NHTSA Complaint #10116187 — 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

I HAVE A 2002 TOOYOTA HIGHLANDER, AFTER A HEAVY RAINSTORM IN JULY OF 2004, I NOTICED THAT THE HEADLAMP ON MY FRONT DRIVERS SIDE HAD MOISTURE AND WAS FOGGY ON THE INSIDE OF IT. IT WENT AWAY IN ABOUT A WEEK OR SO. AFTER GOING TO A CARWASH I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE AREA WAS WIDER. I NOTIFIED LEE'S TOYOTA IN QUEENS NY. I WAS TOLD BY THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. JASON THAT IT WAS NORMAL AND THE HEAT FROM THE LAMP WILL EVENTUALLY MAKE THE MOISTURE EVAPORATE BECAUSE IT WAS MADE THAT WAY. AFTER SEVERAL EPISODES AND THE AREA OF MOISTURE SPREADING EACH TIME IT RAINS SNOWS OR I GO TO A CAR WASH. I NOW HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE VISION ON MY DRIVERS SIDE ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. THE AREA IS BEING OBSTRUCTED BECAUSE OF THE FOG IN THE HEADLAMP. I ALMOST HAD 2 ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF IT.I NOTIFIED LEE'S TOYOTA ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. I AM DISABLED, MUST WEAR CORRECTIVE LENSES WHILE DRIVING AND NOW I HAVE A PROBLEM THAT HINDERS MY VISION. I READ THE CAR MANUAL AND THERE ARE NO ARTICLE ABOUT THIS. MY NIECE HAS THE SAME SUV AND SHE DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, I CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. AND WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED THEM BEFORE AND I TOLD THEM I DID NOTIFY THEM WHEN I BECAME AWEAR OF THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA MOTORS TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED BUT I MUST FIX IT AND PAY FOR IT FIRST AND THEY WILL REIMBURSE ME. I FEEL THAT IT IS A DEFECT AND THAT TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEMAND PAY FOR IT BEFORE I HAVE A ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION. I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND CAN'T AFFORD IT AT THIS TIME.