NHTSA Complaint #10333952 — 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA

I PRESENTLY OWN A 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA AND A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK . I NOTICED THAT ON BOTH VEHICLES WHEN I START THE ENGINES THE DASH LIGHT COME ON WHICH IS FINE BUT IF ONE GETS OUT AND WALKS AROUND THE VEHICLE ONE SEES THE FRONT DRIVING LIGHTS ARE ON BUT THERE ARE NO LIGHTS ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I MENTION THIS BECAUSE I LIVE IN NORTH OF SEATTLE AND THE WEATHER IS INCLEMENT MANY DAYS OF THE YEAR. I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I AM DRIVING ON I-5 AND IT IS RAINING , MANY TIMES I CANNOT SEE THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF MINE DO TO THE RAIN MIST AND MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NO LIGHTS ON THE REAR OF THEIR VEHICLE. IS A NEWER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE . AS I PASS THEM I CAN SEE THAT THE FRONT RUNNING LIGHT ARE ON BUT NO LIGHTS ARE ON IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD WHICH NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE . IT COULD BE CORRECTED THROUGH RECALLS BUT SHOULD BE CHANGED AT THE FACTORY DURING THE DESIGN PROCESS. I HAVE TALKED THIS OVER WITH MANY OF MY FRIENDS AND THEY ALL AGREE THAT I AM RIGHT IN MY ASSESSMENT. MOST OF THE DRIVER THAT I REPORT THIS TO DO ARE NOT AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THEIR TAIL LIGHTS ARE NOT ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. THE TAIL LIGHTS ONLY COME ON WHEN THEY ARE MANUALLY TURNED ON WITH THE DASH SWITCH ON THE STALK. I AM NOT SURE OF WHEN THIS DESIGN FLAW WAS CREATED OR WITH WHAT YEAR VEHICLE BUT I WOULD SUSPECT THAT IT IS OCCURRING ON 90% OF THE NEWER VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. SOME LIVES COULD CERTAINLY BE SAVED BY HAVING THE TAIL LIGHT COME ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED JUST AS THE DRIVING LIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED. COULD ALSO BE REMEDIED BY NOT HAVING THE DRIVING LIGHTS OR THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON UNTIL THEY ARE MANUALLY ACTIVATED BY THE DRIVER. THANK YOU. *TR