NHTSA Complaint #10464106 — 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD ONLY BE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE, REVERSE OR PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A YEAR LATER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WHERE THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 07/25/12*LJ UPDATED 7/26/12 *CN UPDATED 07/30/12 THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK OR DRIVE. THE CONSUMER STATED A PIECE OF CLEAR, FLEXIBLE PLASTIC ATTACHED TO THE LEVER BEHIND THE KNOB WITH THE R/N/D SEEMED TO STICK TO THE LEVER GUIDE. IT HAPPENED MORE WHEN IT WAS HOT, EITHER BECAUSE THE CLEAR PLASTIC BECAME MORE STICKY, OR BECAUSE IT EXPANDED A LITTLE OR BOTH. IT WOULD THEN PREVENT THE LEVER FROM RETURNING COMPLETELY TO ITS RIGHT MOST POSITION, AND THE LEVER WOULD STAY IN THE MIDDLE POSITION. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE TRIED TO SLIDE THE CLEAR PLASTIC BACK WITH HER FINGERS TOWARDS THE KNOB, SO IT WAS IN LESS CONTACT WITH THE GUIDE, IT MADE THE LEVER SLIDE MORE FREELY AND SHE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY MORE PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. UPDATED 08/02/12 UPDATED 08/08/12.*JB