2007 Toyota Prius Latches & Locks Problems

THE RUBBER BACK HATCH RELEASE MECHANISM HAS MELTED AND BECOME MUSHY THIS SUMMER. THIS WINTER THE RUBBER MECHANISM HAS FROZEN MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I CANNOT GET TO MY SPARE TIRE OR EMERGENCY WARNING DEVICES. MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET HAS PROVEN THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT BUT VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *JS

FOR SOME TIME NOW, THE REAR LATCH HAS BEEN STICKING AND HAS BEEN NEEDING SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RELEASE. FINALLY, NOW IT HAS STOPPED OPERATING ALTOGETHER. THE DEALER SAYS HE IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. WITH THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ONLINE, I AM SURPRISED AT THE RESPONSE. IT CAN ALSO BE A SAFETY PROBLEM AT THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. I FEEL DISAPPOINTED AT TOYOTA MOTORS. AFTER MANY YEARS OF TROUBLE FREE TOYOTA OWNERSHIP I AM CERTAINLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS WITH THEIR PRODUCTS. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCHBACK SPRING WAS CORRODED. THE EXTERIOR LATCH WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

COMPONENTS: EQUIPMENT LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED (MELTED ALMOST) IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. AND THEREFORE ACCESS THE SPARE, ANY OF MY REPAIR TOOLS OR MY EARTHQUAKE KIT, FLARES, JUMPERS, ETC. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE INTERNAL METHOD FOR OPENING THE HATCHBACK/TRUNK. TOYOTA NEEDS A RECALL OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART. THE QUOTE TO REPAIR WAS $291 PLUS LABOR. NHTSAID HAS HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS #10533059, 10511408, 10504366, 10496197, ETC. ETC. I AM 80 YEARS OF AGE AND THIS IS PRESENTING A DEFINITE SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LATCH TO OPEN THE TRUNK BECAME MELTED AND THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE RUBBER PART TO MY TRUNK LATCH HAS MELTED ALMOST COMPLETELY! IN WARM WEATHER IT TRANSFERS TO MY HANDS. IN WINTER IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW 50 DEGREES) I CAN'T OPEN THE TRUNK AT ALL. NOW THE SURROUNDING PART AROUND MY LATCH HAS LOOSEN. I'M SO FRUSTRATED THAT WHEN I CAN ACTUALLY GET INTO MY TRUNK MY FINGERS ARE COVERED IN TAR. *TR

TRUNK LATCH HAS BECOME MELTED/STICKY LEAVING A RESIDUE ON HANDS DURING SUMMER AND FROZEN AND NON-WORKING DURING COLDER MONTHS. THIS CAUSES ISSUES DUE TO INABILITY TO ACCESS TRUNK FOR SPARE TIRE AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT. *TR

REAR LATCH ASSEMBLY ON MY PRIUS HAS STARTED TO MELT AND BLOCK THE OPENING OF THE REAR LATCH. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THE 2007 PRIUS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WHERE THE PLASTIC MELTED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR

MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A REAR HATCH RELEASE THAT HAS STOPPED WORKING AS IT HAS GOTTEN VERY SOFT AFTER ABOUT THREE YEARS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AS I SEARCH THE MANY FORUMS AND REPLACEMENT IS NOT INEXPENSIVE. THIS IS VERY AGGRAVATING AND I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE DEVICE. I HAVE SERIOUS BACK ISSUES AND GETTING THIS HATCH OPEN IS MORE THAN A CHALLENGE FOR ME, IT IS AT TIMES IMPOSSIBLE. *TR

REAR HATCH HANDLE HAS BEEN LEAKING ALMOST FROM THE TIME WE ACQUIRED IT IN 2011. RUBBER HAS DECAYED, LEAKING GOO OR OTHER BLACK STICKY STUFF EVERY TIME IT'S TOUCHED. SINCE THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE HATCH, IT'S A PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL, WITNESS YOUR OWN INDEX OF COMPLAINTS, APPENDED BELOW. LET'S GET TOYOTA TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. [XXXX] [XXXX] [XXXX] FROM THE NHTSA WEBSITE: DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 08/01/2013 COMPONENT(S): EQUIPMENT , LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES DATE OF INCIDENT: 07/25/2013 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10533059 ALL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COMPLAINT EXPAND DETAILS CLOSE 0 ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS CRASH:NO FIRE:NO NUMBER OF INJURIES:0 NUMBER OF DEATHS:0 MANUFACTURER: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NO. (VIN): NOT AVAILABLE SUMMARY: THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED ("MELTED" ALMOST). IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. REQUEST RESEARCH HELP DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 05/10/2013 COMPONENT(S): LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES , STRUCTURE DATE OF INCIDENT: 10/05/2012 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10511408 (... AND MANY MORE, BUT YOUR FORM WON'T LET ME INCLUDE MORE THAN THIS TEXT ...) *JS

THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED ("MELTED" ALMOST). IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

THE BACK LATCH COVERING HAS A VINYL(?) COVERING WHICH HAS BECOME STICKY AND THE LATCH ITSELF IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN, RESULTING IN CONTINUED ATTEMPTS. IT IS A HINDRANCE TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE TRUNK AREA AND THUS ACCESS TO THE SPARE TIRE IF NEEDED. *TR

EVERYTHING ABOUT MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS IS GREAT EXCEPT FOR THE LATCH FOR THE BACK HATCH. THERE IS A RUBBER COVER FOR THE LATCH THAT YOU HAVE TO PUSH TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. THIS RUBBER HAS MELTED. IT MAKES IF DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH IN ANY KIND OF AN EMERGENCY. RIGHT NOW, IF YOU TOUCH THE LATCH YOU GET A THICK COATING OF MELTED RUBBER ON YOUR HAND. SOMETIMES THE LATCH FAILS TO OPEN AT ALL. YOU STILL GET THE BLACK MELTED RUBBER ON YOUR HAND. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. I LIVE IN A HOT PART OF THE COUNTRY - THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST - AND RUBBER COVERS FOR HATCH LATCHES SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND SUMMER HEAT DOWN HERE. *TR

2007 PRIUS HATCH HANDLE MELT DOWN. *TR

THE LATCH HANDLE ON MY 2007 PRIUS HAS BEGUN TO MELT AND IS WORSENING OVER TIME. I HAVE TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH WITH A TOWEL. IT IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND IF I USE MY HANDS THEY BECOME ALL BLACKENED AND MY FINGERS STICK IMPEDING THE OPENING ESP IN AN EMERGENCY. BOTH PROBLEMS INTERFERE WITH A QUICK RELEASE. *TR

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2007 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. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS, TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $96 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, 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 ). 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. *TR

2007 PRIUS REAR HATCH SWITCH COVERED BY A RUBBER STRIP. RUBBER STRIP HAS MELTED AND IS NOW MORE LIKE TAR THAN RUBBER. *TR

AT ONLY 4 YEARS OF USE AND UNDER 34,000 MILES, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS MELTED INTO A STICKY, BLACK TAR SUBSTANCE. IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO PUSH A BUTTON WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE BLACK TAR SUBSTANCE, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. AS I HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS ISSUE, IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS, NATIONWIDE, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME SPECIFIC ISSUE. TOYOTA KNOWS TOLD ME THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE RUBBER SWITCH MELTING AS WELL, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $153.23 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAD NO RECALLS CONCERNING THE RUBBER SWITCH. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, 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. 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, LET ALONE ANY EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS! IT'S OUTRAGEOUS TO THINK A DOOR HANDLE OR HATCH HANDLE WAS MADE TO ONLY ENDURE 3-4 YEARS OF TYPICAL WEATHER CONDITIONS. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS REAR HATCH HANDLE MELTED. NOTICED ABOUT A 3 MONTHS AGO JUST THOUGH THAT IT WAS REALLY HOT OUT. THEN THOUGH THIS HANDLE SHOULD NOT MELT TO HIGH HEAT THERE HAS TO BE A PROBLEM. WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE OIL CHANGE AND INSPECTION, HAD SERVICE MGR. OPEN HATCH AND HE STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM. HE STATED THAT BECAUSE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY HE CAN NOT DO ANYTHING AND THAT IT WILL COST 58.84 FOR HANDLE AND 97.00 FOR LABOR. HE GAVE ME TOYOTA CARE NUMBER TO CALL, I CALLED TODAY AND THEY STATE THE SAME THING OUT OF WARRANTY...........I KNEW THAT WAS COMING..... THIS HANDLE SHOULD NOT MELT, THERE HAS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING OVER HEATING. THE BUTTONS ON THE DOORS TO LOCK THE CAR ARE MADE OUT OF THE SAME MATERIAL. TOYOTA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL SOMEONE HAS A FIRE AND SOMEONE DIES. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS REAR HATCH HANDLE HAS MELTED LIKE HOT TAR. HARD TO OPEN HATCH AND TOYOTA WANTS CLOSE TO $250.00 TO REPAIR. I REALIZE THERE IS WEAR AND TEAR ON VEHICLES BUT THIS IS NOT ONE OD THEM. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I LIKE MY PRIUS BUT THIS HAS BEEN THE ONLY TOYOTA I HAVE BOUGHT AND DID SO FOR THE GREAT REPUTATION BUT THIS CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED SEVERAL TIMES, WHICH I'M HAPPY THEY DID, BUT IT'S THE FIRST CAR I'VE OWNED THAT'S BEEN RECALLED. *TT

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. 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 WAS JUST STICKY AT FIRST, 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, 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. 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, AND I FIND THIS PROBLEM TO BE VERY SERIOUS 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: *KB

I AM OWNER OF A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. LESS THAN 3 YEARS SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE NEW FROM TOYOTA, A RUBBER WEATHER SEAL COMPONENT IN THE REAR HATCH HANDLE HAS PROGRESSIVELY MELTED. WITH THE SEAL NOW COMPROMISED, I FEAR THE HATCH HANDLE WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL OR MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN CORROSION OR WORSE STILL, ACCIDENTAL OPENING OF THE REAR HATCH WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THE DEFECT AND THEY ADVISE IT WOULD BE A $150 REPAIR AND ALL COSTS WOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER. AS THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND ONE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, I WOULD EXPECT TOYOTA TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT THEIR OWN COST. *TR

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

THE LATCH ON THE HATCH OF MY 2007 PRIUS HAS MELTED INTO A GOOEY MESS. IT INTERFERES WITH THE OPERATION OF THE LATCH MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH. I STARTED NOTICING THIS AT THE 3-3.5 YEAR MARK, NOW IT IS A BLACK GLOB THAT COMES OFF ON MY HAND WHENEVER I ACCESS THE LATCH. *TR

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2007 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, 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). 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: *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS REAR LID RELEASE BUTTON. THIS BUTTON RELEASE HAS BEGUN 'MELTING' INTO A GOOEY PLASTIC THAT BINDS THE RELEASE. *TR

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2007 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 3 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 PURCHASED THE CAR IN FLORIDA. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $96 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM ON NUMEROUS MAKES AND THEY SEE THIS REGULARLY. 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. *TR

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 3 YEARS USE, THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS BEGUN MELTING. IT IS STICKY TO THE TOUCH AND IT DOES MAKE THE TRUNK RELEASE DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. I JUST DROPPED MY CAR OFF AT THE SERVCO HAWAII DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $170.00 TO REPLACE THE LATCH SYSTEM. THE SERVICE TECH ASKED ME IF MY CAR HAS BEEN OUT IN THE SUN. WELL, I DO LIVE IN HAWAII, I DO GARAGE MY CAR BUT I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A RUBBER PIECE ON ANY CAR TO MELT. FURTHER, THE RUBBER TRUNK RELEASE COVER IS NOT EXPOSED TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT AT ANY TIME BECAUSE THE RUBBER COVER IS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUNK/REAR HATCH RELEASE BY DESIGN. PLEASE HAVE TOYOTA TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. AFTER A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH IT APPEARS THAT I AM ONE OF MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY TO THE VEHICLE WAS RADIOACTIVE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK BECAUSE HE WORE A PACEMAKER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO NEED FOR CONCERN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 56,000. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS AND WAS INJURED. HE DIDN'T GIVE ANY OTHER SPECIFICS. UPDATED 07/22/10*JB