NHTSA Complaint #10861324 — 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS

ANOTHER COMPLAINT REGARDING THE RUBBER COVER OF THE 2007 PRIUS HATCH RELEASE/LATCH. THE RUBBER COVERING HAS DETERIORATED AND DEGRADED IN A WAY THAT CAUSES IT TO MELT AND BECOME STICKY IN WARM OR HOT WEATHER; TOUCHING THE COVER CAUSES THE MATERIAL TO STICK TO FINGERS, AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE, REQUIRING THE USE OF A SOLVENT CLEANER. IN COLD AND FREEZING WEATHER, THE COVER BECOMES VERY STIFF AND NOT FLEXIBLE, AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PRESS, CAUSING THE HATCH TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN. THIS IS A BASIC OPERATIONAL PROBLEM, RENDERING THE HATCHBACK NON-FUNCTIONAL - IT CAN'T BE OPENED, OR IF IT CAN BE OPENED IT LEAVES A SUBSTANCE ON THE DRIVER'S BODY. ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE, AS WHEN THE HATCH CAN'T BE OPENED THIS IS ESSENTIALLY BEING LOCKED OUT OF THE TRUNK WHERE THE SPARE TIRE AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT ARE LOCATED. DEALER WILL CHARGE APPROXIMATELY $300 FOR PART AND LABOR TO REPAIR THIS. I'VE CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS: "IT IS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, AND THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS, SO TOYOTA WILL NOT BE COVERING THIS REPAIR." I DID A SEARCH IN THE NHTSA COMPLAINT DATABASE AND FOUND 147 OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. VERY DISCOURAGING AND IRRESPONSIBLE THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ASSIST OWNERS WITH RESOLVING THIS ISSUE.