NHTSA Complaint #11179987 — 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS

THE COMBINATION METER WHICH CONTAINS THE SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HAS BEEN GOING DEAD FREQUENTLY (DOES NOT LIGHT UP WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED) FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. IT USED TO BE 1-2 TIMES A MONTH, BUT RECENTLY IT OCCURS A FEW TIMES A WEEK. THE CAR DRIVES NORMALLY, BUT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO NOT KNOW THE SPEED OR TO KNOW HOW MUCH GAS REMAINS IN THE TANK. EVEN WHEN THE METER STARTS TO WORK AGAIN, THE GAS READING IS NOT ACCURATE. IT IS NOT EVEN POSSIBLE TO TELL IF THE CAR IS RUNNING OR NOT, BECAUSE THE SCREEN IS BLACK. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY TOYOTA BUT THEY NO LONGER OFFER REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ADDRESS ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. EVEN THE SEPARATE TOUCH SCREEN WHICH CONTAINS DIAGNOSTICS TESTS FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS BLACK, SO THERE IS NO WAY TO CORRECT THE ISSUE.