Any thoughts or advice: I have a 2006 Rx400h with 80,000 miles. Knowing that the wrranty on the hybrid system expires at 100,000 miles, I am wondering what kind of life I might expect from this system? I have heard 3rd hand that the system in Prius cars have typically gone 200,000 miles or more. I really like this Rx400h and would want to continue with it...but, with a hybrid system failure out of warranty, then big $$$$.
Thanks.
WAH in Greenwich, CT

 

+1 I would also like to know for future purposes...

 

http://pressroom.toyota.com/Releases...T2008092372406

$2,588 for the battery, that sure is cheaper than a transmission!

 

When you say "hybrid system" I assume you mean everything on the vehicle that isn't on the standard engine driven vehicle. This would include the battery, traction motors, inverters, converters, generators, control systems, and motors needed to drive components that are belt driven on a conventional car. Just the added number of these components increases the likelihood of failure. The complexity of the control systems would add to the diagnostic costs and require paying the higher costs charged by the high end dealers instead of the local repair shops. It would not be possible to give a definitive answer to the question " what kind of life" to expect, but I would expect to be required to spend more money in the second 100,000 miles on a hybrid than on a conventional. How much is anyone's guess.
As far as the cost of a new battery vs cost of a transmission, it is a given that at some point the battery will require replacement, but only a possibility for the transmission. Of course the hybrid has the power split device gear set which hopefully never, but could, require replacement at a very high cost.

 

actually, all those other components are designed for the life of the vehicle... only thing that is "expendable" is battery, which is known to last >200,000 miles, and is very cheap to find used from wrecked vehicles (more wrecked ones than ones with more than 200,000 miles).

Another good thing that due to design, other engine components require less maintainance as less strain is put to them...

 

I would check Prius boards to find out more info, as there are hundreds of thousands of Priuses on the road today, but what I know right now is that is had very good reliability.

 

"I would check Prius boards to find out more info"


Before I spent major money on my Rx400h, I spent hours on the multiple Prius forums trying to find owners that had to replace their batteries. Good luck finding even a handful of battery failure reports and the Prius has been out for 10 years or more. I concluded that the risk of battery failure wasn't worth worrying about.

 

lexus newb,so a Prius battery will work on a Rx400h and has any one ever had their batteries replace....thanks

 

The Prius battery is a total different shape and specifications than the RX400h battery.

 

According to a report that was recently posted in the general chat section, Toyota has only had to replace about 300 batteries worldwide. Thats pretty good for a company that has 1 million hybrids on the road.

 

Nope. Ours is like a box. Yours is flatter (cause it's under the rear seat).

 

That's good to know they aren't the same. Don't have to waste time trying to figure that one out!

 

Wow, that's pretty good. I've had some ****ty experiences with American cars (AKA FORD and their transmissions dying a month after the warranty expires). . .also had some issues with German engineered cars (Mercedes especially). . .that's why I like Japanese cars. I know I should support our economy and buy vehicles made in the USA. . .but if they're crappier and/or you end up spending more for repairs and whatnot, why bother?

 

The only replacement I have heard about was at almost 200,000 miles, and Lexus split the cost with the client.