NHTSA Complaint #10449157 — 2006 TOYOTA TUNDRA

APPROXIMATELY 4 YEARS AGO, I COULD NOT OPEN THE TAILGATE OF MY TOYOTA TUNDRA. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE CLIP. TWO MONTHS AGO, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $179 TO FIX IT. I ASKED WHAT WAS WRONG, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A PLASTIC CLIP THAT KEEPS BREAKING. I TOLD THEM THAT THE TRUCK HAD BEEN IN THE GARAGE FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS BECAUSE MY HUSBAND WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS JUST THE PLASTIC BREAKING. I SAID THAT IT SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. THEY DIDN'T AGREE. SO I AM NOW HAVING TO PAY FOR IT. THIS CLIP IS ONLY WARRANTEED FOR 1 YEAR. SO THAT MEANS I WILL BE REPLACING IT AGAIN IN A YEAR (ANOTHER $179). THAT SOUNDS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW TO ME. THE COMPANY SENT OUT A MEMO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON 2007 MODELS, BUT NOT 2006. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR