Are Toyota Prius Parts Expensive? (Read This First)

The Toyota Prius is one of the best models of vehicles that Toyota offers. It possesses a hybrid drivetrain; this, combined with its fuel efficiency, makes it very appealing.

However, if you own one or plan to purchase one, it is vital to know the price of its parts.

On average, Toyota Prius parts cost less as repair expenses are around $1,406 over five years. Usually, vehicles cost about $1,800 for repair and roughly $2,600 for maintenance over the same time. The Toyota Prius has more affordable parts than other vehicles of similar make.

Is Toyota Prius Expensive To Repair?

Expenses on Toyota Prius repairs for a year can fall around the range of $281.

However, expenditures on fixing damage from accidents are not factored in. Bodywork repairs can cost about $1,600 above.

The Prius is less expensive to repair than similar cars. It is reliable, but this doesn’t mean they don’t have some problems. But this model is an expensive one.

There are some common issues that owners might face when using a Toyota Prius, they are:

Windshield Predisposed to Cracking

Here is one of the most recounted problems of the 2016 Toyota Prius. Some Prius owners complain that the tiniest pebble can crack about two-thirds of the windshield surface.

They also complain that the cracks can extend speedily. Toyota, however, hasn’t mainly addressed this issue, thus leaving owners with the only option of replacing the windshield. 

Replacement for 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014 Prius windshields cost $290. The 2015 Prius costs $346, while the 2017 Prius costs about $729.91.

Disproportionate Oil Consumption 

Based on some reports of some owners of the Toyota Prius, there are oil depletion issues. This situation is prevalent in the 2011 Toyota Prius.

Such cars would use up engine oil at about 1 quart for every 1000 miles. Owners must add engine oil each week to prevent the oil warning indicator from lighting.

Owners had to closely monitor their vehicle’s oil levels to avoid costly damage to the engine.

This issue resolves to swap the seeping timing cover gaskets with new ones. This change costs about $1,213 for parts while labor falls between $1,417 and $1,787.

For the unfortunate ones whose engines got damaged, you can replace the engine at a total cost of $4 580.

Headlights Failing

The 2008 Toyota Prius has some headlight problems. Some owners have stated that the headlights can sometimes go off without notice.

Switching them off and on can sometimes solve the problem but just for some minutes. In other situations, the headlights would turn off consecutively.

Solving this issue required replacing the headlight assembly, as changing the headlight bulbs was a waste of time. The cost of replacing this headlight assembly is between $77 and $95. In addition, labor costs are around $33 and $41.

Internal Accessory Problems

Based on some reports of the 2007 Toyota Prius owners, there were some malfunctioning issues.

These issues were from the dashboard display, standby camera, cautioning system, and cruise control. The units in this year had these similar issues.

The most frequent problem of them all was the dashboard display. Owners reported that their dashboard display could go out at any time.

This misfortune would deny them from detecting the speed, odometer, and fuel gauges. 

Also, cars would refuse to lock, and engines would abruptly shut down. When owners took these cars for repairs, they discovered that the genesis of these problems was bad batteries.

Hybrid battery failure occurs sometimes. When this happens, the logical thing to do is to replace them. Replacing hybrid batteries on Toyota Prius costs between $1,023 and $1,235.

False readings on Fuel Gauge.

The 2006 Toyota Prius had this issue. Owners of the car complained that the fuel gauge was giving incorrect readings and operated irregularly.

The owners of such vehicles observed that the petrol levels remained low even though they filled up the tanks.

Furthermore, they also noticed that the levels dropped down quicker when compared to the mileage shown on the odometer. The solution to this was recalibrating the car’s fuel gauge.

You may read our post where we explain why Prius is so Expensive?

How Much Does It Cost To Maintain A Toyota Prius?

Toyota Prius maintenance costs over ten years are over $4,300. That’s an average of $430 every year. Despite Toyota’s reliability, it is essential to treat these vehicles with the utmost care and maintenance.

Some scheduled maintenance checks need to be done on your Prius to ensure its longevity.

After 12 months, you should take the Prius to the service center, where the following checks are done.

• Check the fixing of the driver’s floor pad.
• Examine and regulate all the fluid levels.
• Examine the wiper fins. 
• Spin around the tires.
• Examine brake linings brake discs.
• Check engine light.

After 18 months, the above checks are done together with the following:

• Check the Dust covers and ball joints.
• Inspect brake lines and tubes or hoses.
• Check the cabin air filter.
• Examine the driveshaft boots.
• Check the exhaust pipes and other mountings.
• Finally, inspect the condenser and radiator.
• Check the steering gear.
• Examine the steering linkage with the boots.

After 36 months, you will do the above checks together with the following:

• First, inspect the automatic transmission in case there are any leaks.
• Then, check the petrol lines, petrol tank band, connections, and petrol tank vapor outlet system pipes.
• Finally, examine the petrol tank cover gasket.

This maintenance will go on routinely with the same checks till you’ve reached 10,000 miles or ten years. At this level, you will have to replace the engine coolant.

If you do a good job maintaining it and it reaches 120,000 miles or 12 years, change the spark plugs.

Toyota Prius Major Service Cost

The repairs here happen further down the lifespan of the vehicle. Usually, when the car has covered over 100,000 to 150,000 miles.

Some of the major service repairs are:

• Changing the mass airflow sensor costs anything from $175 to $259.
• Replacing the water pump will cost between $752 and $921.
• The air conditioning condenser is replaced for between $575 to $742.
• The parts for spark plugs cost between $45 and $56, while labor costs range from $97 to $123.

The cost of other critical services/repairs is as follows:

• Replacing the oil costs about 40$ to $120.
• The price of aligning tires falls from $120 to $200.
• Getting new tires will cost about $500 to $800.
• The service or repair of brake pads is around $100 to $300.
• Replacing headlights will cost from $100 to $200.

What Is the Average Lifespan Of A Toyota Prius?

Toyota vehicles are known for their durability; nevertheless, quality maintenance is needed for every Toyota vehicle to last long.

If you maintain your Toyota Prius steadily, it will possibly last over 200,000 to 250,000 miles. Some owners might be fortunate and even go over 300,000 miles.

Being the first heavily produced hybrid car, the Prius has etched itself in history. It is known for its reliability which can stretch on for over two decades.

In addition, over 13.7% of Toyota Priuses that were bought 15 years ago are still in use on roads. Other vehicles will have a hard time imitating this level of resilience.

To ensure that your Toyota Prius lasts as long as it should, it is essential to implement the following:

• Consult your vehicle’s manual to know how regularly the car needs a visit to the service center.
• Investigate concerns hastily. Any issue that arises should be taken care of.
• Don’t use the car on a low tank.
• Purchase quality parts.

Conclusion

Toyota Prius parts cost less as repair expenses are around $1,406 for over five years. This value is significantly less than other vehicles.

The cost of repairs on a Toyota Prius is about $281. Therefore, it costs about 4,300 to maintain a Toyota Prius for over ten years.

A Toyota Prius can last over 250,000 miles to 300,000 miles with constant maintenance.