NHTSA Complaint #10310218 — 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA

FEB. 15, 2010 TO: NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY ADMINISTRATION RE.: DEFECT IN TOYOTA COROLLA I RECENTLY REPORTED TO BOTH MY LOCAL TOYOTAL DEALERSHIP AND TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA (NATIONAL CUSTOMER RELATIONS, 9001 SOUTHWESTERN AVE, DEPT. WC11; TORRANCE, CA 90509) THAT THE PLAY ON THE TRUNK LID ON OUR 2010 COROLLA WAS SO LOOSE THAT EVEN THOUGH THE TRUNK LID WOULD BE PUSHED ALL THE WAY UP, A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND WOULD SEND IT FLYING DOWN ON WHOEVER WAS LOADING ITEMS INTO THE TRUNK. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO MY WIFE. ON ONE OCCASION THE LID CAME DOWN ON MY WIFE'S HEAD AND AGAIN ON HER ARM ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED PHOTO SHOWING THE EFFECT OF THE LID BEING BLOWN DOWN ON HER ARM. THE DEALER AGREED THAT COMPARED TO THE TRUNK LID ON MY CAMRY, THE LID ON THE COROLLA DID INDEED SWING TOO FREELY AND THAT THE CAUSE WAS A DESIGN FLAW AS THE LID WAS FUNCTIONING WITHIN THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS . THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT TOYOTA. I DID THAT, EXPLAINED THE SITUATION, AND WAS ASSIGNED CASE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE REGARDING THIS DESIGN FLAW. PERHAPS YOU CAN CONVINCE TOYOTA TO REDUCE THE "PLAY" ON THE TRUNK LID SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY USE THE TRUNK OF THE CAR WITHOUT EXPERIENCING INJURY. *TR