Wheel Bolts Problems of Toyota Prius

While driving my 2005 Toyota Prius, the rear passenger wheel became so loose it was causing the car to vibrate and shake. I thought it was a flat tire, pulled off of the freeway I was driving on onto the shoulder. There was no flat, pulled off at the next exit into a garage. My husband, whom I called by cell, told me that it was a loose wheel probably. The garage mechanic raised the car in the air and the wheel was ready to fall off. He checked over the wheel, etc, re-tightened the wheel, and found that all of the wheels were loose, but none this badly. The last time the wheels were off was in April and had not been checked after that for tightness. As I looked in the owners manual it says to check them every 1000 miles or so. This is a very dangerous situation. This information should be in bold print and pointed out to every new owner the importance of checking the tightness, if this is a consistent problem. I was lucky! it scared me a lot and I am nervous when driving the car now. If this is a common problem, it needs to be addressed with emphasis!.

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At 45mph on dry pavement, clear weather conditions I disengaged cruise control by tapping brakes. So that I could accelerate into traffic. The vehicle pulled hard to the left. I then found myself in a counterclockwise skid across the pavement as I left the pavement I felt the rear of the vehicle drop. Now spinning I bounced off a tree and into a drainage ditch with about 1 and 1/2 foot of mud and water. It was then I noticed that one of the wheels (left rear) had separated from the vehicle and was on the other side of the ditch. It all happened so fast I have no idea of the actual cause. The studs which hold the wheel to the axel shearedoff, ans axle snapped, the undercarrage and supports were tangled. Fhp officer at site indicated it could have been mechanical malfunction of some sort. Because of conditions I contacted Toyota as well as insurance CO (progressive). No one has yet evaluated the cause. Toyotas first comment was "what do you expect from an investigation" my answerwas " to prevent a similar event in the future". As I related the event to every one I also noted that the steering didnot let me correct the skid. The vehicle is currently held in limbo by insurance and Toyota. While I am walking. All safety equipment functioned properly.

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