NHTSA Complaint #10259245 — 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINS ILLUMINATED, REGARDLESS IF THE BRAKES ARE ENGAGED OR NOT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY DISCOVERED A LEAK IN THE BRAKES. BRAKE FLUID WAS ADDED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE, BUT THE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED HIM NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE FAILURE. THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. WEEKS LATER, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE ACTIVATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. HE REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP IN THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, BUT WAS UNSURE IF THAT WOULD PERMANENTLY REMEDY THE ISSUE. BOTH OF THE DEFECTS HAVE NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 3/11/09 *CN UPDATED 03/16/09. *JB