NHTSA Complaint #10668358 — 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS

IN JULY OF 2014, I BOUGHT A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS FROM A FAMILY MEMBER IN NEVADA, A WARM STATE; I LIVE IN MINNESOTA, A COLD STATE. THE HATCH RELEASE RUBBER SEAL HAD DETERIORATED, AND IT WAS TACKY TO THE TOUCH, BUT THE HATCH RELEASED AND OPENED. WHEN NOVEMBER CAME, THE HATCH RELEASE WOULD NOT WORK; IT WAS A COOL NOVEMBER. I BELIEVE IT IS A DANGER TO NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE MAPLEWOOD TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE PERSON INSPECTED THE HATCH RELEASE SEAL AND SAID THAT SOMEONE MUST HAVE PUT A CHEMICAL ON IT TO DAMAGE IT. TOYOTA DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART; I BELIEVE THE PART IS DEFECTIVE. I AM GOING TO HAVE THE PART FIXED, BUT I BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE WITH A DEFECTIVE HATCH RELEASE SEAL TRAVELS TO A COOLER CLIMATE THAN THE CAR HAS EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST. *TR