Accelerator pedal on 2001 Toyota Prius failed. Toyota knows about the problem and refuses to acknowledge. They have had enough fixes that they had to go back and fix the repair manual. They chose to ignore the issue and say it's not a problem. Luckily I was driving on a non major road and was not killed.

- Enfield, CT, USA

I own a 2001 Prius. My car has the same problem for which the NHTSA issued a safety alert in 2005, failure of the main computer, resulting in the gasoline engine's shutting itself off. The computer failed after one year of service. It took Toyota 18 months to identify the problem. I have invoices documenting all the events that occurred. The dealer had me replace the accelerator pedal assembly at my cost of $450 and replaced the wrong computer (the one controlling the power steering). This month I gave up and had a competent dealer replace the ECM. The documents I received included technical service bulletin of June 12, 2003. The bulletin states that for the ECM in the 2001-2003 model year Prius the ECM part number has been revised. The relevant information table is labeled "production change information." In other words the ECM in my car was defective from the time the car left the factory but Toyota is refusing to pay for the repairs because now the car is too old. This car is a lemon. It is one of the first Prius generation marketed in the U.S. the power steering had to be replaced twice. There were 2 or 3 other recalls as well. However, I am a retired professor and now that I have fixed the problem at my expense I need to keep the car in order to get to my part-time teaching job. The repairs to the ECM alone have cost me $1848.19. I want Toyota to reimburse me. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide. By the way, a safety alert on these models as used purchases might be a good idea. G.jay weinroth

- Big Prairie, OH, USA