2023 Toyota Mirai Powertrain & Transmission Problems

On January 26, 2026, at approximately 6:50 AM, I experienced a serious safety-related malfunction in my 2023 Toyota Mirai while entering traffic on Inglewood Avenue in Lawndale, California. I was pulling out of a parking lot into active traffic at low speed. At the moment I was entering the roadway, the vehicle suddenly lost propulsion/power without warning. Simultaneously, the vehicle’s infotainment/center display went completely black, consistent with a system reboot or electrical interruption. After a brief pause, the display rebooted and turned back on, and immediately afterward the vehicle unexpectedly surged forward. At the time of the power loss, my foot was lightly on the accelerator pedal as I was merging. When the vehicle’s systems reinitialized, the car applied power consistent with the pedal position, resulting in a sudden forward movement. The accelerator was not fully depressed, and this was not a full-throttle event, but the surge occurred without warning while the vehicle was in active traffic. The sequence of events — loss of propulsion, apparent electronic system reset, followed by unintended propulsion upon re-engagement — created a hazardous situation while entering traffic and raises serious concerns about the vehicle’s electronic control and power management systems. The vehicle’s behavior was unpredictable at a critical moment when controlled acceleration was required, which could have resulted in a collision or injury. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the event. I am reporting this incident because it appears to involve a safety defect related to loss of propulsion and unintended surge while in motion. I am scheduling a service inspection and will request a full diagnostic scan, including history and freeze-frame data from all control modules. Vehicle information: Year/Make/Model: 2023 Toyota Mirai Mileage at incident: approximately 47,033 miles Location: Lawndale, California Speed: Low speed while entering traffic

Summary of Issue: I am the owner of a Toyota Mirai that suffered a sudden loss of power due to contaminated hydrogen fuel. The incident rendered the vehicle undrivable and raised serious safety concerns, as loss of propulsion in a fuel-cell vehicle can occur without warning while in motion. The vehicle was taken to Toyota of [XXX] for diagnosis and repair, where Toyota confirmed the presence of contaminated fuel. Toyota’s Stance: According to Toyota, the contamination issue was addressed by flushing the contaminated hydrogen from the system and refueling the vehicle. Toyota has stated that this process has restored power and that the company does not accept responsibility for any damage caused by the contamination. They have not disclosed any data on the type or level of contamination found, nor have they provided a written service report detailing inspection results or long-term corrective actions. Owner Concern: Independent research and fuel-cell engineering references indicate that contaminants such as sulfur compounds, carbon monoxide, or heavy metals can permanently degrade or “poison” the fuel-cell stack. Flushing alone cannot reverse such chemical or structural damage. As a result, there is a risk of future performance loss or total stack failure. Without transparency from Toyota regarding contaminant analysis or verification of system integrity, I cannot consider this vehicle safe or reliable to drive. Request for Resolution: I am requesting that Toyota: Provide complete written documentation of the contaminant analysis and testing performed on my vehicle. Disclose the long-term plan for ensuring the fuel-cell stack and related components have not been compromised. Offer either a full buyback/repurchase under applicable consumer protection laws or a complete fuel-cell stack replacement verified by engineering inspection. Until Toyota provides a documented, technically valid repair or an official buyback offer, this issue remains unresolved INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)