Lawsuit: Prius recall for inverter software fix hurts fuel economy

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Vman455

According to Toyota's most recent update, no Prius models are involved in the Takata recall.

I just assumed it was Takata. Perhaps they used a different brand, but the inflator chamber is recalled on my vehicle.

Description

The involved vehicles are equipped with curtain shield air bags (CSA) in the driver and passenger side roof rails that have air bag inflators composed of two chambers welded together. Some inflators could have a small crack in the weld area joining the chambers, which could grow over time, and lead to the separation of the inflator chambers. This has been observed when the vehicle is parked and unoccupied for a period of time. If an inflator separates, the CSA could partially inflate, and, in limited circumstances, one or both sections of the inflator could enter the interior of the vehicle. If an occupant is present in the vehicle, there is an increased risk of injury.
Remedy

Toyota dealers will install retention brackets on the curtain shield air bag inflators at NO CHARGE.

Recall Date

June 27, 2016
Dealer Reference ID

G0U
NHTSA Reference ID

16V487

[Vman455]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I just assumed it was Takata. Perhaps they used a different brand, but the inflator chamber is recalled on my vehicle.

Right, yeah--that was a separate issue. I thought those had all been fixed by now.

[Vman455]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Given he's an EE who apparently tracks every tank (manually), I'd be inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt that he's comparing apples to apples. I'd be surprised if he made his complaint based on a single data point vs a long-term pattern.

But you know what happens when I assume ...

So those are all valid questions.

Even if he meticulously records every tank, that doesn't necessarily point to the inverter recall as the cause. Another example--my mileage over the last year has been much lower than it was the first year I owned my Prius probably because how far I drive, how fast, and in what weather conditions has changed--I never used to do multiple trips to Chicago in the winter at 75+ mph or multiple trips less than a mile to work in sub-zero temperatures, and now I do. We can't accept Enger's explanation without ruling things like that out, and I'm not sure how he would go about doing that. Toyota has the resources to conduct controlled, instrumented testing on a dyno that would put all this speculation to rest, and I expect if this goes to court we may see some results like that.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Vman455

Right, yeah--that was a separate issue. I thought those had all been fixed by now.

Depends on the motivation of the owner. In my case, I ride motorcycles, so airbag shrapnel from side curtains is weighed against the odds of injury riding a machine with no restraint system. Also, my motorcycle awareness translates to my driving behavior as I look both ways before entering an intersection, regardless of right of way. I'm at a lower risk of using the side airbags than most.

Considering the fuse recall now, I might as well kill two stones with one bird.

Originally Posted by Vman455

Toyota has the resources to conduct controlled, instrumented testing on a dyno that would put all this speculation to rest, and I expect if this goes to court we may see some results like that.

The reprogrammed behavior should be easy to measure by the layperson. I'm able to see the power output/input of both MGs and the engine using a cheap ELM237 device and the Torque app.

Observing the changed behavior should allow speculation to be made as to how that would impact fuel economy.

I doubt Toyota would be foolish enough to detrimentally impact MPGs without disclosing it to the public, but then again, dieselgate.

[roosterk0031]

Honda did it with a Civic and Accord hybrids to extend battery life at the expense of MPG.

https://www.torquenews.com/1080/car-...rid-mpg-claims

One of my brothers had an Accord Hybrid from that time.

[Vman455]

I suppose I have a financial incentive to root for this guy: if the class-action reaches settlement with Toyota, I stand to make money.

[S Keith]

Originally Posted by roosterk0031

Honda did it with a Civic and Accord hybrids to extend battery life at the expense of MPG.

https://www.torquenews.com/1080/car-...rid-mpg-claims

One of my brothers had an Accord Hybrid from that time.

06-08 Civic Hybrid only.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Vman455

An apparent drop of 5mpg may be related to any number of things. What was the weather like? Traffic? Did his commute change? Did he start going to a closer grocery store that didn't allow the engine to warm up fully? Did his car develop an undiagnosed dragging brake caliper? Does his car have a clogged EGR? Has his PCV valve stuck? Does he use AC or heat more now than he used to? Any of these things could explain a change in fuel economy as drastic as he claims. Then there's the issue of the claim itself: 49 to 44 over how many tanks? How consistently? How meticulous are his records? Is this claim accurate or an estimate?

New tires dropped my mpg by 5 mpg. 5 mpg sounds like a lot, until you do the math.

The difference between 45 mpg and 50 mpg is 22 gallons a year for someone that drives 10,000 miles per year. We are talking about $1 a week. How much is he expecting to get from Toyota especially after the lawyer's get their share?

[ksa8907]

Originally Posted by JSH

New tires dropped my mpg by 5 mpg. 5 mpg sounds like a lot, until you do the math.

The difference between 45 mpg and 50 mpg is 22 gallons a year for someone that drives 10,000 miles per year. We are talking about $1 a week. How much is he expecting to get from Toyota especially after the lawyer's get their share?

I don't know anyone with a job who drives less than 12k miles per year. Do a lot of people actually drive that little? I pack down 2600 miles every month, not including what goes on the company truck.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by ksa8907

I don't know anyone with a job who drives less than 12k miles per year. Do a lot of people actually drive that little? I pack down 2600 miles every month, not including what goes on the company truck.

I'd say 12,000 is about average. In the past I have put in way more than that, but over multiple vehicles. Now I work from home and my wife walks to work. Previously my work commute was 7 miles 1 way. People commuting more than about 30 minutes for extended periods of time are doing life wrong.