The rear hatchback latch of my 2006 Toyota Prius has deteriorated over time. It started back in February 2012 with a difficulty opening the hatchback even with considerable effort. Now, when I touch the latch release it is gummy and will not open at all about 90% of the time. This is a safety hazard as I can't access any of the equipment (spare tire, emergency tools etc) that are located under the floor of the hatch. I found out that to fix it will cost me over $300. This is unacceptable that a door handle should fail so quickly. The rest of the car works beautifully. I believe there is a manufacturer defect in this latch release and it should be recalled. There is no way to open the hatch from the interior as an alternative (unlike a side door).

- San Geronimo, CA, USA

I am writing to you about a problem with my 2006 Toyota Prius. In July 2008, the driver's side electronic door lock actuator failed and was replaced by my local Toyota dealer - I had extended warranty so it was covered. Now, the driver's side door lock actuator has once again failed. I have not contacted my Toyota dealership because in 2008 if I didn't have the warranty it was going to cost me well over $1,000. The failure of this actuator happening twice is unbelievable. I've noticed similar complaints by other individuals.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

After only about 4 years use, the rubber cover on the hatch release handle (the exterior handle of the rear hatch) of our 2006 Toyota Prius, melted into a sticky tarry black rubbery gooey mess. I can best describe it as being a viscous black glob like roofing tar. To open the hatch, you have to touch this black goo each time, which makes it difficult to operate the hatch release. We believe this melting process started at about the 2 yr. Mark. I thought that this might be a singular issue, but have found that this has happened to several car owners, particularly in Florida. We also live in Florida. Toyota knows about this, and is selling the entire wiring harness for $96 plus repair costs(200.00), and has done nothing about recalling this. From a safety perspective, this means you can experience extreme difficulty opening the rear hatch (a life safety access point), and will get sticky black tar on you from the melted down rubber cover of the exterior hatch release handle. To me, this is both a serious life safety issue and a serious quality defect that Toyota is opting to ignore and only fixing on vehicles with extended warranties, since the failure appears to occur at around the 3 year mark (ie after 3 years of exposure to the bright sun in Florida for example). I am aware of the outstanding work done by NHTSA on other safety issues, including the problem with rusty frames on 02 Isuzu axioms, and I find this problem to be similar in nature, so I am asking for your Agency to take a look at these instances and also to inquire from Toyota why they are not recalling these handles that are melting in the sun!!! it's outrageous. I think a door handle or hatch handle should be made to last more than 3 years. Please review these forum comments of other incidents:

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

I am writing to you about an unresolved problem with my 2006 Toyota Prius. In May 2008, the driver's side electronic door lock actuator failed and was replaced by my local Toyota dealer. Now, the driver's side door lock actuator has once again failed, along with the passenger's side actuator. My local Toyota dealer informed me that the estimated repair cost would total $1,300. I indicated that in view of the extremely high repair cost and the prior replacement of the driver's side actuator, Toyota should assume a share of the repair cost, and the dealership submitted the matter to their regional representative. The dealership subsequently informed me that the regional representative was offering to assume $300 of the repair cost as a customer goodwill gesture. I indicated that Toyota should assume a greater portion of the overall expense for the current repair, and the dealership once again agreed to convey that point to the regional representative. However, the dealership subsequently informed me that, rather than offering any further adjustment, the regional representative's response was to withdraw its previous offer altogether, leaving me with the entire financial liability for the repair! I then contacted the national Toyota customer experience center in torrance, California, to complain about the regional representative's summary retraction of the adjustment that it had already offered. A representative at the center subsequently informed me that he concurred with the regional representative's actions and was unwilling to reverse them. Against the recent backdrop of widespread and serious mechanical problems with its products, the Toyota corporation has publicly pledged a renewed emphasis on quality and customer service. However, the way in which it has chosen to handle my complaint has left me feeling bewildered, disrespected, and abandoned. Accordingly, I'm writing to your Agency to ascertain what other remedies may be available to me. Thank you.

- Owings Mills, MD, USA