NHTSA Complaint #10495209 — 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNLESS A PARTICULAR WARNING LIGHT WAS CLEARED BY DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE BATTERY. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN SPEEDS EXCEEDED 50 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO THE ENGINE PLUG-IN BATTERY ADD-ON KIT THAT HE PERSONALLY INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A LOW BATTERY INDICATOR PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT ONCE THE ADD-ON WAS REMOVED, THE FAILURE CEASED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 02/12/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HIS COMPLAINT WAS AGAINST THE MAKERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF THE PHEV CONVERSION KIT, HE HAD INSTALLED IN HIS VEHICLE. THE BATTERY KIT WAS USED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL BATTERY POWER TO THE BUILT IN BATTERY OF THE HYBRID. THE CONSUMER STATED OCCASIONALLY, THE PHEV KIT WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 45 -65 MPH. WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, THERE WAS A WARNING BEEP AND THE GENERAL WARNING TRIANGLE WOULD APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. ONCE IT HAPPENED, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RE-START THE VEHICLE, UNTIL THE GENERAL WARNING TRIANGLE WAS CLEARED. HE HAD TO CLEAR IT, BY DISCONNECTING THE 12 VOLT BATTERY FOR A MINUTE AND THE RE-CONNECTING THE 12 VOLT BATTERY. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN FOR A THIRD TIME, HE REMOVED THE PHEV BATTERY KIT. UPDATED 02/13/13