NHTSA Complaint #10121427 — 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS

I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON 05/12/05 I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH ON THE 405 FREEWAY. THE CAR SUDDENLY HESITATED, THEN LOST MOST OF ITS POWER AND THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I RESTARTED IT. THE LIGHTS STAYED ON, BUT IT DROVE OK. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER. THEY RESET THE WARNING LIGHTS AND TOLD ME THE GAS PEDAL SENSOR WAS BAD. I DID NOT GET IT REPLACED. CAR HAS RUN OK SINCE THEN. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURENCE. IT ALSO HAPPENED ABOUT ONE AND A HALF YEARS AGO. SIMULAR SYMTOMS. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY RESET THE WARNING SYSTEM. NO OTHER WORK WAS DONE OR PERFORMED. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. VERY HAZARDOUS. CAR JUST STUMBLES AND LOSES MOST OF ITS POWER. A SECOND MAJOR DEFECT WAS THE FRONT END, WHICH STARTED TO HAVE STEERING PROBLEMS TOYOTA REPLACED ENTIRE FRONT END UNDER WARRENTEE.