NHTSA Complaint #10225752 — 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS

DEAR NHTSA, I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT I PURCHASED FROM CAPISTRANO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. THE DESIGN FLAW WITH THE VEHICLE THAT I AM ABOUT TO REPORT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE DEATH OR BODILY INJURY IF IT'S NOT CORRECTED RIGHT THE WAY. THE ISSUE IS THAT IF YOU DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT AND THE INTERIOR DIMMER IS TURNED WAY UP, YOU COULD SEE A LINE OF BLUE LIGHT ABOUT 6 INCHES LONG RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD, ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I BELIEVE THAT THE LIGHT THAT YOU SEE ON THE WINDSHIELD IS THE RESULT OF THE LIGHT REFLECTION FROM THE ODOMETER. THE LIGHT ON THE WINDSHIELD IS A DISTRACTION FOR DRIVERS. I GOT DISTRACTED BY LOOKING AT THIS LIGHT WHILE DRIVING, AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT ON 03/15/08. IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO FIND OUT THAT THE LIGHT REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD GOES AWAY IF THE DIMMER IS TURNED WAY DOWN. HOWEVER, THE GPS SCREEN TURNS DARK AND ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS GO DIM IF THE DIMMER IS TURNED WAY DOWN. I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGNFLAW WITH THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I LIKE MY GPS SCREEN AND ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS TO BE BRIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I'VE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO TOYOTA, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT IS DESIGNED. I HOPE THAT NHTSA COULD PERSUADE TOYOTA TO RECALL ALL PRIUSES AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR HURT. YOUR HELP WITH THIS ISSUE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR