New V owner-seasick from undulation in acceleration?

Never experienced this on our 2012 v Five.

Does the sensation also occur with cruise control engaged?

 

I have never felt anything in the gas pedal like you describe. The gas pedal does not actually connect directly to the engine in a traditional cable manner. It is "drive by wire" electric.

So it is more likely the car's ride, suspension, tires or the engine surging if anything. I would wonder about tires, eg overinflated, balance, out of round, etc.

And then the brand of tire can make a big difference as well and you probably have original factory tires. Michelins at factory door pressures are good for ride and balance.

The car should be in warranty at least for a while until 3 years 36,000 miles expires. You should be able to buy an extended warranty if desired before the factory warranty expires.

Best bet would be an independent hybrid mechanic or another dealer. One thing to realize is that your dealer's service advisor and mechanic may have no clue because no one else has come to them personally with the problem.

Also, indicate your city in your profile and where you are now to get better recommendations. Some of us know specific shops that might be good.

 

By the way, the Prius v also has a "pitch and bounce" control that is designed to reduce fore and aft oscillations. Bet they don't even know it exists. Somehow it uses the wheel speed sensors and the suspension to detect the motion and automatically adjusts the engine to compensate. I know my v is a good highway cruiser but it's not a Lexus or even a Camry in ride quality. What happens with SUV types of vehicles (including trucks and the v) is the suspension is designed for the maximum load possible. That's when they ride the best in almost all vehicles designed to carry cargo.

See link for pitch and bounce control and warranty information.
Prius v is the Family Hybrid in an Expanding Model Family

 

Well, cruise control may be a good test.
Two or more mechanics have driven and say normal operation.

Yes, pitch & bounce system, perhaps not functioning correctly.
I am unsure exactly how this system works and in my research this system's info was not abundant.

Yet OP seems to find the complaint the gas pedal position.
Leads my thoughts to hesitation issues.
Could be a hunt & it could be very minor.
Lots of systems to check.
Fuel pressure, spark plug wires, air intake.
Or it may be completely normal.
Good luck in your hunt.

 

welcome!
it is possible that you are over sensitive to the engine starting and stopping.

ask if you can drive another prius to compare.

 

If it is a gas pedal effect, try Eco, Pwr, and neither, Normal. all 3 modes effect how the gas pedal behaves.

 

Not normal in my '12 v. I do probably 60-70% of my miles at 65-70 MPH in 50 mile stretches where I have cruise control on when traffic allows and I've never felt what you describe and no passenger has commented on it. Is there an unevenness as it shifts from battery to ice and back again? A tiny bit but in 45k miles I've gotten totally used to it so I don't hear or feel a thing. See if there is any correlation between when you feel it and the instantaneous MPG readout available as one of the display option via a switch on your steering wheel labeled Disp.

 

In order to leave it locked and running, you have to take the small key out of the wireless key fob and use it in the door with the car "running" in "ready" mode. The fob has a little latch to allow the key to come out the back. Press on the round dot on the fob latch and pull the keychain attachment piece which is actually the mechanical key. Then insert the rectangular mechanical key in the driver's door keyhole and turn ccw. The doors should lock. Turn cw to unlock. When locked like this the keyfob's unlock button may not work.

I would test in your driveway with the driver's window open to get the idea. Now, a caution. Even if the engine is not actually running at the time and is just in "ready" with the ac running, it will start occasionally. If you left it "on", locked or unlocked, in an attached garage you will get carbon monoxide in the house.

Second, when you get back to the car and mechanically unlock the door, the car will drive and go anywhere as long as you don't push the stop/start button on the dash. When you do stop it, say at a gas station or some other location, it will not restart without the fob. The key will not start the car. So don't leave the fob somewhere by accident when you do the key trick.

The real purpose of the mechanical key is to allow access if the car's 12vdc battery is dead. Under those conditions, you mechanically open the door, pop the hood open and jump the car from the driver's side fuse box power points. You will not be able to access the back hatch without power. Knowing how to properly jump start the car (without actually doing it unnecessarily) is important as most helpful people would not know. It's in the manual.

 

Some of our other vehicles have an Engine Computer reflash for a ricking back and forth during cruise. The only way to really compare is to find another model of your make with the miles and check that out which the dealer should have done.

 

Another purpose of the mechanical key is to access the car if the keyfob watch battery goes dead. In this case, we will assume the car 12v battery is ok but just the keyfob internal battery is old. After entering the car, you hold the "dead" fob up to the start button and the car will recognize it's presence and allow a start.

By the way, be sure to keep both factory fobs working.

 

Look for a thread in Prius v Accessories titled "wife gets sick". Any vehicle has its peculiar movement characteristics and some few are going to be sensitive to that exact frequency/amplitude/motion.

Or use the search function at the top of the page with the search argument "motion sickness".