NHTSA Complaint #10501902 — 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID

I WAS EXITING A PARKING LOT ONTO THE STREET. I SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE I WAS WAITING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. MY CAR WAS IN DRIVE BUT I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN MY CAR WENT DEAD. THERE WERE WARNINGS FLASHING AT ME FROM MY DASHBOARD. I PUT MY CAR IN PARK. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED MY CAR BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED PLUS I BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS DO TO THE SLIGHT INCLINE IN THE PARKING LOT EXIT. I QUICKLY PUT MY CAR IN PARK AGAIN, TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS, AND WAIVED THE CARS BEHIND ME TO GO AROUND. I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE AND BACK IT UP TO A SAFE AREA IN THE PARKING LOT. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN CHARLOTTE WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AT AND CONTINUED HAVING IT SERVICED. THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT TEAM TOYOTA MALL OF GA TO LET THEM KNOW I WAS BRINGING IT IN. AFTER THEIR MECHANIC DETERMINED IT WAS THE FAULTY INVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME $8,000 TO FIX IT. I STILL OWED $15,000 ON THE CAR. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL ON 2006-2007 HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS FOR THE SAME FAULTY INVERTER. THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY CAR WAS INELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL SINCE THE VIN WAS NOT LISTED. I CALLED TOYOTA AS ADVISED AND OPENED A CASE NUMBER. I RECEIVED THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CONSTANT RUN AROUND FROM TOYOTA. THEY OFFERED TO GIVE ME $1,000 TOWARDS THE REPAIRS OR $2,500 FOR A NEW OR TOYOTA CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE. I'M STILL WAITING TO FIND OUT WHY MY CAR WASN'T INCLUDED ON THE LIST THOUGH IT MET THE CRITERIA. I AM TRULY SHOCKED BY THE DISMISSIVE ATTITUDE I'M CURRENTLY GETTING FROM TOYOTA AS IF THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE FAULTY INVERTER. MY CAR BROKE DOWN ON MY WAY HOME TO NORTH CAROLINA. NOW I'M TRAPPED IN GEORGIA WITH NO WAY OF GETTING HOME TO MY HUSBAND AND CHILDREN. I'M STILL WAITING ON TOYOTA'S DECISION ABOUT MY CASE, IN GA. *TR