NHTSA Complaint #10447519 — 2004 SCION XB

WHEELS: PREMATURE TIRE WEAR (PRIOR TO TIRE MILEAGE WARRANTY) ALONG WITH UNEXPLAINABLE WARPING OF THE RIMS. TIRE BLOW OUT AND/OR HANDLING/STEERING ISSUES CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND SAFETY HAZARDS, THEREBY PUTTING AN OWNER INTO A PHYSICAL DAMAGE SITUATION, AS WELL AS BY STANDERS. WIPERS: REAR WIPER FLUID DOES NOT SPRAY, STRAIGHT STREAM DOWN THE CENTER OF REAR WINDOW; WIPER BLADE DOESN'T CONTACT 'STRAIGHT' REAR WINDOW THEREBY DECREASING VISIBILITY WHICH IN TURNS INITIATES AND INTENSIFIES SAFETY/ACCIDENT HAZARDS, NOT TO MENTION DEFEATS THE NEED/USEFULNESS OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR. FRONT WINDSHIELD: THE 'STRAIGHT' UP AND DOWN FORM CAUSES IT TO BE A CATCH ALL RATHER THAN AN AERODYNAMIC DEFLECTOR, ALLOWING THE WINDSHIELD TO BECOME A PHYSICAL HAZARD, WHEN AN OBJECT HITS IT WITH PENETRATING FORCE. THE SECONDARY ISSUE IS NUMEROUS WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS, WHICH MOST INSURANCE COMPANIES DO NOT COVER THEREBY CAUSING RECURRING, AND TREMENDOUS, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ON AN OWNER. REAR TAILGATE HATCH: BREAKS AND HANGS BY WIRING HARNESS ALONE, MAKING THE TAILGATE/REAR HATCH VIRTUALLY INACCESSIBLE AND UNUSABLE. THIS THEN BECOMES A NUISANCE FACTOR AS WELL AS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN AN OWNER WOULD NEED TO ACCESS AND REMOVE THE SPARE TIRE. SINCE LICENSE PLATE ILLUMINATION IS REQUIRED BY LAW, A BROKEN HATCH HANDLE CLEARLY PUTS AN OWNER IN VIOLATION OF THIS LAW, THEREBY CAUSING LEGAL IMPLICATIONS AND EXCESS COST FACTORS WHEN HE OR SHE RECEIVES A TICKET FOR A NON-OPERATIONS TAG LIGHT. *TR