NHTSA Complaint #10145459 — 2005 TOYOTA AVALON

NOTE: I HAD TO CLASSIFY THIS VEHICLE AS A CAMRY BECAUSE A SELECTION FOR A 2005 AVALON WAS NOT AVAILABLE - RECENTLY WE HAD OUR FIRST MAJOR SNOW STORM. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHIN MINUTES MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO FREEZE UP AND SHARPLY LIMITED MY VISIBILITY. I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT MANUFACTURE A WINTER (BOOTED) WIPER BLADE FOR THIS VEHICLE. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET (TRICO, ANCO, ETC. WEBSITES) BUT COULD FIND NO AFTERMARKET WINTER BLADES FOR THIS MODEL AVALON. TOYOTA HAD REDESIGNED THE WIPER ARM AND BLADES TO ACCEPT ONLY THE EXPENSIVE ($56 A SET) TOYOTA MANUFACTURED WIPER BLADES. I SENT AN EMAIL TO TOYOTA AND THEY RESPONDED BY TELLING ME TO CHECK WITH MY DEALERS SERVICE DEPT. NATURALLY THE DEALER COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE TOYOTA DOES NOT MANUFACTURE ANY EQUIPMENT SOLUTIONS FOR THEM TO APPLY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA'S RESPONSE AS I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I'M FORTUNATE THAT I DIDN'T DRIVE OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A DITCH. THE NEXT TIME I HAVE TO DRIVE IN A SNOW STORM YOU CAN BE CERTAIN THAT I WON'T BE DRIVING THE AVALON. *JB