NHTSA Complaint #10303175 — 2007 TOYOTA MATRIX

I HAVE HAD FOUR WHEEL COVERS COME OFF AT HIGH SPEEDS. IN TWO CASES I WAS ABLE TO HEAR NOISES AND THIS REPRESENTED THE WHEEL COVER HITTING OBJECTS AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELING OVER 60 MILES PER HOUR. THE AUTOMOBILE IS A 2007 TOYOTA MATRIX WITHOUT ANY OPTIONS. THUS IT IS FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC COVERS THAT SLOWLY WORK THEIR WAY LOOSE DUE TO THE VERY LITTLE CONSTRUCTION OF THE COVER AND THE FLEXING OF THE WHEEL THAT WILL OCCUR. I CONTACTED TOYOTA. I WAS TOLD IN A SOMEWHAT ARROGANT VOICE THAT THEY DO "NOT" HAVE A PROBLEM. THIS IS A PROBLEM AND AT SOME POINT IN TIME ONE OF THESE COVERS WILL STICK A PERSON. I HAVE NOW CHANGED TO A TOYOTA CAMERY WHEEL COVER. THIS COVER HAS A GREAT DEAL OF ADDITIONAL PARTS TO IT. IT HAS SPRINGS AND AN ADDITIONAL MATERIAL THAT PREVENTS THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF THE WHEEL COVER FROM COMING OFF. I LOST A TOTAL OF THE ORIGINAL COVERS. TOYOTA IS CHARGING IN EXCESS OF $70.00 FOR A REPLACEMENT. THUS IF IT WAS MY CAR I MIGHT BE DELIGHTED THAT I AM PROFITING FROM A POOR ENGINEERING MISTAKE. THIS EXPERIENCE FROM HAVING CONTACTED TOYOTA ALLOWS ME TO HAVE AN APPRECIATION FOR WHAT MUST BE ARROGANCE AT THE UPPER LEVEL MANAGEMENT OF THIS CORPORATION. STRONG MEASURES SHOULD BE APPLIED AND THE SOURCE OF THIS POOR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE WEEDED OUT OF THIS CORPORATION. *TR