NHTSA Complaint #10452706 — 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I RECENTLY BOUGHT OUT THE LEASE OF MY 20007 FJ CRUISER FROM THE HOLLYWOOD TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I'M WRITING TO NOTIFY YOU THAT I AM EXTREMELY UNHAPPY WITH MY SERVICE AND THAT I FEEL UNSAFE IN MY TOYOTA VEHICLE. I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE MY FJ CRUISER TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY FRONT WHEEL NEARLY FELL OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. WHEN I INSPECTED THE TIRE IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE WHEEL STUDS HAD BROKEN CLEAN OFF THE BODY. THE TIRE WAS BARELY HANGING ON BY A THREAD. I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, I PAID A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF EXTRA MONEY TO HAVE IT "CERTIFIED" BY THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THE CERTIFICATION AND IT HAS ONLY EVER BEEN WORKED ON BY TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIANS. I NEVER HEARD ABOUT ANY ISSUES WITH WHEELS OR ABOUT WHEEL DEFECTS OR RECALLS. AFTER THE WHEEL INCIDENT, THE HOLLYWOOD TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOTIFIED ME THAT THE WHEEL STUDS WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD FAILED. I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED BY TOYOTA ABOUT THIS POSSIBLE ISSUE IN MY MODEL CAR. I BELIEVE THAT IF THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN A PRODUCT THAT ALL TOYOTA OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED ABOUT IT. AFTER ONLY THE HUB WITH OBVIOUSLY BROKEN STUDS WAS REPLACED THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT MORE WHEEL STUDS WOULDN'T BREAK OFF MY OTHER WHEELS. IF I CANNOT BE GUARANTEED BY TOYOTA THAT THE WHEELS WILL STAY ON MY CAR WHILE I DRIVE IT THEN I HAVE TO SAY THAT I HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE BRAND AND WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER PRODUCT FROM BOTH TOYOTA OR THIS DEALERSHIP EVER AGAIN. I ALSO ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO NOTIFY THE SALES MANAGER THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE SO THEY COULD FOLLOW UP WITH ME TO REASSURE ME ABOUT THE REPAIRS. THIS REQUEST WAS IGNORED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR