NHTSA Complaint #10566877 — 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS

I WAS DRIVING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC (AROUND 30 MPH) ON A MAIN SURFACE STREET IN A MIDDLE LANE OF A MULTILANE STREET WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STOPPED, AND I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE ENGINE RESPOND. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN; I COULD NOT MAKE IT ACCELERATE TO KEEP IN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I MANAGED TO CAREFULLY DRIFT OVER TO THE RIGHT AND MANEUVER THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND GLIDE TO A STOP ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND REPEATEDLY TRIED TO RESTART IT TO NO AVAIL. I CALLED FOR TOWING SERVICE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY TOYOTA DEALER, WHERE THE SERVICE PEOPLE SAID IT WAS AN "INTERNAL FAILURE" AND REPLACED THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY. WHAT HAS TERRIFIED ME IS THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING AT LEAST 60 MPH, WHERE THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO ME AND OTHERS. I ASKED IF TOYOTA WOULD BE REPORTING THIS TO THE NHTSA, AND THEY SAID THAT WAS AN INTERNAL DETERMINATION. I ASKED IF THIS HAD HAPPENED BEFORE TO OTHERS AND DID NOT RECEIVE A CLEAR ANSWER. *TR