Do I have to worry about my used Toyota Prius' batteries needing replacement soon?

Here is what Toyota says:

How long does the Prius battery last and what is the replacement cost?

The Prius battery (and the battery-power management system) has been designed to maximize battery life. In part this is done by keeping the battery at an optimum charge level - never fully draining it and never fully recharging it. As a result, the Prius battery leads a pretty easy life. We have lab data showing the equivalent of 180,000 miles with no deterioration and expect it to last the life of the vehicle. We also expect battery technology to continue to improve: the second-generation model battery is 15% smaller, 25% lighter, and has 35% more specific power than the first. This is true of price as well. Between the 2003 and 2004 models, service battery costs came down 36% and we expect them to continue to drop so that by the time replacements may be needed it won't be a much of an issue. Since the car went on sale in 2000, Toyota has not replaced a single battery for wear and tear.

This seems to match up to everything else I am hearing. I have a Toyota Prius and I love it.

I found a message board where one driver has had his Prius for 194,000 miles and it is still going strong. http://www.toyota-problems.com/2006/07/re-toyota-p...

I understand that the Prius has been available in Japan for 8 years and still on the same battery.

A few of the hybrid batteries have been replaced, but it's not many; and most of those were replaced under warranty. Depending on what state it was originally purchased in (and what model year) the hybrid battery is warranted for either 100,000 or 150,000 miles. That does NOT mean that the battery will die at 150,001 miles. (And replacement cost, should it be necessary, is closer to $3,000 -- not $8,000 or $10,000, as another person answered. This isn't an all-electric car, after all.)

The Prius has been available in the US since 2000, and if the hybrid batteries were truly a problem, we'd all know it by now. If nothing else, you'd be hearing it from GM, Ford, and Chrysler. Instead, they're playing catch-up.

Like conventional cars, the Prius also has a small 12-volt battery. That one will probably need to be replaced around the 5 year mark, just as most other cars do. The Prius doesn't use that battery for starting the engine though; it uses it for booting the computers. The big battery starts the engine by turning it via an electric motor.

The same thing happened to me with my 2005 Prius. I left it idle and didn't drive it for three weeks and the 12 volt battery went dead. I have an auto battery charger and charged it and now it works. Were you to have the original battery that came with the car, you have gotten good service out of it as most batteries last for about five years before they need to be replaced. You will only need to replace the 12 volt battery now and you can get one at most auto parts places and the price is anywhere from the $100 to $150 range. A dealer will sell you one, but their overhead is higher than a parts place and they will charge you more for it. I suggest getting a battery with large cold cranking amps of so it will start up easier on cold days. It may cost a little more but it is worth it. I also suggest you think about selling your Prius soon because the other batteries may need to be replaced sometime, and I don't think it is worth paying the price for replacing them when you could buy a newer Prius and get better performance and longer battery life. The 2010 Prius is outstanding and I will soon be replacing mine with a 2010. Were you to replace the battery yourself, you will need to open the door using your key as the electronics aren't working, and climb into the back and open the rear door by using the manual opener that is located on the inside of the back door on the bottom toward the middle of the door. It is inside the door and is not visually apparent, so you will have to find it with your finger. Once you have the back door opened you will be able to have an easier process to remove the old battery. Make sure you remove the positive terminal first and when you install the new battery, install the negative terminal first, but before you do, reattach the ground wire to the car that is located just above the battery in the back. Also make sure you don't touch any positive connections to the battery until all negative connections are secure. When you install the positive connections make sure you don't touch any part of the car, including the negative contacts, with any tools you use while installing it or you will get a spark and possibly a jolt that may knock you on your butt or scare the heck out of you. You will have lost all of your radio and clock settings and will need to reset them after the battery is installed. The battery is heavy so be careful. Good luck.

I almost bought a Prius the other day. The Dealer said "don't even think of trying to change the brakes yourself." I called a few mechanics in town and they said they won't even touch a Prius. Is that true? Dealer prices are hefty though, and warranty doesn't cover brakes, batteries and oil changes do they? Isn't that the heart of the prius... Brakes and batteries?

If I was you I would lease the vehicle. Doing that you could exchange the car before the batteries need to be replaced. Average lifespan of those batteries are about 5years. After that it could cost $8,000-$10,000 to replace

If you go to toyota.com you will get the info on the battery life, etc

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