NHTSA Complaint #10633254 — 2013 TOYOTA PRIUS

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55~60MPH, AND SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING TROUBLE LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON. I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS A BIT HARDER TO TURN( LEFT OR RIGHT). I SLOWED DOWN AND TOOK THE FIRST EXIT, REDUCING SPEED TO 30~35MPH. AT THE STOP SIGN, ALL INDICATORS LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL (LEFT OR RIGHT). I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE STOP SIGN, BUT THEN I FELT A "THUGH" IN THE ENGINE, AND NOTICE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY BRAKING POWER FOR A FEW SECOND. SO I PULLED OVER, I TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND TURNED ON AGAIN, I IMMEDIATELY DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT AFTER THE STOP SIGN, THE CAR JUST DIED; I COULDN'T BRAKE, NO STEERING, NO GAS POWER, NOTHING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS THE 2ND INCIDENCE WITHIN 3 WEEKS. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED WITH SIMILAR SEQUENCE OF FAILURE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE AUXILIARY BATTERY DIED, AND REPLACED IT FREE OF CHARGE ( CAR WAS 24,250 MILES AT THAT TIME). THIS SECOND TIME, I HOPE TOYOTA CAN FIND THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I DON'T THINK THE NEW AUXILIARY BATTERY DIED AGAIN. IT'S ONLY BEEN 3 WEEKS SINCE TOYOTA INSTALLED THE BATTERY. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR NOW. I THINK I WILL NEED TO SELL THE CAR. *TR