NHTSA Complaint #10458609 — 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY

BOTH SUN VISORS HAVE FAILED WITH ORDINARY USE. THE BRACKETS BREAK AND THE SUN VISOR FALLS IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE OBSTRUCTING YOUR VISION. THE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AS THE PLASTIC BRACKET EASILY BREAKS. THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR BROKE FIRST THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE. I TALKED WITH THE TECHNICIANS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WERE LOTS OF REPLACEMENTS. THE COST TO REPLACE BOTH WERE IN EXCESS OF $250.00. THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT CAN EASILY CAUSE SERIOUS SAFETY RAMIFICATIONS. MY SON WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR HAD PINNED THE VISORS UP TO THE OVERHEAD MATERIAL WITH STRAIGHT PINS TO KEEP IT FROM DROPPING IN HIS FACE. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS UNTIL HE WENT OFF TO COLLEGE BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONLY DRIVER OF THE CAR. I KNOW THIS IS NOT ON THE SAME LEVEL AS A AIR BAG BUT IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD NEVER THE LESS AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD ONE SUN VISOR EVER BREAK, YET THIS CAR HAD TOW BREAK. I HAVE SAVED THE OLD VISORS AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO FORWARD THEM TO YOU FOR TESTING. I LOOKED AT THEM AND COULD EASILY SEE WHERE THE DEFECT IS, YET I AM NOT A ENGINEER. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THESE ISSUES BUT MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE TO COMPLAIN OF THIS DEFECT. I WOULD BE EASY TO SEE JUST HOW MANY ARE REPLACED. THIS IS "CONSTRUCTIVE NOTICE" THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS IT CAN IMPAIR A DRIVERS VISIBILITY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *JS