Actually, the sound continues, it's just hard to hear once the speeds reaches 25mph. I've only had my 2019 Prius for a few months (had a gen 3 for 7 years). This noise started recently and is particularly noticeable when on electric at speeds under 20. It can be heard inside the cabin with the windows closed, but it's particularly noticeable (and irritating) with the window open and the sound is bouncing off something near the road's edge like a hedge or a fence. I will be going back to the dealer, but I'd like some better way of describing it or even suggesting what the problem might be. Thanks!
I was getting a great deal of whining at speeds in excess of 70mph, once my mother-in-law got out the whining stopped! On a more serious note could you be hearing a pedestrian warning speaker output from your Prius?
No, it increases with the speed until engine and road noise drown most of it out, besides the sound is far more high pitched than warning sounds. Thanks!
Thanks Jerry. Are you suggesting that this is normal? It didn't do it for the first 3 months I owned this 2019 Prius, and my 2011 Prius never did it. Your description is good, the noise does sound sci-fi. J
mine comes and goes. sometimes more in cooler weather, not sure why. could it be a bad wheel bearing?
Probably. Mine seems to vary like bisco's PiP. My Pip varied in volume, too. This Prime of mine seems louder, which makes sense since it has more EV power available. Can you hear the sound at all when the engine is running and warmed up? If it's just as loud then it might be a wheel bearing, but I'd think you'd feel that and I wouldn't expect it to be high pitched. Here's a test. Put it in neutral and coast. If it's inverter whine, it'll stop whining. If it's a wheel bearing, rubbing brake, or something like that, there should be no change in sound except a reduction in volume or pitch as the car slows.
