2014 TOYOTA PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID Complaints

THE HYBRID SYSTEM ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES CONTAIN AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) FUSE WHICH MAY MALFUNCTION IF THE VEHICLE IS REPEATEDLY OPERATED IN EV MODE UNDER HIGH-LOAD DRIVING CONDITIONS, SUCH AS DURING A LONG HILL CLIMB. IF THE FUSE MALFUNCTIONS, WARNING LIGHTS AND WARNING MESSAGES WILL ILLUMINATE. IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN, BUT WITH REDUCED POWER. N OTHER CASES, THE HYBRID SYSTEM COULD SHUT DOWN RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER. POWER STEERING AND BRAKING WILL NOT BE AFFECTED. LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

I WAS ON A WELL TRAVELLED AND VERY WINDING ROAD COMING DOWN A MOUNTAIN WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY PRIUS LOST POWER AND LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING A MALFUNCTION IN THE PARKING SYSTEM AND THE HYBRID SYSTEM CAME ON. IT WAS A HOKEY POKEY ALL THE WAY DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AND THERE WAS NO PLACE TO PULL OVER WHILE MY CAR KEPT LOSING POWER AND GOING INTO NEUTRAL WHILE IN MOTION. IT HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES IN ALL, THE LAST TIME AS I MERGED ONTO ANOTHER ROAD WHERE I COULD PULL OFF THE ROAD AND WAS IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHICH FELT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. AFTER THAT, IT STOPPED, AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THE PASSENGER WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE SEAT BELT. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. *CN