2018 Toyota Auris 1.8 hybrid reliability

[Roy Heins]

Hi there, I recently purchased a 2018 Toyota Auris 1.8 hybrid 30,000 km and I’m wondering how reliable are those batteries. Do I really need to inspect the Battery yearly as recommended. Secondly, the dealership won’t change the oil before 15,000 km or once every year. I’m very religious regarding 5000 km oil replacement. How do I approach this issues, thanks 

[APS]

Batteries tend to last for a long time - 150,000 km should be no problem. I agree with your 'religious' view on oil changes. You can always service the car at Toyota at their recommended interval, this will typically include the Battery health check, and then do your own oil changes in between. That should keep your car in very good health.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Toyota service intervals in Europe (presume you are in Portugal) are 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first. Toyota will have set the service intervals at the frequency they have determined to be the best in terms of longevity, reliability, etc, for their vehicles.

Servicing at a Toyota dealer will provide coverage under the Relax service generated extended warranty for up to 10 years/160,000km (whichever occurs first).

Your choice as to whether you do additional oil changes. 

Moved to the Auris forum.

[Saxmaniac]

I change the oil between dealer services ie at 5000 miles. People obsess about the hybrid Battery but it's probably the least thing for you to worry about. As a rule of thumb don't believe anything about lifetime fluids and change transmission fluid at 50 to 60k miles. (I'm not a pro and loads of people will say that I'm talking rubbish btw!). Keep an eye on the Battery lint filter, you'll get an idea of how often you need to clean it out, in my case 2 or 3 years is ok but you might get more fluff in it so perhaps yearly. Toyota dealer won't be checking this and it's vital to Battery health.  Brake fluid replace 5 years or so. Just chucking the keys at the dealer once a year does not constitute a well maintained car. I've found plastic clips on underbody panels work loose or go missing so worth checking regularly and keep an eye on rust at the same time 

[TonyHSD]

Hi, to all said above I will agree but engine oil changes at 5000km it’s not necessary. You can stick with dealer and add your own oil changes in between if you drive the car in extremely harsh conditions like super hot and dusty off roads or very short town journeys and again under harsher conditions. If you really prefer to change oil between dealer services do that at half dealers intervals 7500km or 6 months, also make sure you change cabin filter at least once a year, good for you and for the Battery. Use air conditioning always when temperatures outside are 20C° and more, keep interior clean and very important keep your hybrid Battery air vent filter clean and unobstructed by any items. Replace filter every two years. Transmission fluid drain and refill every 60k miles 100k km together with spark plugs so easier to remember. That’s pretty much all. Toyota hybrids batteries last long, no need to worry yet or at least until your car reaches we’ll pass 12 years old and 300k km or more. 👍

[AisinW]

The hybrid Battery is the last thing you need to worry with 2018 Auris. We do not have much Battery issue for the first 15 years and actually you have 10-15 years/unlimited Km warranty on the Battery.  The Relax-warranty only cover from 3rd to  10 years/160k Km if you maintain/oil change and other fluids in dealership annually. However you still can get the hybrid HV battery warranty for up to 10 years/unlimited Km by performing $30 Hybrid-System-Check annually, change the oil and other fluids in your own garage/home.  Hybrid system warranty (inverter, battery, etc.) are valid until 5 years/100k Km without the need to maintain the car in the dealership, just like standard 3 years/100k Km warranty. 

Just keep the vent/intake for the HV battery clean(annually), always turn the AC on (cooling the HV battery and control humidity), drive regularly (20 minutes one way trip every week).   The cabin filter need replacement/cleaning/wash every year to keep the evaporator clean.  The Engine Air filter is 4 years interval.  I also prefer to change the engine oil every 8000 km/6 months instead of 15 000 Km just because Toyota engines tends to consume oil when doing 15k km interval after 200k Km.  You can replace the transmission fluid Toyota WS every 100k Km/6 years, just drain and refill 3.3 L, engine and inverter Coolant 5-7 years/150k Km. Brake fluid 5 years, Sparkplugs 10y/200k Km. 

Check the underbody every spring for any rust. I always pressure wash the underbody whenever we have snow.  Only minor surface rust on the control arms and struts. You can spray Fluid Film Lanolin spray if you live on snowy area before the winter come. 

[TonyHSD]

Tbh engine oil consumption it’s unavoidable after certain mileage 120k miles plus , normal wear occurs and even you change every 1000 miles or every month will not help at all.
People seems to stress to much about oil changes , as long as you keep with 10k miles or 12 months you won’t get any trouble. These cars that has issue with crazy high oil consumption and engine damage are usually people who skip services or use really poor and cheap oils out of specs for the car. Some older engines has the well known piston rings trouble but that’s more manufacturer fault than the owner’s. I do every 10k miles within 3-4 months period and the oil is darker but not bad at all, still has lubricity and fluidity, never out any sludge or deposits. Engine is clean even after many miles and years. Engine flush also helps and I do that every second change. 👍

[Saxmaniac]

I'm sure you're right about 10k oil changes particularly with top quality synthetic, but it's my OCD that decides to over maintain the thing. I've applied fluid film underneath and in the cavities. Oh boy is it messy! Don't mind doing that yearly to keep the tinworm at bay. Chap who introduced me to hybrids has several priii in the family, one has 269k miles on 04 model and going strong. Did have a Battery fitted to one of them at some huge miles and age but again it was no worse than a clutch and flywheel job or whatever on an ordinary car

[TonyHSD]

24 minutes ago, Saxmaniac said:

I'm sure you're right about 10k oil changes particularly with top quality synthetic, but it's my OCD that decides to over maintain the thing. I've applied fluid film underneath and in the cavities. Oh boy is it messy! Don't mind doing that yearly to keep the tinworm at bay. Chap who introduced me to hybrids has several priii in the family, one has 269k miles on 04 model and going strong. Did have a battery fitted to one of them at some huge miles and age but again it was no worse than a clutch and flywheel job or whatever on an ordinary car

Slowly getting there 👍, now over 222000 miles 🛣🏁🚘 .
Got a new windscreen replaced on Monday, not a original car anymore but still going strong. Whatever happens in the future I can easily say that to date this is most reliable car I ever had , I had many old and new, this beats them all. 

[Wooster]

On 9/9/2022 at 4:33 PM, TonyHSD said:

I had many old and new, this beats them all. 

Tony - have you previously had Toyota's - and this is the most reliable?  Or is this your first Toyota?

[TonyHSD]

1 minute ago, Wooster said:

Tony - have you previously had Toyota's - and this is the most reliable?  Or is this your first Toyota?

Private car Toyota no, company and fleet yes, many Priuses from both standard and plus models, but they are the same cars just slightly different shape. I also have the worst experience with Toyota model too, but won’t count as ownership, the car was so bad I had to return on collection day and fight for my money back. 

[Davidhee58]

On 9/9/2022 at 3:26 PM, AisinW said:

The hybrid battery is the last thing you need to worry with 2018 Auris. We do not have much battery issue for the first 15 years and actually you have 10-15 years/unlimited Km warranty on the battery

If the Toyota Battery is very reliable and there is nothing to worry about, is it woth bringing the car to the dealership for hybrid health check annually? basically, to my understanding, the health check is just a test, no maintenance work involved at all.    

[Cyker]

If you're servicing it with the dealer they do it 'for free' as part of the service, but it's just a test through the diagnostic port AFAIK - They don't do e.g. a visual or physical check of the pack.

It's literally just a check and re-certification to make you eligible for an extra years warranty on it, rather than maintenance.

If you're not bothered about the warranty, and service elsewhere, you can get away with not doing it. Worst case, I'm told the pack is around a couple of grand to replace in the unlikely event it does have a problem, which isn't even that much in the grand scheme of things of replacement of a major car part, and there are third parties out there who will do cell level repair for less.

It's definitely more affordable than the pack in an EV!

[AisinW]

45 minutes ago, Davidhee58 said:

If the Toyota battery is very reliable and there is nothing to worry about, is it woth bringing the car to the dealership for hybrid health check annually? basically, to my understanding, the health check is just a test, no maintenance work involved at all.    

It depends on how you plan with the car. If you maintain your own car and plan to keep it for a long time, then no need Hybridsystem-Check. You can safe the money and do the Hybridsystem-Check only when you want to sell it. Just to give new owners assurance for warranty. 

So, at 12th year, you want to sell it, get €50 check, 1y HV warranty and new owner can continue renew it till 15th year. 

[Davidhee58]

Thanks John, I think I am going to keep my car at least for another 5 years, so far i've done 4 dealer services, one hybrid health check only last year, I've started to do the basic DIY maintenance after the 5 years warrenty, but plan to keep the hybrid health check at the dealership for the extentded HB Battery warrenty, if, as you and other people said, the Toyota HB Battery is so reliable, nothing to worry about it, I may change my plan. 

[AisinW]

You can use free version Dr. Prius App with veepeak OBD2 scanner if you are curious about the hv Battery status.  It does a good job on reading voltage and internal resistance of each module. 

Keep the vent clean,  turn AC on all the time to cool in summer and dehumidifier in winter.  The climate control is part of the Battery care.

[Davidhee58]

9 hours ago, AisinW said:

Keep the vent clean,  turn AC on all the time to cool in summer and dehumidifier in winter

Yes, these are all we can do for theHB Battery maintenance

[Mojo1010]

5k oil changes are not necessary, those that want to do it then of course that is up to the individual. One year done 8k miles and oil is only slightly dark, I think it's easy for 15-20k oil changes without issue. 

In the 5th year of current car, never had a health check, never worry about HV Battery. 

[TonyHSD]

Oil changes should not exceed the recommended time or mileage intervals. Even the oils these days are better than before still the combustion process does mix some fuel into the oil and with the time it will cause issues. For those who drive low miles 12 months it’s fine. 15-20 it is not. Max 10’ miles. 
I have a numerous used cars purchased in the past that their services schedules been neglected and some even with almost no oil inside the engine. A sign for serious oil missed service and taut have not been changed for a very long time and mileage is the dipstick.., oil level, oil colour and oil fluidity and marks left on the dipstick. 
When the things are at their worst after the 24-36 months the dipstick will have a sticky suspension like grease on top part after the max mark, low oil levels, if you see that on any used car prior to your purchase,  just walk away. 
Hybrid Health check also does not carry any maintenance work on your Battery. No filter cleaning (replacement) nothing, just check. 
 

[Davidhee58]

5 hours ago, Mojo1010 said:

5k oil changes are not necessary, those that want to do it then of course that is up to the individual. One year done 8k miles and oil is only slightly dark, I think it's easy for 15-20k oil changes without issue. 

In the 5th year of current car, never had a health check, never worry about HV battery. 

have read a lot about the engine oil change interval, found it is quite contraversial, the Toyota's service schedual is 10k/12 month for normal car use, but they also recommend If the vehicle operation meets the standard criteria for "Special Operating Conditions" such as: driving off-road, on dirt roads, towing a trailer, making repeated short trips under 32˚ F, or extensive idling; the engine oil must be replaced at 5,000 mile intervals, regardless of what type of oil is used. I only drive locally at very low mileage(only ~3k/year), and fall into the " repeated short trips under 32˚ F" category, so I will stick to the twice per year interval, as the oil and filter are not very expensive and it's about one hour DIY job for me, importantly, I can take the time and do the job much better than the Toyota service technisian did for my car🤣

[Saxmaniac]

I'm very persuaded by the Car Care Nut channel on YouTube, he's a senior Toyota tech recently got his own workshop. He continually lectures on 5k miles oil changes for the vast majority of users. I know it's a subject of debate here but for the cost of oil and filter and half hour of time, I don't see it as a big deal. Much better use of money than giving dealer 50 quid for a dubious hybrid system check!

[AisinW]

$50 more in 10 years is $500 more but the car will not burn any oil as much as if we do 10k miles interval.  Adding oil 1L per 1000 miles may be not too bad but replacing catalytic converter from oil burning burns our money faster than anything else. Besides that, Catalytic converter is not covered by our relax-warranty/10 years. only the first 3 years I believe.  I am not sure why European country does not have Emission Law Warranty like in USA (8 years/80k miles) for ECU and Catalytic converter+O2 sensors+MAF.