I have a 2007 Prius and 2-3 years after purchase, the rubber piece under the hatchback melted, making so that it was a sticky black mess and it wouldn't open. It now doesn't open at all and I can not get into my trunk, recently had a battery replaced and my car was stranded, the aaa guy had to crawl to the back w/ seats down from the side of the car. I could not get to my trunk if I have a flat tire in the future. I am out of warranty. My understanding is that Toyota is making owners pay 300+ to fix this despite the fact that it is obviously a manufacturing defect. Please assist with this safety concern on all Prius vehicles.

- Chicago, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at 48 mph, the brakes suddenly locked up and swayed to the left side when he depressed the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership for diagnosis. The dealer repaired the axle and driver side body but it was unknown if the dealer repaired the brake system. The contact believed that the rain was a factor in the failure as it caused the computer chip for the brake pedal to malfunction. The braking system for the vehicle failed periodically in rainy weather. The VIN was unavailable at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000. The current mileage was approximately 60,000.

- Belmont, MA, USA

1. after I opened the automatic electric garage door and waited for my wife to enter from our home and seat herself in the front passenger seat I started the vehicle, geared it into reverse to prepare to back out of our attached indoor garage. 2. as I started to back up, proceeding not more than about 18 inches, we heard a loud explosive sound accompanied by a tremor and shattering glass at the same moment. Immediately I shut off the engine and both of us exited the vehicle. We discovered that the right rear gas pressurized strut had exited with such force through the rear hatchbach trunk lid window shattering the glass and the impact of the strut had damaged the metal railing of the garage door. Had anyone been in the path of the strut they could have been killed. The back of the vehicle was at least two feet inside the open garage door. The rear trunk lid did not collide with any part of the garage door. There were no injuries. 3. upon my insistence the vehicle was towed to our dealer for inspection. And eventually repaired. I have most of the old parts at my home.

- L'ile Bizard, 00, USA

- the contact purchased a 2007 Toyota Prius on February 28, 2007 with 4 miles from beaver Toyota of Santa Fe New Mexico. The day after purchasing the vehicle while driving over 40 mph it did not drive straight, it moved left to right. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer, and was told that this was how the vehicle drove. The service manager explained that these vehicles had many complaints because of the way the vehicle was aerodynamicly made, the vehicle tended to move from side to side going over 40 mph on the highway. The failure mileage was 20, and the current mileage was 300 miles. Updated 04/09/07.

- Santa Fe, NM, USA