NHTSA Complaint #10289187 — 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 255K MILES. I SERVICE MY CAR REGULARLY (ABOUT EVERY 5 WEEKS). WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AFTER WORK, NONE OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. I PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE AND THE CAR MOVED FORWARD. I DROVE MY CAR ABOUT 60 MILES AND STOPPED BY THE STORE. I BECAME ALARMED WHEN THE CAR WOULDN'T SHUT OFF. I PRESSED THE "POWER" BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE STAFFORD TOYOTA AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30PM AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM THE SALES MANAGER (SINCE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSED). THE SALES MANAGER CONFIRMED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY TO DETERMINE IF THE CAR WAS ON AND WHETHER THE CAR WAS IN PARK, REVERSE OR DRIVE. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS OF HOLDING DOWN THE "POWER" BUTTON, THE CAR FINALLY SHUT OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED IT, THE LIGHTS STILL DID NOT WORK. *TR