MajorCommonElectrical

Toyota Auris: Hybrid traction battery (NiMH) degradation and end-of-life failure

Hybrid traction battery (NiMH) degradation and end-of-life failure is a common electrical fault on the Toyota Auris on the 2012–2018 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,500 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 5 documented faults on the Toyota Auris.

Vehicle: Toyota Auris
Years: 2012–2018
Fuel: hybrid
System: Electrical

This page covers the Toyota Auris as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Toyota Auris faults5 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The Auris hybrid's nickel-metal-hydride traction battery is the same technology as the Gen 3 Prius pack and degrades the same way: individual modules drift out of balance with age (typically 10-15 years or 150,000-250,000 km), eventually triggering the red triangle warning and P0A80 code, with the car leaning on the petrol engine and economy collapsing. NZ has a mature replacement market: reconditioned exchange packs run roughly $1,800-$3,400 depending on warranty length, new-cell packs from specialists like hybridbatteries.co.nz or Infinitev around $2,000-$4,500 fitted. Toyota NZ's battery warranty only ever covered NZ-new or Toyota-certified cars, so JDM imports carry the full cost.

What you would notice

Fuel economy noticeably worse than about 4.5-5.5 L/100km around town
Battery gauge on the display swinging quickly between nearly full and nearly empty
Petrol engine running almost constantly, even sitting still
Weak or non-existent electric-only crawl in car parks
Red triangle master warning with hybrid system message

How to check it

Where to look. Traction battery under/behind the rear seat, accessed from the boot

On the test drive, watch the energy screen: a healthy pack charges and discharges smoothly, a dying one bounces between extremes within minutes. Let the car idle in READY mode - the engine should shut off and stay off; if it never stops, be suspicious. Ask for a hybrid battery health report (Dr Prius app or a hybrid workshop scan) and, if the pack was already replaced, the invoice - refurb warranties often transfer.

What it costs to put right

$1,500 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the hybrid battery ever been replaced or reconditioned, and is there an invoice?”
“What real-world fuel economy does it get around town?”
“Has the red triangle warning ever come on?”
“Can I have a hybrid battery health scan done before purchase?”

Now check the Toyota Auris you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Toyota Auris buyer questions

Is hybrid traction battery (nimh) degradation and end-of-life failure serious on a Toyota Auris?

We rate it major and common on the Toyota Auris. The Auris hybrid's nickel-metal-hydride traction battery is the same technology as the Gen 3 Prius pack and degrades the same way: individual modules drift out of balance with age (typically 10-15 years or 150,000-250,000 km), eventually triggering the red triangle warning and P0A80 code, with the car leaning on the petrol engine and economy collapsing. NZ has a mature replacement market: reconditioned exchange packs run roughly $1,800-$3,400 depending on warranty length, new-cell packs from specialists like hybridbatteries.co.nz or Infinitev around $2,000-$4,500 fitted. Toyota NZ's battery warranty only ever covered NZ-new or Toyota-certified cars, so JDM imports carry the full cost.

How much does it cost to fix on a Toyota Auris?

$1,500 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Toyota Auris years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2012–2018 Toyota Auris. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.