NHTSA Complaint #10125705 — 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS

DEAR NHSTA, ON MAY 20 OF 2005 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS ENGINE STOPPED WORKING AND 4 DASH WARNING/FAULTS LIGHTS CAME ON (RED TRIANGLE; CHECK ENGINE; BRAKE FAULT; VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL FAULT). I CONTINUED DRIVING FOR 3 MILES ON THE ELECTRIC MOTOR UNTIL THE BATTERY CHARGE LIGHT INDICATED NEAR COMPLETE BATTERY DISCHARGE. I TURNED OFF THE CAR, WAITED 30 SECONDS AND TURNED THE CAR BACK ON. IMMEDIATELY THE GASOLINE ENGINE STARTED AND THE BATTERY BEGAN TO CHARGE. AT THIS POINT ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE AND RED TRIANGLE LIGHTS CAME ON. I DROVE TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHO SAID THAT MY PROBLEM SOUNDED LIKE THE STALLING PROBLEMS WITH THE 33 REPORTED CASES OF 2004/05 PRIUS STALLING. TOYOTA UPGRADED THE ENGINE ECU AND THE CAR HAS BEEN FINE EVER SINCE. HOWEVER, I WANTED TO LET NHSTA KNOW SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THIS PRIUS STALLING PROBLEM AFFECTS MORE THAN JUST 33 PRIUS OWNERS. ALSO, I WORRY THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT THE PROBLEM IS FIXED PREMANENTLY. THANKS, GARY BEAUPRE