NHTSA Complaint #10462162 — 2005 SCION TC

BACK HATCH DOOR HANDLE GARNISH JUST CAME OFF THE VEHICLES REAR HATCH HANDLE HAS A DESIGN FLAW WHICH MAKES THE PART FAIL. THE REAR HATCH HANDLE IS FASTENED TO THE TRUNK/HATCH WITH PLASTIC CLIPS. WHEN THE RELEASE BUTTON FOR THE HATCH IS PRESSED, IT ONLY UNLOCKS THE HATCH DOOR. IT DOES NOT SPRING UPWARD LIKE OTHER VEHICLES. IN THE MANUAL IT SHOWS TO HOLD THE RELEASE BUTTON AND LIFT WITH THE HATCH HANDLE. BECAUSE THERE ARE NO SPRINGS TO HELP LIFT IT APPLIES LOTS OF PRESSURE TO THE CLIPS WHICH WEAKEN THEM. EVENTUALLY, THEY JUST SNAP. THEY ARE ALSO KNOWN FOR SNAPPING WHEN THE HATCH IS LOCKED, IN COLD WEATHER, AND THERE ARE EVEN REPORTS OF THE RELEASE BUTTON MELTING. REPLACEMENT COSTS FOR THIS PARTICULAR PIECE FROM THE DEALER IS $170 FOR THE HANDLE AND UPWARD $200+ FOR LABOR. THIS PRICE DOES NOT GUARANTEE A PERMANENT FIX. THIS IS THE COST FOR THE SAME FAULTY PART. BECAUSE SCION OWNERS ARE AWARE OF THIS, MANY HAVE RESORTED TO THEIR OWN MEANS OF FIXING WHICH IS WHERE THE SAFETY ISSUES ARISE. SCION CALLS THIS PART AN EXTERIOR GARNISH WHICH IMPLIES IT IS FOR DECORATIVE PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, BUT IT IS NOT JUST FOR LOOKING AT. THIS PIECE IS A HOUSING COMPARTMENT FOR SOME VITAL COMPONENTS. BECAUSE SCION KNOWS ABOUT THIS, THEY SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR PUTTING THEIR CONSUMERS AT RISK. SIGN THE PETITION TO RECALL SCION DEFECTIVE REAR HATCH HANDLES AND IMPROVE OUR SAFETY. . I HAVE HEARD THIS IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT GOING ON FOR THIS HTTP://CLASSACTIONLAWSUITSINTHENEWS.COM/CLASS-ACTION-LAWSUIT-COMPLAINTS/TOYOTA-SCION-XB-TC-CLASS-ACTION-LAWSUIT-COMPLAINT-FILED-OVER-ALLEGED-REAR-HATCH-DOOR-HANDLE-DEFECT/ *TR