NHTSA Complaint #10123743 — 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS

1. I WAS DRIVING AROUND 30 TO 40 MPH AND THE GAS ENGINE FAILED SUDDENLY DURING THE COURSE OF NORMAL DRIVING, LEAVING ONLY THE ELECTRICAL ENGINE RUNNING. AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE FAILED, MANY LIGHTS TURNED ON ON THE DASHBOARD. 2. I WAS ON A CANYON ROAD IN THE LOS ANGELES MOUNTAINS WHEN IT FAILED, WHICH WAS A SINGLE LANE ROAD EACH WAY WITH NOWHERE TO PULL OFF. LUCKILY, I HAD JUST REACHED ON OF THE CRESTS IN THE CANYON WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED, SO WITH THE ELECTRICAL ENGINE I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SIDE STREET. ONCE ON THE SIDE STREET, THE ELECTRICAL ENGINE DIED QUICKLY, PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE STEEP SLOPE UPWARDS OF THE STREET. 3. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OFF, SO I POPPED THE HOOD AND GOT OUT TO SEE IF THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM. FINDING NO PROBLEM I COULD SEE I WENT BACK INSIDE THE CAR AND HELD DOWN THE POWER BUTTON UNTIL THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF FINALLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNED BACK ON, THE ENGINE SEMPT TO WORK NORMALLY, AND I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER. THEY SAID THEY HAD HEARD OF THE PROBLEM ONCE OR TWICE BEFORE AND IT REQUIRES A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO THE CAR. I WAS WEARY OF THEIR PROPOSED SOLUTION SINCE IT IS SUCH A DANGEROUS PROBLEM, BUT THAT'S ALL THEY SAID THEY COULD DO, SO I TOLD THEM TO GO AHEAD.