Toyota discontinues lifetime battery warranty due to…unprecedented durability.

Toyota has recently notified owners of Toyota Prius XW10, which were manufactured between 1997 and 2000, that the company will no longer offer a lifetime warranty on the battery for these models starting from March 2024. Toyota cited difficulties in sourcing batteries for a 25-year-old vehicle as the main reason for this decision.

Some enthusiasts of the first-generation Toyota Prius have already transitioned to hybrid cars. However, they still keep their Prius vehicles in their garages despite them being 25 years old. These owners are now expressing their disappointment about Toyota retracting its promise of a lifetime battery warranty. In Japan, the “lifetime” of a vehicle is typically estimated to be 15 years or 250,000 km.

It’s important to note that not all owners are eligible for the lifetime battery warranty. Only pre-facelift models manufactured from 1997 to 2000 are entitled to this privilege. This is because the first-generation Toyota Prius, being a trailblazing model at the time, didn’t possess the same level of durability as more “conventional” models.

As a pioneering model, the battery of the Toyota Prius produced between 1997 and 2000 also has its limitations. Specifically, if the Prius is left unused for an extended period or if it undergoes frequent acceleration and braking, the battery may prematurely sustain damage. A warning message indicating limited output power is displayed, and the only permanent solution to this issue is battery replacement.

Fortunately, the facelift version of the Prius, launched in 2001, doesn’t encounter such problems. Nevertheless, Toyota greatly appreciates the trust its customers placed in an untested product. As a gesture of goodwill, the company provides a battery replacement service for these customers even after the warranty period has ended, with a lifespan of 15 years. However, after more than two decades of fulfilling this service, Toyota has made the decision to discontinue it.

“To date, we have been conducting free HV battery checks at the nearest authorized service centers and dealerships. However, with more than 20 years having passed since production ceased, supplying parts has become increasingly challenging. Therefore, we regretfully inform you that starting from March 31, 2024, we will no longer provide warranty service (free checks), and we sincerely apologize for this,” states the letter from Toyota to its Japanese customers.

Contrary to the disappointed owners, many people are impressed. Apart from the durability concerns, the online community is astonished to discover that Toyota has been quietly replacing batteries for customers for over two decades, even after surpassing the “lifetime legal requirement,” proving that 25 years is more than sufficient.

TT (Tuoitrethudo)

Reference: Wapcar