NHTSA Complaint #10273320 — 2008 TOYOTA TUNDRA

THE DAY AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE (12/25/08), THE WINDSHIELD WAS HIT BY A ROCK WHICH CAUSED A CHIP. THE CHIP REPAIR DID NOT HOLD AND THE CHIP EXTENDED INTO A CRACK. THIS CRACK WENT ACROSS THE LOWER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD AND CURVED DOWN TOWARD THE DASH. I CALLED THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT REPAIR, AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT BUILT WITH A HEATED WINDSHIELD SO I ELECTED TO WAIT UNTIL THE END OF WINTER TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER I CAME OUT TO GO TO WORK, STARTED THE VEHICLE, AND TURNED ON THE HEATED MIRRORS. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND WENT TO OPEN MY GATE AND FEED THE DOG, UPON RETURNING TO THE TRUCK I SMELLED A BURNING ELECTRICAL ODOR. AT THIS TIME I NOTICED A FLASHING AND A FLAME COMING FROM THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT WAS BEGINNING TO GROW SO I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. I THEN CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY CAME AND TOWED THE VEHICLE IN TO THEIR SHOP. THEY CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND WERE TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BUILT WITH A HEATED WINDSHIELD WHICH IS WHAT THE BUILD SPECIFICATION SHEET STATES. AFTER INVESTIGATING FURTHER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY TRUCK WAS INDEED BUILT WITH A HEATED WINDSHIELD, WHICH HAD SHORTED OUT FROM THE CRACK AND BURNED THE WINDSHIELD AND THE PASSENGER WIPER BLADE. I AM CONCERNED THAT TOYOTA HAS STATED THAT THIS IS NOT A DESIGN ISSUE AND IT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. HAD I NOT NOTICED THE FLAME COMING FROM MY VEHICLE AND SHUT IT OFF THE OUTCOME OF THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN FAR WORSE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF THE VEHICLE OR A LIFE. IN THE END THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AND EVERYTHING WORKS. HOPEFULLY THE HEATED MIRRORS ARE NOT ON IF THERE IS EVER A CRASH THAT COMPROMISES THE WINDSHIELD. *TR