NHTSA Complaint #10463355 — 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA

I WAS DRIVING ON CA HWY 101 AT 7:30PM WHEN I SMELLED, THEN SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE DRIVER-SIDE DOOR. LUCKILY, I HAD A GALLON OF DRINKING WATER WITHIN REACH. I POURED IT ON THE FIRE WHILE SWERVING TO THE MARGIN SO AS TO AVOID COLLISION. I EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DISCONNECTED THE WINDOWS-SWITCH PANEL. APPARENTLY, A SHORT-CIRCUIT IN THE WINDOW SWITCHES IGNITED THE SOUND-INSULATION MATERIAL THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRE-PROOF TO BEGIN WITH. THE FIRE MELTED MOST OF THE DRIVER-SIDE PLASTIC DOOR COVER AND PARTIALLY FRIED THE SWITCHES AND ASSOCIATED WIRING. I FOUND THE ARTICLE 'BURNING TOYOTA CAMRY/RAV4 WINDOW SWITCHES PROMPT NHTSA INVESTIGATION' AND MANY OTHERS THAT EXPLAINED EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO MY TOYOTA DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE CAR. I ASKED THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE CAR AT NO COST TO ME BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, THE FIRE RESULTED FROM AN INHERENT DEFECT. THE DEALER SAID HE WON'T REPAIR THE CAR FOR FREE. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND LEGAL COUNSEL DID NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY EITHER, AND, BASICALLY, KEPT ON HARASSING ME OVER THE FOLLOWING 3 WEEKS WITH MANY PHONE CALLS REQUESTING THAT I BRING MY CAR HERE AND THERE AT THEIR WHIM. INCIDENTALLY, THIS HARASSMENT CAUSED ME TO LOSE MY JOB. I REPORTED THAT MUCH AND MORE TO TOYOTA ON THEIR FORM. HERE IS WHAT I REQUESTED: 1.REPAIR MY CAR AND GIVE ME A LOANER AT NO COST TO ME. 2.COMPENSATE ME MONETARILY, WITH $10,000, FOR THE EXTREME 'INCONVENIENCE' YOU HAVE BEEN CAUSING ME OVER THE LAST THREE (3) WEEKS. 3.CONGRATULATE ME FOR SURVIVING A VERY-CLOSE CALL. MIRACULOUSLY, NO ONE WAS HURT OR KILLED. *TR