NHTSA Complaint #10552652 — 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS

THE BASIC PROBLEM: THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR STICKS IN DRIVE OR "B" (ENGINE BRAKING MODE). IF THE DRIVER STOPS THE VEHICLE, WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED, AND THEN PRESSES THE PARK BUTTON TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE REMAINS IN DRIVE MODE. THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE AS SOON AS THE DRIVER LIFTS THEIR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL, EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVER BELIEVES THEY HAVE ENGAGED THE PARK MODE. THE DRIVER HAS TO PLACE THE NORMALLY SPRING-ACTIVATED GEARSHIFT LEVER INTO THE HOME POSITION BEFORE THE CAR WILL SHIFT INTO PARK. DANGER TO THE DRIVER AND OTHERS WHO DRIVE THE CAR. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS THE DRIVER GETS VERY USED TO BEING ABLE TO PLACE THE CAR INTO PARK BY PRESSING THE PARK BUTTON. OTHERS WHO DRIVE THE CAR, LIKE PARKING ATTENDANTS OR FRIENDS, WILL NOT SUSPECT A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE OF THE PARK MECHANISM WHEN THIS HAPPENS IS GOING TO CAUSE ACCIDENTS. TOYOTA'S RESPONSE. THE TOYOTA DEALER'S TECHNICIAN SAYS IT IS A BROKEN SPRING IN THE GEARSHIFT MECHANISM, BUT WANTS ME TO PAY FOR IT. TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER CARE CENTER SAYS THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS DESIGN FLAW BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE, UNLESS I PAY FOR THE $565.00 GEARSHIFT MODULE. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE NOW HAS OVER 165,000 MILES, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THE DESIGN SEEMS UNREASONABLY DANGEROUS. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON CHAT SITES, AND ANOTHER ON THIS SITE. *TR