NHTSA Complaint #10124979 — 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS

WITH APPROXIMATELY 7100 MILES ON MY CAR ON FRIDAY MARCH 25, 2005 I WAS DRIVING ON LOCAL ROADS BETWEEN 20 TO 40 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR BEGAN BUCKING VERY BADLY .. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. WORRIED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY COMPLETELY STALL AND QUIT ON THE OPEN ROAD I RETURNED HOME AND CALLED MY LOCAL ARLINGTON TOYOTA DEALER. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN THE FOLLOWING MORNING (SATURDAY MARCH 26,2005) TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM.THEY HAD THE CAR ALL DAY AND STILL COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHY THE CAR WAS STALLING. SINCE I WAS SCHEDULE TO BE AWAY THE FOLLOWING WEEK (TRIP TO LAS VEGAS). I GAVE PERMISSION FOR TECHS TO KEEP CAR ALL WEEK IF NECESSARY. ON MONDAY OF THE FOLLOWING WEEK, I RECIEVED A CALL FROM TECH AT MY HOTEL THAT THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM. HE CLAIMED IT WAS A MISFIRE IN #1 CYCLINDER. SO THEY REPLACED SPARK PLUG #1. HOWEVER, HE ALSO TOLD ME NOT GET THE CAR ENGINE WET. HE WARNED THAT IF I EVER RETURNED THE CAR WITH A WET ENGINE AGAIN THAT MY WARRANTY WOULD BE VOIDED. I TOLD HIM THAT I NEVER OPEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THAT I WOULD NEVER INTENTIONALLY PUT WATER DIRECTLY ON THE ENGINE. PARTICULLARY ON SUCH A SOPHISTICATED CAR SUCH AS A HYBRID. IN THE PAST 10,000 MILES THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE I HAVE TAKEN IT THROUGH THE CAR WASH A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES.I PICKED UP THE CAR UPON MY RETURN FROM LAS VEGAS ON FRIDAY APRIL 1,2005. I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE EVER SINCE. HOWEVER, SINCE THE RECENT RASH OF NEWS REPORTS OF COMPLAINTS FILED AROUND THE COUNTRY OF THE PRIUS STALLING I AM WONDERING IF THE TECH AT ARLINGTON TOYOTA HAD MISDIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM I EXPERIENCE THIS PAST MARCH.