NHTSA Complaint #10465476 — 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS

THE 2007 PRIUS ENGINE AND SAFETY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TO 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY HAVE DRIVEN IT, KEPT IT OVERNIGHT, AND COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE THIRD TIME, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE 12 VOLT BATTERY, WHICH WE REPLACED FOR $348.85. THE CAR STALLED AGAIN - SAME SAFETY CONCERNS - STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY THE CAR BEHIND ME DID NOT HIT ME AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SIDE STREET. THERE WAS NOT ANY POWER. THE WINDOWS AND AIR CONDITIONING WERE NOT WORKING AS WELL. I SAT IN THE ARIZONA HEAT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND THAN GOT IT TO START BY PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK OVER AND OVER. ALL SAFETY WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON, AS I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS SHAKING AND IN TEARS, FEARFUL FOR MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF OTHERS AS I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP LESS THAN TWO MONTHS SINCE THE 12 VOLT BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE GOTTEN THE CAR SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP AS STATED IN THE MANUAL - EVERYTIME. THE STALLING OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING AND THE LACK OF THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS OF GRAVE CONCERN. I AM VERY LUCKY THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN REAR-ENDED OR KILLED WHEN THE CAR HAS STALLED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED IN MANY PRIUS VEHICLES. THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS SAYING THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO PROTECT AMERICANS THAT DRIVE THESE CARS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS. *TR