NHTSA Complaint #11122867 — 2017 TOYOTA MIRAI

UNTIL TWO (2) DAYS AGO, I WAS THE HAPPY OWNER OF A 2017 TOYOTA MIRAI (VIN [XXX]). AT THE TIME OF MY INCIDENT, THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 19,700 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. ON FRIDAY 24 AUGUST 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 1615 (4:15 PM), I WAS DRIVING MY WIFE TO THE CLEANERS. I WAS ON ALMADEN EXPRESSWAY JUST SOUTH OF THE CAMDEN INTERSECTION IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION. SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR LOST POWER. THE CAR MONITOR SCREEN INSTRUCTED ME TO PULL OFF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND TO CONTACT MY CAR DEALER. I WAS INFORMED THAT I HAD AN FC FAILURE. AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT A SMALL ROCK HAD COMPLETELY PASSED THROUGH THE RADIATOR. THE TOYOTA MIRAI IS A HYDROGEN FUEL CELL VEHICLE. THERE IS NO INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. HYDROGEN FUEL FEEDS A FUEL CELL WHICH COMBINES THE HYDROGEN WITH FREE OXYGEN TO MAKE ELECTRICITY. THIS ELECTRICITY THEN POWERS TWO MOTORS AND/OR THE BATTERY. THE FUEL CELL REQUIRES A RADIATOR FOR COOLING. THIS RADIATOR IS THE ACHILLES HEEL OF THE MIRAI. IT IS PLACED LOW, IN FRONT, ON THE PASSENGER?S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO BUMPER TO PROTECT IT FROM COLLISIONS WITH CURBS. IN MY CASE, THERE IS NO PROTECTION FROM ROCKS AND GRAVEL HITTING THE RADIATOR AND DISABLING THE VEHICLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR