NHTSA Complaint #10160357 — 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA

I SECURED A BOX SPRING TO THE FACTORY INSTALLED ROOF RACK. THIS LOAD WAS WITHIN THE OWNERS MANUAL SPECS FOR WEIGHT AND SIZE LIMITS. AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE RACK SHEARED AT THE CONNECTION POINT WHERE THE RAIL THAT RUNS FROM BACK TO FRONT MEETS THE PLASTIC FOOT WHICH MOUNTS TO THE ROOF WITH 2 BOLTS AND EXPANSION NUTS. THE BOX SPRING FLEW OFF THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE AND WENT SKIDDING DOWN THE ROAD AND WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. SO FAR THE DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE ROOF RACK. ACCORDING TO THEM A BOX SPRING PUTS TO MUCH STRESS ON THE RACK AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN LOADED ON THE VEHICLE. THE OWNERS MANUAL DOES NOT MAKE ANY MENTION OF THIS AND THERE ARE NO SAFETY LABELS ON THE RACK ITSELF. THIS LOAD ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL WAS ACCEPTABLE. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT THERE WERE NO VEHICLES BEHIND ME AT THE TIME. THE BOX SPRING COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IF IT HAD HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN I FIRST CALLED THE DEALER AFTER THE PROBLEM I ASKED ONLY WHETHER THE ROOF RACK SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE HAVING A FULL SIZE BOX SPRING ON IT. THE PERSON I ASKED TOLD ME IT WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE LOAD. I THEM LET THEM HIM KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. NOW THEY ARE SAYING IT WASN'T DESIGNED FOR THIS. BUT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE PRESSURE AND STRESS CREATED BY THIS ITEM. IT VERY WELL COULD HAVE BEEN A CANOE, KAYAK, BICYCLE OR ANY NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS AND ALSO AT SPEEDS MUCH GREATER THAN THE 45 MPH THAT I WAS TRAVELING. *JB