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Old 04-08-2024, 05:04 PM #1
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Question for owners of hybrid vehicles:
Where do you have your car serviced or repaired? Can most independent mechanics handle most hybrid powertrains? Or do folks with hybrid cars have to rely on the dealer mechanic? Or what?

I’m thinking in terms of future hybrid Toyota/Lexus SUV’s. I like that my 4Runner is old-school simple and any decent mechanic can work on it.
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Old 04-08-2024, 08:54 PM #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Spalding View Post
Where do you have your car serviced or repaired? Can most independent mechanics handle most hybrid powertrains? Or do folks with hybrid cars have to rely on the dealer mechanic? Or what?

I’m thinking in terms of future hybrid Toyota/Lexus SUV’s. I like that my 4Runner is old-school simple and any decent mechanic can work on it.
I have a RAV4 hybrid. I have always gotten service at the dealer. My son has has had two Prius hybrids and also gets service at the dealer.

For anything to do with the hybrid system (battery, eCVT, electric motors, etc) one should get repairs at a dealer. But for routine maintenance (oil changes, brakes, filters, etc) they are no different than a gas only car.

The Toyota hybrid system has been out for many, many, years now and is one of the most reliable, simple, systems imaginable. They hardly ever need repair. The eCVT is an engineering marvel. Learn about it: Understanding the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid - YouTube
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Old 04-08-2024, 10:18 PM #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Spalding View Post
Where do you have your car serviced or repaired? Can most independent mechanics handle most hybrid powertrains? Or do folks with hybrid cars have to rely on the dealer mechanic? Or what?

I’m thinking in terms of future hybrid Toyota/Lexus SUV’s. I like that my 4Runner is old-school simple and any decent mechanic can work on it.
I have a prius and do all my own work. I work at a small shop that works on them. You don't have to use the stealership, just find a shop that can work on them.
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Old 04-09-2024, 02:55 PM #4
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I find it to be a sort of tragic irony that a company with a reputation for such stalwart and reliable cars should have a dealer service network with such an abysmal reputation. So abysmal in fact that guys like me are asking questions like this because the thought of buying a 6th gen 4Runner with a hybrid powertrain and the possibility of being tied to dealer service is so daunting.
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Old 04-09-2024, 04:01 PM #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Spalding View Post
I find it to be a sort of tragic irony that a company with a reputation for such stalwart and reliable cars should have a dealer service network with such an abysmal reputation. So abysmal in fact that guys like me are asking questions like this because the thought of buying a 6th gen 4Runner with a hybrid powertrain and the possibility of being tied to dealer service is so daunting.
Holding that opinion and fear is a personal choice on your end, it is not required. I've seen too many Toyota hybrids go 200k+ to be worried. It's established that plenty of competent independent shops can work on hybrids. At least in my area, the Toyota dealerships are totally service competent and I wouldn't hesitate to use them.

If you can't be talked out of your fears of the whole thing, just drive a 5th gen forever!
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Old 04-09-2024, 04:11 PM #6
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My independent Toyota dealership works on Toyota hybrids. We've had a 2011 Prius in the family since new. But nothing ever really goes wrong. Something blew up in the hybrid system when it was fairly new (happened to all 2011s AFAIK) that got fixed under warranty but since then......I honestly can't remember anything else going wrong! Not even minor things. Of course it needs to be maintained like any other car but even that is pretty minimal and just like any other Toyota. Oil changes, brake pads, brake fluid, etc. The hybrid system requires no maintenance at all and aside from the early hitch has not been touched in 13 years/~150k miles.
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Old 04-09-2024, 07:06 PM #7
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Thanks for the reassuring words.
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Old 04-10-2024, 01:08 PM #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Spalding View Post
the thought of buying a 6th gen 4Runner with a hybrid powertrain and the possibility of being tied to dealer service is so daunting.
Why would you take your vehicle with hyrbid powertrain issues to anywhere other than the dealer? The government mandates 8 year / 100k warranties on hybrid powertrains and batteries. Toyota goes one step further by providing 10 year and 150k warranties on the battery only. After that everyone sells them and the resale value plummets.

In my area we have a choice of a number toyota dealerships with great service and ridiculous stealership pricing but again we are taking warranty work.

The fed is pushing auto-manufacturers to hit the 2030 and 2032 EV deadlines so you will face the same dilemma more and more often as time passes unless they reverse or lighten the current laws.
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Old 04-10-2024, 07:16 PM #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Spalding View Post
I find it to be a sort of tragic irony that a company with a reputation for such stalwart and reliable cars should have a dealer service network with such an abysmal reputation. So abysmal in fact that guys like me are asking questions like this because the thought of buying a 6th gen 4Runner with a hybrid powertrain and the possibility of being tied to dealer service is so daunting.
My awd RAV4 hybrid has been rock solid and all service (just standard scheduled...I've had ZERO problems...never stranded) has been done by Toyota dealerships, or ASE certified shops in smaller towns. So not sure where the 'abysmal' reputation opinion is coming from. I got 35mpg on a trip from Seattle to Bend, to Jackson, to Bozeman to Seattle this winter. So happy. I mean, I LOOOVE my gen5 4Runner, but the Ravi is nice.

So don't live in fear.
Last edited by Blinkyjoe; 04-10-2024 at 07:20 PM.
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