2007 Prius. Hybrid battery (original) failing...

Thank you for the response. To answer your question, no I do not have a dog. I have a couple cats, but they never ride in the car unless they are going to the vet, and then they are in a carrier up front with me.

Yes, the summers here can be brutal. I've been trying my best to protect the car from the summer heat ever since I bought this Prius in 2017. I try to do all my driving in the early mornings, unless I absolutely have to go somewhere in the middle of the day. I keep the car garaged, with all the windows open. And I seek out shady parking spaces whenever possible, and put a reflector in the windshield. Until yesterday, the car had seemed to be doing well.

The dealer I spoke with said that as long as the car still has the original core I will not be charged. I got an estimate in writing, and it contains an instant rebate for the core, as long as it is original. I bought the car used in 2017 (from a dealer) and was told it was still on the original hybrid battery. I also got a printout of all the mechanical work the previous owner had done on the car, and there was nothing in there about the hybrid battery being replaced. I remember being told that the previous owner was the same person who had bought the car new, which I believe was confirmed in the printout.

The car might be drivable in the early morning, the coolest part of the day here. But after what happened Wednesday, I'm afraid to risk it. If the car flaked out on me while I was driving on a busy street, or worse, in the middle of a busy intersection, that could be dangerous. I'd rather pay for the tow than take that risk.

Thanks again.