NHTSA Complaint #10128383 — 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CAR GOES INTO A MODE WHERE IT WILL NOT LET THE CONSUMER SHIFT INTO GEAR AND BECAUSE IT IS ELECTRIC SHIFT, THE CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. IF HE IS ON A HILL THIS CONDITION WOULD MAKE THE VEHICLE COAST DOWN HILL. WHEN THE CONSUMER GETS INTO THE CAR, PRESSES THE BRAKE AND PRESSES THE POWER BUTTON THE CAR GOES INTO THE IGNITION ON MODE INSTEAD OF THE READY MODE. IF HE IS LOOKING AT THE DASH HE CAN TELL THIS HAS HAPPENED BUT IF HE DOES NOT LOOK AT THE DASH HE WOULD NOT KNOW THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO GEAR. IF THE CAR IS ON A SLOPE IT WILL GO DOWN THE SLOPE AS SOON AS HE LETS OFF THE BRAKE AND STEPPING ON THE GAS DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. OBVIOUSLY IF THERE IS ANYTHING IN FRONT OR BEHIND THE CAR AND THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE CARS PATH DOWN THE HILL HE WOULD RUN INTO IT. ALSO, TWO VISITS TO THE DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT. *NM *JB