Prius Has a Power Problem

Some 2016-2019 Toyota Prius vehicles equipped with a NiMH battery may exhibit one or both of a pair of specific conditions after repeated driving on long downhill slopes or while driving in high ambient temperatures, then turned off for about one or two hours and then re-started.

Information courtesy of Mitchell 1

Mike Mavrigian

Nov. 7, 2022

Some 2016-2019 Toyota Prius vehicles equipped with a NiMH battery may exhibit one or both of the following conditions after repeated driving on long downhill slopes or while driving in high ambient temperatures, then turned off for about one or two hours and then re-started:

When accelerating from a stop or from very low speeds, the vehicle may have a reduction in power.
The HV battery monitor on the multi-function display continually shows one bar, indicating that the battery state of charge is at its lowest level.

The Hybrid Control Computer (HV ECU) logic has been codified to reduce this possibility. Reprogram the ECU with the latest calibration.

About the Author

Information courtesy of Mitchell 1

Information for Technical Service Bulletins comes from ProDemand, Mitchell 1's auto repair information software for domestic and import vehicles. Headquartered in San Diego, Mitchell 1 has provided quality repair information solutions to the automotive industry since 1918.

Mike Mavrigian

Motor Age Editor

Mike Mavrigian has written thousands of automotive technical magazine articles involving a variety of specialties, from engine building to wheel alignment, and has authored more than a dozen books that crisscross the automotive spectrum. Mike operates Birchwood Automotive, an Ohio shop that builds custom engines and performs vintage vehicle restorations. The shop also features a professional photo studio to document projects and to create images for articles and books.