We really like the car, but this is a definite problem. We bought it so my wife would have reliable transportation for school. Our 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan has had less work on it. We do appreciate Ford's roadside assistance. We were told (by Ford) that the warranty doesn't cover this as it is not a part unique to the Hybrid. We did not purchase an extended warranty, anticipating that we would not need any major repairs for a couple of years.