NHTSA Complaint #10386185 — 2007 SCION TC

I PURCHASED A USED 2007 SCION TC ON LABOR DAY 2010. I NOTICED THAT THE TRUNK LATCH COVER WAS A LITTLE FLIMSY FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT, COMMONLY USED PART OF THE CAR. DURING THE COLDER MONTHS, OPENING THE TRUNK WAS A DELICATE PROCEDURE BECAUSE OFTEN I FELT THE COVER WOULD BREAK FROM JUST TRYING TO OPEN THE TRUNK. ON 2/27/11 MY 13YR OLD SON OPENED THE TRUNK AFTER I HAD JUST SHUT IT TO PUT IN HIS LUGGAGE AND THE COVER RIPPED ON THE LEFT SIDE RUNNING DIAGONALLY ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP, LEAVING ONLY THE THIN MOLDING STRIP TO SECURE IT IN PLACE. I WAS ABOUT TO RIP THE WHOLE THING OFF SO IT WOULDN'T FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING, WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE LATCH MECHANISM WAS ATTACHED TO IT. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CLIPS THAT KEEP IT ATTACHED ON THE RIGHT SIDE HAD BROKEN, SO I COULDN'T JUST PUSH IT BACK INTO PLACE. LIKE MANY OTHERS ON THIS FORUM, I USED CLEAR PACKING TAPE TO SECURE IT IN PLACE, TAKING CARE NOT TO GET IT ON ANY OTHER PART OF THE CAR WHERE IT WOULD DAMAGE THE PAINT. IT SEEMS UNBELIEVABLE TO ME THAT FOR A PART THAT IS SEEMINGLY SO FRAGILE AND EASY TO BREAK THAT 1. THERE ARE BARELY ANY USED PARTS TO REPLACE IT 2. VERY FEW SITES THAT EVEN SELL IT AND 3. THAT THIS KIND OF THING WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, CONSIDERING THE MANY NUMBER OF FORUMS I'VE SEEN WITH OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING. I THINK I WILL LOOK INTO SOME TYPE OF EPOXY AND PRAY THAT IT WILL PASS INSPECTION IN AUGUST. GLAD TO KNOW THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO APPARENTLY DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO OPEN A TRUNK. *TR