NHTSA Complaint #10264780 — 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA

TRUNK LID ON TOYOTA COROLLA USES TORSION BARS FOR SUPPORT. HOWEVER IN THE FULL UP POSITION( 90 DEGREE) TO ABOUT ALMOST CLOSED ( 30 DEGREE) THE WEIGHT IS NOT COUNTER BALANCED . IN THE FULL UP POSITION IT IS PRONE TO FALL WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED FACING UP HILL ON A SLOPE AS SLIGHT AS 10 DEGREES COMMON IN PARKING LOTS FOR RAIN RUNOFF. ANY WIND OR PLACING A BAG OF CANNED GOODS IN THE TRUNK CAUSES IT TO FALL STRIKING THE OWNER IN THE HEAD ,NECK OR SHOULDERS. THIS IS HAPPENING MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK AS I USE THE TRUNK DAILY SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN LATE DECEMBER 2008. MY OTHER VEHICLE ( 1993 FORD TAURUS) ALSO USES TORSION BARS BUT EVEN THOUGH IT IS A MUCH HEAVIER TRUNK LID IT IS STABLE IN ALL POSITIONS FROM JUST OPEN TO FULLY OPEN ( 90 DEGREE- STRAIGHT UP). I HAVE COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIVE. I HAVE BEEN HIT BY THIS TRUNK LID NUMEROUS TIMES AS I USE THE TRUNK ON A DAILY BASIS. AS AN MALE ADULT I HAVE NOT BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED YET BUT I BELIEVE THIS POSES SERIOUS RISK OF INJURY FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN. THIS TRUNK LID AND TORSION BAR SYSTEM IS POORLY DESIGNED AND HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS INJURY. THE FORCE IS SUFFICIENT THAT ONE OCCASION IT CAUSED A BLEEDING CUT TO MY SCALP UPON IMPACT. THE DEALER IN LATE JANUARY ADDED A SMALL EXTENSION ARM THAT CONNECTS TO THE TORSION BARS BUT THIS HAD NO BENEFIT. *TR