NHTSA Complaint #10334037 — 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY

THE KEY IN MY TOYOTA SPECIAL EDITION 2004 CAMRY IS DESIGNED TO BE REMOVED ONLY WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS IN THE PARK POSITION. HOWEVER, MINE CAN BE REMOVED REGARDLESS OF THE POSITION OF THE GEAR SHIFT. EX: ONCE THE CAR IS STOPPED AND SHUT OFF AND SHOULD IT STILL BE IN THE DRIVE POSITION, THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE.. AS A RESULT , I HAD AN ACCIDENT AS THE CAR ROLLED DOWN AN INCLINE AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE..NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME, BUT A CHILD COULD HAVE BEEN IN A CAR SEAT IN THE REAR AND I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. I T HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST THREE TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT PLACING THE CAR IN THE PARK POSITION BEFORE EXITING THE VEHICLE. DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL THE ACCIDENT THAT IT WAS NOT DESIGNED THAT WAY. NOTIFIED THE CORPORATE OFFICE OF TOYOTA AND THEY RESPONDED WITH THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY SAFETY PROBLEM. WORLD TOYOTA IN ATLANTA WILL REPAIR THE PROBLEM FOR APPROXIMATELY $424.00, BUT I FEEL IT SHOULD BE TOYOTA'S RESPONSIBILITY AND DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR