NHTSA Complaint #10524692 — 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS

I LIVE IN TEXAS WHERE THE WEATHER GETS HOT DURING THE SUMMER. I NOTICED LAST YEAR THAT THE RUBBER TRUNK LATCH ON MY TOYOTA PRIUS WAS NOTICEABLY DIFFERENT IN TEXTURE AFTER I HAD TRIED TO USE IT AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE SUN. IT DIDN'T CAUSE MUCH OF A PROBLEM THEN, BUT NOW IT HAS MELTED SO MUCH THAT IT DROOPS DOWN OVER AN INCH AND IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF FROM THE SIDES. THE HANDLE HAS TURNED INTO A TAR LIKE SUBSTANCE, AND WILL NOT REATTACHED TO THE ORIGINAL PART. I SPOKE WITH MY DEALERSHIP, AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT REPLACE IT FOR UNDER $400. I NORMALLY PARK MY VEHICLE IN A GARAGE, SO THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR TO REPLACE. THIS CONCERNS ME AS I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE MY TRUNK WITH THE RUBBER PIECE GONE, SINCE IT PROTECTS IT FROM THE WATER, DUST AND DEBRIS. THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS ALSO ALLOW ME TO USE THE TRUNK, LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR, AND IS PART OF THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND BRAKING SYSTEM. WITH THE KNOWN PROBLEMS THAT ALREADY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRIUS, I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH POTENTIAL ISSUES THAT COULD ARISE FROM THE ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND LOSING ACCESS TO THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT (EMERGENCY SUPPLIES, SPARE TIRE, JACK) THAT ARE ALL LOCATED IN THE TRUNK. IF THERE WAS EVER A NEED TO EXIT FROM THE TRUNK, IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE ONCE THE LATCH HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AS IT HAS OCCURRED TO COUNTLESS PEOPLE WHO ALL OWN 07-08 PRIUSES, AS WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO BE ABLE TO USE OUR TRUNK HANDLES WITHOUT BEING COVERED IN BLACK GOO. *TR