NHTSA Complaint #10268168 — 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX

FAILURE OF RETENTION SYSTEM FOR FRONT RIGHT INNER FENDER/SHIELD. THERE IS ONLY ONE RETENTION POINT AT FRONT (ON BUMPER). WHEN FAILS, SHIELD/INNER FENDER BEHIND FRONT BUMPER DRAGS ON GROUND. HOLE FOR RETENTION PIN HAS ONLY ABOUT 1/4 INCH OF MATERIAL TO REAR OF HOLE - THE PLASTIC SPLITS. DID NOT SPLIT IN RESPONSE TO HITTING ANYTHING - CAR WAS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY WHEN FAILED. WHEN TOOK TO DEALER (STILL UNDER WARRANTY), OFFERED CHOICE OF CABLE TIE REPAIR (FREE) OR REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE INNER FENDER ASSEMBLY ($211). CHOSE CABLE TIE, ALTHOUGH DEALER ALSO LEFT ROPE REPAIR I HAD INSTALLED TO HOLD UNTIL GETTING TO DEALER. DEALER INDICATED ROPE SHOULD STAY - HARDLY A REAL REPAIR. LEFT SIDE FAILED PREVIOUSLY - HAD TO PERSONALLY REPLACE RETENTION PIECES. DEALER SERVICE REP INDICATED THAT THEY SEE A NUMBER OF MATRIX XR AND XRS MODELS WITH SAME PROBLEM, DUE TO GROUND EFFECTS INSTALLED ON THOSE MODELS. SEEMS TO STRONGLY IMPLY A DESIGN DEFECT. *TR