NHTSA Complaint #10314832 — 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS

ON 23 JAN 2010, WHILE DRIVING I-85N IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS THE CAR STALLED AT 70MPH. AN AUDIBLE ALERT SOUNDED, THE CAR JERKED AND THREE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF. I COASTED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AND SHUT THE CAR DOWN. I RESTARTED THE CAR -- THE WARNING LIGHTS CLEARED -- AND CONTINUED DRIVING. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER, STILL IN THE MOUNTAINS, THE SAME THINGS OCCURRED (STALL WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ON THE INTERSTATE.) WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR A YELLOW "!" WARNING REMAINED ON. I CONTINUED THE TRIP TO VIRGINIA WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. THE WARNING LIGHT WENT OUT. ON 5 FEB 2010, WHILE DRIVING ON I-95S IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS THE CAR STALLED, WARNING LIGHTS AND AUDIBLE ALARM SOUNDED. UPON RESTART THE "!" STAYED ON. THIS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES; ONCE ON I-95 AND ONCE ON I-20. THE LAST TWO TIMES THE RED TRIANGLE WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON ALSO. ON 6 FEB 2010, I TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA CENTER IN COLUMBIA SC. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($384) BECAUSE AIR GOT INTO THE SYSTEM. I ASKED IF THAT WAS WHY I COULD HEAR "SLOSHING" FROM THE ENGINE WHEN DRIVING; HE SAID YES. I EXPLAINED THAT I WAS CONFUSED SINCE THE COOLANT RECOVERY TANK NEVER WENT BELOW THE LOW LINE. HIS RESPONSE WAS THAT AIR IN THE SYSTEM WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE PRIUS AND THAT I SHOULD KEEP THE COOLANT LEVEL HIGHER THAN MARKED. ALSO THAT DRIVING IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS -- BOTH THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE AND THE ANGLE OF ASCENT AND DESCENT -- IS PROBABLY WHAT TRIGGERED THE PROBLEM. PRIOR TO BOTH TRIPS, THE CAR WAS CHECKED BY A MECHANIC. FLUID LEVELS WERE CLEAR AND ADEQUATE. I AM NOW IN THE FLATLANDS OF TEXAS, AND I CAN ONCE AGAIN HEAR THE SLOSHING SOUND COMING FROM MY ENGINE. BEYOND THE EXPENSE I AM CONCERNED THAT THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY STALLING. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR IN RUSH HOUR IN A CROWDED CITY I'M NOT SURE THE CAR WOULD BE SAFELY NAVIGABLE TO THE SHOULDER. *TR