NHTSA Complaint #10419520 — 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS

AT ONLY 4 YEARS OF USE AND UNDER 34,000 MILES, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS MELTED INTO A STICKY, BLACK TAR SUBSTANCE. IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO PUSH A BUTTON WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE BLACK TAR SUBSTANCE, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. AS I HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS ISSUE, IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS, NATIONWIDE, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME SPECIFIC ISSUE. TOYOTA KNOWS TOLD ME THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE RUBBER SWITCH MELTING AS WELL, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $153.23 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAD NO RECALLS CONCERNING THE RUBBER SWITCH. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS OPTING TO IGNORE AND ONLY FIXING ON VEHICLES WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE INSTANCES AND ALSO TO INQUIRE FROM TOYOTA WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THESE HANDLES THAT ARE MELTING IN THE SUN, LET ALONE ANY EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS! IT'S OUTRAGEOUS TO THINK A DOOR HANDLE OR HATCH HANDLE WAS MADE TO ONLY ENDURE 3-4 YEARS OF TYPICAL WEATHER CONDITIONS. *TR