NHTSA Complaint #10238315 — 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA

THE TOYOTA TACOMA (2008) IS ADVERTISED FOR USE TO TRANSPORT MOTORCYCLES. THIS IS A CENTRAL THEME IN THEIR MARKETING PROGRAM. THE BED IS TURNS OUT IS MADE OF "COMPOSITE" (PLASTIC). THE TIE DOWN POINTS ARE RAILS AND CLEATS THAT COME OFF OR SLIDE ALONG THE SIDES OF THE BED, NOT REGULAR TIE DOWNS IN THE FRONT CORNERS, AS IN NORMAL METAL TRUCKS. THERE IS NO METAL IN THE BED TO AFFIX A TIE DOWN POINT TO. THIS SYSTEM IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE WEIGHT OR ANGLE OF MOTORCYCLES. PLUS THE ANGLES REQUIRED TO TIE DOWN MOTORCYCLES FORCE THE CLEATS TO BEND AND FLEX BECAUSE THEY ARE ONLY INSTALLED IN PLASTIC. IT TURNS OUT THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR THE 2008 HAS LIMITATIONS ON THE CLEATS BOTH IN ANGLE OF TIE DOWNS AND WEIGHT, BOTH OF WHICH ARE EXCEEDED IN THEIR AD PHOTOGRAPHS, LEADING ONE TO BELIEVE IT CAN BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE, AND IN WHAT THEIR DEALERS (OR AT LEAST POWER TOYOTA IN TEMPE ARIZONA, AND TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA, INC IS ADVERTISING). IN FACT, MANY HAVE PURCHASED THE TRUCK FOR THIS PURPOSE AND ARE DANGER OF A FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM. TOYOTA HAS ADMITTED IT IS INSUFFICIENT TO HANDLE THE WEIGHT, BUT CONTINUES TO SELL THE VEHICLES FOR THIS PURPOSE, AS IS SHOWN IN THEIR ADS. THE DEALER THAT I BOUGHT MINE FROM WITHHELD THE OWNER'S MANUAL UNTIL AFTER I TOOK THE TRUCK HOME, AND LET ME KNOW I COULD COME BACK FOR IT. THE SPECIFICATIONS ON THE TIE DOWN LIMITATIONS ARE NOT DISCLOSED ANYWHERE BUT IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD ME TO USE THE TRUCK IN VIOLATION OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL WHEN I MET WITH THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE EVENT A MOTORCYCLE COMES OFF THE BACK OF A TRUCK AND HURTS/KILLS SOMEONE. *TR