NHTSA Complaint #10121137 — 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2004 PRIUS ON I35W AT 55 MPH WHEN SEVERAL RED WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR CHIMED. WE WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE AND LEFT THE CAR RUNNING WHILE WE CONSULTED THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THEN CALLED THE DEALER. WE STARTED TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE CAR'S POWER DIMINISHED NOTICEABLY AT EACH RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IT FINALLY STALLED ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE PARKING LOT WHERE WE HAD INITIALLY PAUSED. THE CAR WAS BLOCKING A BUS ROUTE/HIGHWAY EXIT/SURFACE STREET CONNECTOR AT THAT POINT. A BUS DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAD TO PUSH THE CAR TO A SAFER LOCATION, OUT OF THE BUS' WAY! THE IGNITION LOCKED AND THE FOB COULDN'T BE REMOVED UNTIL AT LEAST 30 MINUTES PASSED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO SAID IT WAS "A SOFTWARE GLITCH" AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT IT, AS THEY HAD TO REPROGRAM IT. NO PARTS WERE REPLACED.