popping up, I'd guess that whatever module it is intermittent or you may have mice chewing on your wiring harness. This would cause intermittent errors too. Hope this helps...... Have you checked the 12V aux battery status? If it's below 11VDC, it can cause erroneous sensor readings.
Hey thank you guys..... But I might have a big break through ! Look what I found online.... Funny thing is, I called Toyota and the receptionist (on a Saturday) told me that their were not any recalls on my car. Well, I'm going to be talking to the service manager on Monday, and if I need to, I'm going to walk in and show him these screen shots... OR, if I have to, I'll call and talk to Toyota HQ
Use the attached link and punch in your VIN to see if your car is affected. Your car may already have the updated software installed. https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2022/TOYOTA/PRIUS/5%252520HB/FWD
Thank you Bio, unfortunately for me, it shows '0' unfixed recalls. Also, my buddy gave me a different link specifically for Toyota recalls, and it showed no current recalls on my car either. This said, I'm still going to call Toyota HQ on Monday, and mention all the message popups, and this "previous recall" and all these same issues I was having, back when the car was basically new, and see if I can just have my ECU reflashed, under warranty as it is the same problem now, as was recorded then. I mean, it shouldn't even need any new hardware, just 1 hr of labor by a technician that can do it. Otherwise, I will just have to live with the problem. I won't pay hundreds, maybe a thousand or more dollars for something that really doesn't hurt the cars performance.... Other than cruise control plus hopefully it will fix itself again at some point. Thanks again for that link
I can tell you from personal experience that if you are one of the first persons to experience a repeating problem BUT the dealer has not seen it AND it magically goes away when they have it, they will send you on your way ESPECIALLY when it's warranty work. Why warranty work? Because Toyota pays a low labor rate to the dealer and pays a wholesale price for the parts they add. No warranty is better since they make a handsome profit charging you full price. Obviously if they have seen it on other cars 2 years later, no problem. So if you refuse to go back you may be the loser since independent mechanics are unlikely to see a rare problem even now especially when things like powertrain are still factory warranty on a 22. Go back. (By the way my problem occurred in warranty but I ended up replacing the part myself and created a pdf which was shared here. Fast forward a year and Toyotta not only acknowledged the problem but supplied the dealers with a special diagnostic tool. That was 10 years ago and I have only read about two similar problems since.)
I hate to say it, but your probably right. The only thing though, is that "I did try multiple times, when the vehicle was still under warranty, to get this same problem fixed, AND I talked with Toyota HQ about this problem. Also, I intend to wait until this problem happens once more (after 3 X's on each of two days, it never failed yesterday ?) And I will get a video of it scrolling though all the messages, and photos of ef each message individually > ALL the same stuff I reported on May of 23' when the car was two months old. Also, it should be obvious that ay least some of these cars have had this problem, as it had to have a recall, for the ECU to be re-flashed > EVEN IF they think mine was already taken care of, it is nor exhibiting the same symptoms. Lord knows if I keep having the same issues, and they won't re-flash my software for the ECU, I will bug them until no end ! Might even consider a small claims action. Honestly, I don't think this would be such a big deal for them to fix. And I'm not asking them for ANY new hardware.
You don't know what the root cause is so it can be hardware, connectors or wiring. If it was software the ecu flash would have solved it. These days you can't flash something wrong because of error checking check sums. Does not mean intermittent hardware like ecus, sensors, switches, relays, connectors or wiring could not cause the issue. The hardest problems that require the best tech/engineer skills are intermittent hardware problems. 99% of the truly gifted diagnosticians have their own businesses bailing out owners and dealerships. This reality is why lemon laws exist.
Maybe now ? But apparently their wasn't (or nobody from Toyota HQ or the dealerships wanted to tell me about them) back when I first started having all these problems.
Or a "Service Campaign," which I believe is different from a Technical Service Bullietin (TSB.) I would recommend adding the Toyota app to your phone and check the vehicles "Health" option. It's worth a shot.
