Prince123

I have a 2007 GS 450h I bought used 3 years ago with around 85k miles on it. It's in great condition so I didn't mind the higher miles. My " check hybrid system" light came on last week and after a check by the dealer they gave the news I've feared hearing since I got the car the battery needs to be replaced! The car now has around 135k miles and they quoted 6k to replace it. I'm in a dilemma because not only can I not afford the 6k right now but I'm not sure if it makes sense given the cars miles and age. I found a guy on eBay in Sacramento who sells rebuilt batteries and installs them for 1500 if u live in California.
Is this a viable option or should I just cut bait and look into an entirely new ride?
Need help ASAP!

Prince123

I bought a 2007 450h 4 years ago with 85k miles. Great condition so I didn't mind the miles at purchase. My ck hybrid system light came on last week and after a visit to the dealer my worst fears came true since I've had the car I need a new hybrid battery--6k! I don't have it and can't afford a new car payment . I'm stuck! I found a guy highly rated on EBay who sells the batteries and installs for 1500.
Is this viable?
I need my car for work but don't want to throw money into an older car if it won't translate in resell value.
Any ideas?

Allen K

iTrader: (4)

it's unlikely that the entire battery has failed so it's probably just a few troublesome cells/banks. Did Lexus tell you how bad it was or just that it needed to be replaced?

Sulu

But even if it is isolated to just a few cells, will Toyota replace just those bad cells or insist on replacing the whole battery? For $6000 it sounds like Toyota insists on replacing the whole battery.

Allen K

iTrader: (4)

It's definitely in their own best interest to replace the whole battery, more money to be made . But if they were nice enough (doubtful) to tell him how bad the failures were, he could take it to an independent hybrid mechanic to get it fixed.

Toys4RJill

Hearing this story is why I no longer like hybrids and would rather just skip it. $6000 buys a lot of gas if one just had a gas version of a car.

RXSF

The car still drives, right? Any noticeable changes in power or gas mileage?

LeX2K

Hybrid battery failures are rare and lower than for example transmission failures. To the OP find a place that repairs hybrid battery systems the bad cell(s) can be replaced no need to buy a whole new unit.

Sulu

With only 85k miles on the odometer, it sounds more like bad luck (or just a few bad cells), considering the established reliability of Toyota's hybrid battery. One reason why more and more Toyota hybrids (Prius and Camry and now ESh) are used as taxis and airport limos (it seems that every taxi in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is a Prius) is because of the well-known long-distance reliability of the battery.

balMaster

OP said it now has 135k miles. 85k miles is when he bought the car.

ydooby

The OP says the car now has 135k miles, which is when many Toyota/Lexus hybrids do start needing battery replacements. Of course there are rare stories of Toyota/Lexus hybrids not needing battery replacements until 200k miles or more, but 135k is about the right mileage for most T/L hybrids to start seeing this issue from the many cases I've read about.

$1,500 sounds good for a reconditioned battery replacement though. The total cost of ownership of a T/L hybrid is still lower than a comparable conventional car IMHO since it doesn't have a real transmission that needs an even more expensive rebuild/replacement at around the same mileage (between 90k and 150k or so).

LeX2K

This is all completely made up BS.

ydooby

"Most hybrids now use nickel-based high voltage batteries that last an average of 135,000 to 150,000 miles."
http://greengaragebham.com/hybrid-battery-service/

"Toyota Hybrid cheap fix - the dealer wanted $4400..." at 132k:
http://imgur.com/gallery/j8Bcp/

"My Gs450h is 1100 miles over 100k miles and Lexus is trying to get me to pay $8000 for a new traction battery."
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/hyb...d-battery.html

"The only minor issue I've had is that the hybrid battery failed at 110,000 miles. After initially being told I'd have to pay $7,000 to replace the battery, I haggled with Lexus for a few days and they ended up covering the cost (minus $400+ for them to replace my spark plugs)."
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/hyb...ml#post8356892

"I've a 2006 Lexus 450h with 140K on the clock and the hybrid battery has failed. I've been quoted nearly £3 grand to replace it."
http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/for...comment=935754

"I own a GS450h last week took mine to a lexus dealer informed I need to spend 4500 euro on batteries yet only 138k miles on clock"
http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/for...comment=893002

"My 2006 GS 450h Hybrid Battery has failed at 140,000 miles and Lexus refused to help and wanted £2,700 to replace."
http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/for...comment=937889

"My 2007 Camry Hybrid battery died at 102.5K miles."
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/10...n-you-too.html

"Cinda Gobeille had to garage her Toyota Prius when the battery gave out after a healthy life of 10 years and 144,000 miles."
http://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/...batteries-last

Battery failed half a year after hitting 130k:
http://mapawatt.com/2012/11/07/toyot...y-battery-last

Of course there are many examples of hybrid batteries having survived longer than these, but 135k miles is neither uncommon nor unreasonable a point where batteries may start to fail.

LeX2K

Posting a few random links tells us nothing about the failure rate.

ydooby

And you have nothing to back up a survival rate either.

The point is that hybrid battery failures do happen sooner or later, and 135k miles is in the ballpark when it can start to happen as it did in quite a few cases, even though the average life expectancy could be higher. The same goes for big-ticket items like transmissions too. Your mileage may vary, but it will happen with time.