NHTSA Complaint #10452725 — 1997 TOYOTA T100

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING CLAIM NO. 10451047. IN REVIEWING CLAIM I REALIZED THE SAFETY ISSUES NOT FULLY COVERED. A SERIOUS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE USING THIS VEHICLE. WHILE BRINGING BAGGED LEAVES TO TOWN RECYCLING AREA, A BAG FELL FROM THE TRUCK. MY SON AND I STOPPED IN THE ROAD TO RETRIEVE THE DEBRIS BEHIND THE TRUCK. WHILE RETRIEVING THE DEBRIS THE VEHICLE BEGAN BACKING UP AND ALMOST STRUCK US. I HAD TO RUN TO THE DRIVERS DOOR AND ENTER THE MOVING VEHICLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE TO PREVENT A CRASH. IT BECAME APPARENT THAT WHEN PLACED IN PARK THE SHIFTER MAY IN FACT BE IN REVERSE. THIS ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY. UNFORTUNATELY THIS CAN NOT BE EASILY REPAIRED AS FAILURE OF THE FRAME WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE CAUSE FOR LOSS OF THE SHIFTER SUPPORT. THIS SERIOUS DEFECT CAN BE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE THIS TYPE OF DANGEROUS SITUATION OF THE VEHICLE BEING INADVERTENTLY IN REVERSE INSTEAD OF IN PARK! *TR