NHTSA Complaint #10333915 — 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS

MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS LEFT ME STRANDED FOR 15 MINUTE PERIODS OF TIME WHILE PARKED ON MY STREET. ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS COME ON AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING RED WARNING "CAUTION - TRANSMISSION "P" LOCK MECHANISM IS ABNORMAL. PARK IN A FLAT PLACE AND APPLY BRAKE." I WAS PARKED ON A MILD INCLINE AND I ALWAYS USE MY PARKING BRAKE. THIS HOWEVER MAKES ME SUSPICIOUS OF WHETHER THE PARKING BRAKE IS HARDY ENOUGH TO WORK WHEN PARKED ON THE CROWN OF A STREET PARKING SPACE. I APPLIED AND RE-APPLIED MY PARKING BRAKE WITHOUT SUCCESS. I OPEN AND CLOSED THE HOOD WITHOUT SUCCESS. I OPEN AND CLOSED MY DOOR WITHOUT SUCCESS. I PLACED ALL MY PASSENGER SEAT ITEMS ON THE FLOOR WITHOUT SUCCESS. I HELD THE IGNITION BUTTON WITHOUT SUCCESS. I PLACED MY KEY FOB INTO THE IGNITION WITHOUT SUCCESS. AND WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE MY KEY FOB SO I COULD GO CALL A TOW TRUCK, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HOUSING FOR THE IGNITION KEY CAME LOOSE AND DIS-ARTICULATED IN MY HAND. I JUST CAREFULLY PUSHED THE PLASTIC HOUSING BACK INTO THE DASHBOARD.... HOWEVER, THAT WAS DEPRESSING TO SEE. FINALLY, AFTER ALL THE TINKERING FOR 15 MINUTES, MY CAR FINALLY TURNED OFF. I WAS THEN ABLE TO TURN IT BACK ON AND DRIVE AWAY WITHOUT A PROBLEM. IN RETROSPECT, THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AT LEAST 4 OCCASIONS SINCE DECEMBER 24, 2009 AND I JUST ASSUMED THAT DURING THE BOUT WITH MY INJURED LEG THAT I WAS NOT ADEQUATELY PLACING ENOUGH FORCE ON THE PARKING BRAKE..... BUT SHOULD THIS HAPPEN SO EASILY?? I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS PART OF THE WHOLE SAFETY ISSUES WITH CARS NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP WHILE RUNNING. THANKS. *TR