NHTSA Complaint #10479545 — 2004 TOYOTA RAV4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SLID FORWARD AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH OVER A CURB AND INTO A POLE. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CRASH, SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISING AND PAIN TO THE LOWER BACK. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE AND WAS LATER DISCHARGED WITH NO MAJOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SENT AN ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINEER ADVISED THAT THE CRASH DID NOT OCCUR IN BETWEEN BOTH DOORS SO THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS WOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENGINEER STATED THAT THE FRONT BUMPER PUSHED THE ENGINE BACK AND FRACTURED THE TRANSMISSION LINES, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE MANIFOLD. AS A RESULT, THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A FIRE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.