Government investigating engine stalling in Prius hybrid

WASHINGTON — The Toyota Prius, the gas-electric hybrid sedan that has generated waiting lists of environmentally conscious consumers, is the subject of a government investigation into reports that the engine can stall without warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday its preliminary investigation will involve about 75,000 of the passenger cars from the 2004-2005 model years.

Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. said in a statement it was “an early-stage inquiry to determine if further analysis is warranted, not a recall.”

The company, an arm of Toyota Motor Co. of Japan, said it was cooperating with NHTSA and would provide the agency with complete results of its own internal investigation. NHTSA investigations sometimes lead to vehicle recalls.

The Prius has been hugely popular in the United States. Some consumers wait months to buy the vehicle, which has a base sticker price of about $21,000. Hybrid vehicles deliver better mileage and less pollution by switching between a gasoline engine and an electric motor. The vehicles have become more popular with the rise of gas prices.

NHTSA said it has received 33 complaints alleging engine stalling. The majority of the complaints involved reports of the engine stalling at speeds of 35 mph and 65 mph.

Some complaints indicated the vehicle was in electric mode for some period after the gas engine stalled, NHTSA said.

All the reports said the engine shut down without warning. About half said the vehicle wouldn’t restart and required a tow after the engine shut off.

Toyota executives noted there have been no reported cases of deaths or injuries from the engine problems.