Should I buy a hybrid (8year battery concern)

[FrugalFisherman10]

TL;DR

I need a new vehicle and like the 2012 body-style Ford Escape Hybrids.  They also have a 4wd option, which would be cool because I find myself on "light" off-road situations alot while fishing rivers and streams.
But a 2012 vehicle is now 8/9 years old. And I was reading that hybrid batteries often last about 8 years. So I just wanted to check the interwebs for whether I'm crazy for thinking of buying a hybrid that old.

Will the dealer laugh at me as a sucker the moment I walk out because I just bought a car that will need a few thousand dollar battery replacement soon?

I see some of these with less than 100k miles on them and for around $9-11k asking price which is what I'm comfortable with and seems pretty appropriate for my budget and all.

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Hello all,
I believe it is time for me to buy a new car. It will be used. I'm considering buying a hybrid and wanted to get the thoughts of this community because I respect all your knowledge and expertise on car purchases, environmental things, and hybrids in particular.

Background/case study:
I currently drive a RWD light truck, and I have recently moved to St. Louis, MO. It is snowy and icy here in the winter time more than where I'm from in Atlanta, and so I am concerned about traction with a RWD vehicle. I had my suspicions confirmed yesterday when I was talking to a mechanic....His words: "it's gonna suck"

I also would need to pass a safety check in the county I live in here, when I go to register my car here and get my insurance written in this state. I had the safety inspection conducted yesterday and will need two repairs in order to pass. They total $1100-1400.

Additionally, my radiator is cracked and thus leaking whatever I put in it. In the warm months this is relatively ok...I just put water in it and it keeps my car cool.
 But with winter coming I will need to put antifreeze in it obviously, and you don't want that leaking out.
New radiator: $370
This has nothing to do with passing safety inspection.

The truck is a 2002 Nissan frontier with just under 200k miles on it. I think it's probably worth between $2k-$3k to the right buyer.

I've decided all these signs are pointing to me needing to sell the truck. I love the little truck and have had it for so long. So it will be hard to do so. There's a lot of nostalgia and memories there.
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Anyway, I like the 2012 body-style Ford Escape Hybrids. They look like this 

They also have a 4wd option, which would be cool because I find myself on "light" off-road situations alot while fishing rivers and streams. I have gotten my 2wd truck stuck several times.

But a 2012 vehicle is now 8/9 years old. And I was reading that hybrid batteries often last about 8 years. So I just wanted to check the interwebs for whether I'm crazy for thinking of buying a hybrid that old.
Will the dealer laugh at me as a sucker the moment I walk out because I just bought a car that will need a few thousand dollar battery replacement soon?

I see some of these with less than 100k miles on them and for around $9-11k asking price which is what I'm comfortable with and seems pretty appropriate for my budget and all.

Thoughts??
Thanks


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[Just Joe]

What kind of battery does the Escape use? NIMH or Li-Ion?

[FrugalFisherman10]

Looks like NIMH



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[Just Joe]

Your best bet would be to find a couple Ford hybrid forums and see what they are saying about these battery packs. I lean towards NIMH batteries lasting longer than Li-Ion b/c they are less sensitive to heat.

However both batteries might last so long that it is a moot question. A friend had a Prius approaching 300K miles that had a couple of failed battery modules. Throwing all sorts of trouble codes.

He did some internet research, disassembled the battery, replaced two modules for $50 each - and reassembled it. The battery was functional again and the warning lights disappeared. His fuel economy returned too.

I think people casually talk about replacing the whole battery when the right answer is tearing it down and replacing what is defective. Shops that specialize in this are available.

http://hybridshoplocator.com/find-a-shop/

[YttriumNitrate]

I'm not sure about Ford's batteries, but my parent's 2002 Prius is still on its original battery. They have had one problem with the car: the odometer won't go higher that 299,999 miles since back in the early 2000s Toyota didn't expect the cars to last that long.

[ixtap]

My 2010 Honda Insight (actually bought early 2009, when they reintroduced) is doing fine, well past the warranty.

[Paper Chaser]

However both batteries might last so long that it is a moot question. A friend had a Prius approaching 300K miles that had a couple of failed battery modules. Throwing all sorts of trouble codes.

He did some internet research, disassembled the battery, replaced two modules for $50 each - and reassembled it. The battery was functional again and the warning lights disappeared. His fuel economy returned too.

I think people casually talk about replacing the whole battery when the right answer is tearing it down and replacing what is defective. Shops that specialize in this are available.

http://hybridshoplocator.com/find-a-shop/

This. It's usually a bad cell or handful of bad cells that can be replaced for far less than a whole new battery pack. For example, I see a single cell for an Escape Hybrid for sale on Ebay right now for $18. There are often youtube videos that show this type of process.

Another option is buying a working battery pack from a crashed vehicle. If you aren't willing or able to tear apart a battery pack, then this might be a cheaper option than buying a brand new one as well.

Most hybrids have some display or method for checking battery health. It may also be obviously struggling during a test drive or show fault codes. Research the specific model you're interested in and do your best to ascertain the battery health before you buy. As long as it's not already hurt, I'd have no problems buying an older hybrid. IF you find one that has battery issues, and have some DIY ability it could be an excellent opportunity to really negotiate the price down and then repair it on the cheap and end up with a good running hybrid for less than market value.

[FireLane]

I have a 2012 Ford Fusion hybrid. I bought new, it has about 60,000 miles on it now. I've never had an issue with the battery.

[FrugalFisherman10]

I have a 2012 Ford Fusion hybrid. I bought new, it has about 60,000 miles on it now. I've never had an issue with the battery.

WOW you never drive

[HipGnosis]

My '14 Fusion hybrid has 115,xxx miles w/o problems.   I knew the battery pack can most probably be repaired rather than replaced when I bought it.

I am going to look into what service (if any) is recommended for the continuously variable transmission.

[FireLane]

I have a 2012 Ford Fusion hybrid. I bought new, it has about 60,000 miles on it now. I've never had an issue with the battery.

WOW you never drive

That's the idea! I take the train to work instead of driving, that's the biggest reason I can keep the mileage low.

https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/04/22/curing-your-clown-like-car-habit/

[FrugalFisherman10]

Nice!
Man I haven't read that post in a long time. It's a good one. I thought i didn't drive much when I averages around 10k miles per year on this truck I've had the last 12 years. But you got me beat! Biking and walking helped me keep it low in my old city. New city not so much unfortunately

[Just Joe]

My '14 Fusion hybrid has 115,xxx miles w/o problems.   I knew the battery pack can most probably be repaired rather than replaced when I bought it.

I am going to look into what service (if any) is recommended for the continuously variable transmission.

Just check your owner's manual. Prob a fluid and filter change like most other transmissions. Some automatics/CVTs don't have filters so a strategy is simply changing the fluid more often AKA annually whether the maintenance schedule says it needs it or not.

[Paper Chaser]

My '14 Fusion hybrid has 115,xxx miles w/o problems.   I knew the battery pack can most probably be repaired rather than replaced when I bought it.

I am going to look into what service (if any) is recommended for the continuously variable transmission.

Just check your owner's manual. Prob a fluid and filter change like most other transmissions. Some automatics/CVTs don't have filters so a strategy is simply changing the fluid more often AKA annually whether the maintenance schedule says it needs it or not.

I agree that the manual should be consulted. That being said, Ford and Toyota hybrid models use a CVT transmission that consists primarily of two electric motors and some planetary gears. They have tremendous reliability records. There's not really much that can wear out or need frequent maintenance like a more common CVT with bands/cones or a conventional automatic transmission. One of the biggest advantages of a hybrid is reduced maintenance costs, so I wouldn't go changing out fluids or anything ahead of schedule unless I had a very specific concern. Take advantage of the simplicity and reduced costs as much as you can!

[WhiteTrashCash]

They use Ford Escape Hybrids as taxicabs in New York City and they put 600,000-800,000 miles on the original battery packs. I wouldn't worry about it.

[morphett]

I also have a Honda Insight and I haven't had any problems with it yet.

[OtherJen]

My 2012 Prius has almost 100,000 miles on it and no issues with the battery.

[Just Joe]

One of the biggest advantages of a hybrid is reduced maintenance costs, so I wouldn't go changing out fluids or anything ahead of schedule unless I had a very specific concern. Take advantage of the simplicity and reduced costs as much as you can!

Depends on whether you DIY the transmission fluid changes or not. A dealer would be expensive but to DIY change the fluid in my SUV transmission which does not have a filter - is $35.

Keeping the fluid clean is a key part of making an automatic transmission last. That and keeping it cool. I suspect the same is true for a CVT.

Part of the annual fluid changes is that the fluid left in the torque converter (not found on a CVT transmission) can't be drained in a DIY situation so changing it often ensures that all the fluid is newish and clean. 

Other DIY solution is changing it three times in a row with some miles in between. Still cheaper than the dealer visit. I'll just go with the single annual DIY fluid change.