What are the long-term service and maintenance concerns with Hybrid vehicles?

Question

Thinking on buying one. I'm just wondering about hidden problems down the road.

Answer 1

They need replacement parts wich can run past $10,000 a part, and is not covered by a warranty. This is enough to offset any gas savings. The Saturn parts cost the least, and you might actually break even in the end. Toyota parts are expensive, and unless you drive 100 miles a day you wont save money.

Answer 2

I've read where the increase in the price of the hybrid will never offset the savings in gas mileage unless gas gets to over $5 per gallon. Now that could happen one day, especially if we let the environmentalists continue to stop us from drilling for oil in the US, and the Iranians get control of the oil in Iraq.

I'm not sure of the extra maintenance needed, but since it's a new technology it might be quite expensive to fix or replace those batteries and other hybrid parts.

I'm not saying hybrids are bad, just that they don't really offer a solution right now. You'd be better off buying a cheap 4 cylinder Honda. You'd probably get better gas mileage anyway.

I heard the electric car was making a comeback. Anyone heard anything? And why can't we make a hydrogen or electric car that really works?

Answer 3

The biggest concern that I have heard it the replacement cost and the life expectancy of the hybrid battery. The cars come with 8 year warranty which covers the battery so if you buy new you should have nothing to worry about in that time but after that a replacement could run 5 to 6 thousand.

Answer 4

nobody knows what the cost of replacing the batteries will be, but it is my belief that they will be held to a reasonable cost by the automaker , simply for good pr.