NHTSA Complaint #10483934 — 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND OTHER THAN A COUPLE OF FENDER BENDERS CAUSED TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE CAR HAS BEEN KEPT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND GARAGE KEPT BOTH AT HOME AND AT WORK. I NOTICED A HAIRLINE CRACK FROM THE LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) ON THE TOP DASH PANEL EXTENDING TO THE MIDDLE (TOP OF THE STEREO). AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE (SEVERAL COMPLAINTS BOTH HERE AS WELL AS OTHER WEBSITES), I CALLED TOYOTA @ 1-800-331-4331 AND OPENED CASE # 1211091043 AFTER MENTIONING THAT THE ISSUE SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN WIDESPREAD AND CITING ANOTHER CASE # BY A FORUM MEMBER (1208280716). HOWEVER, TOYOTA DENIED BEING AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND WAS UNWILLING TO HELP CITING AN OUT-OF-WARRANTY CONDITION. MY CONCERN OF DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG AS A RESULT DIDN'T APPEAR TO CONCERN THEM. I WAS GIVEN A CONTACT NAME OF THE NUMBER CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP FOR POSSIBLE HELP. I HAVE ALSO READ THAT NEWER MODELS USE A DIFFERENT MATERIAL (PLASTIC) FOR THE DASH PANEL. I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER YET BUT I BELIEVE THE WIDESPREAD NATURE OF THE DEFECT CALLS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND POSSIBLE RECALL. *TR