NHTSA Complaint #10811347 — 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS

I WAS DRIVING MY PRIUS UP MAUNA KEA SUMMIT ACCESS ROAD ON THE BIG ISLAND (HAWAII) TODAY WHEN THE POWER STALLED. I WAS ALREADY AT THE VISITOR CENTER (ELV. 9,000 FT) SO I STEERED OFF THE ROAD, SAT FOR AWHILE, THEN STARTED UP THE CAR. IT STARTED UP BUT THE POWER SEEMED OFF AND ON. I TURNED AROUND AND HEADED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN. BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ACCESS ROAD, I HAD NO POWER AND A RED TRIANGLE LIGHT WITH AN EXCLAMATION MARK CAME ON. OF COURSE I WAS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, 40 MILES FROM ANY HOMES, SO I COASTED 43 MILES DOWN THE MOUNTAIN UNTIL I REACHED HILO TOWN AND STEERED INTO A GAS STATION. I ASKED THE OWNER IF I COULD LEAVE THE PRIUS THERE WHILE I CALLED A TOW TRUCK. SHE SAID I HAD TO MOVE MY PRIUS INTO A PARKING STALL. I THOUGHT MAYBE WE COULD PUSH IT INTO THE STALL. I TRIED STARTING THE CAR AND THE POWER CAME ON, JUST LIKE THAT. BUT THE RED TRIANGLE LIGHT WITH EXCLAMATION MARK DIDN'T GO AWAY. I MANAGED TO DRIVE HOME, WHICH WAS ONLY A FEW MILES AWAY. THE PRIUS SEEMS TO BE DRIVING FINE NOW, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE RED TRIANGLE LIGHT, BUT I KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG.