NHTSA Complaint #10985832 — 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS

THE RUBBER HANDLE OF THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH HAS "MELTED" INTO THE OPERATING PART OF THE LATCH, MAKING IT TOTALLY INOPERABLE IN THE WINTER, AND COOLER MONTHS. THIS IS NOT DUE TO EXPOSURE TO HEAT EXTREMES - THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED IN A NORTHERN PART OF THE US, WHERE SUMMER TEMPERATURES RARELY EXCEED 80 DEGREES. IN AN EMERGENCY IN THE WINTER, THERE IS NO WAY TO MAKE USE OF THE HATCHBACK. THE OPERATION IS PROBLEMATIC IN THE SUMMER - SOMETIMES IT CAN BE FORCED OPEN, SOMETIMES NOT. IT HAS TAKEN A FEW YEARS FOR THE LATCH TO BECOME INOPERATIVE; IT BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO OPEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND STICKY BLACK RESIDUE TRANSFERRED TO HANDS TOUCHING IT FOR THOSE YEARS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR; CLEARLY DEFECTIVE RUBBER WAS USED.