NHTSA Complaint #10860857 — 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS

I WAS DRIVING THE 2012 PRIUS ON A DOWNHILL PARKWAY AT ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM CAME ON. WITHIN 10 SECOND, THE VEHICLE TOTALLY LOST POWER. IT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THERE WAS NO BACK UP FAIL-SAFE/LIMP HOME MODE. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS GLIDING DOWNHILL BY GRAVITY AND EVENTUALLY WAS STEERED INTO A DRIVEWAY. THEN IT REFUSED TO GO ON READY OR DRIVE MODE. ON THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. IT HAD TO BE TOWED AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE THE FOLLOWING WEEK. IT TOOK THE MECHANIC TWO DAYS TO MAKE A DIAGNOSIS THAT A FUSE ON THE MAIN DRIVE BATTERY HAD BLOWN. ANOTHER DAY WAS SPENT WAITING FOR THE PART. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS EVENT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I CONTACTED TOYOTA USA. AN AGENT NAMED MICHAEL WAS COURTEOUS ENOUGH TO LISTENED TO ME AND GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER 1604142245. TO ANYONE WITH COMMON SENSE, THIS TOTAL LACK OF AN EMERGENCY ALTERNATIVE PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR EVEN A CHEAP CAR IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT EVEN COME UP WITH A PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FUSE TO BLOW. WAS IT OVER HEATING? WAS THERE A SHORT IN SOME INTERNAL BATTERY CELLS? THIS PAST WEEK, I NOTICED THAT THE CHARGING PART OF THE OPERATION NO LONGER CAN FULLY CHARGE THE BATTERY TO THE FORMER 11.9 MILE RANGE. IT ONLY CHARGES UP TO 9.8 MILES. THIS IS A SUDDEN LOSS OF 2 MILES OF CHARGE. I SUSPECT THAT SOME LITHIUM CELLS HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AFTER THE INCIDENT. I ALSO SUSPECT THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER ISSUES AS WELL SUCH AS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE INVERTER MODULE RELATED TO A RECALL ON OTHER MODELS OF PRIUS DURING MY SEARCH FOR AN ANSWER. I NEED ASSURANCE FROM SOMEONE THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOW SAFE TO DRIVE. BESIDES THE CASE NUMBER FROM MY COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA USA, AAA HAS RECORD OF MY RECENT TOWINGS ON 04/09/16 AND ON 04/12/16.