NHTSA Complaint #10534407 — 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

MY 4RUNNER GOT REAR ENDED ON THE FREEWAY AND DURING THE REPAIR PROCESS I FOUND OUT THAT THE HITCH RECEIVER THAT WAS ORIGINAL INSTALLED (51909-35010) WAS SUPERSEDED TO AN 'IMPROVED' ONE (51909-35011). HOWEVER, WHEN I INSTALLED MY BICYCLE CARRIER, I REALIZED THAT THE UNIVERSAL FOOT WAS STANDING ONE INCH OUT OF THE HITCH RECEIVER CAUSING IT TO VIRULENTLY SHAKE AND BOUNCE AROUND. WHEN INSPECTING THE NEW HITCH RECEIVER MORE CLOSELY, I REALIZED THAT THE HOLE FOR THE HITCH RECEIVER PIN IS NOW ONLY 1.5 INCHES FROM THE END OF THE HITCH AWAY WHILE BEFORE IT WAS 2.5 INCHES. I COMPARED THIS TO OTHER MANUFACTURERS HITCHES (E.G. GMC, CHEVROLET, JEEP, ETC) AND THEY ALL HAVE A 2.5 INCH DISTANCE FROM THE END OF THE RECEIVER TO THE HOLE FOR THE PIN. I CONTACTED TOYOTA TO FIND OUT WHETHER THIS IS THE CORRECT PART AND WHY THEY CHANGED THE DESIGN IN THAT WAY, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. IN MY OPINION, THE NEW HITCH RECEIVER IS UNSAFE AS IT ALLOWS MORE PLAY OF THE BALL MOUNT AND APPEARS LESS STABLE AS LESS MATERIAL IS AROUND THE HITCH RECEIVER PIN. SINCE I AM UNABLE TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION FROM TOYOTA AND TOYOTA IS NOT WILLING TO LOOK FURTHER INTO THIS, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD HAVE A DETAILED LOOK IN THIS ISSUE. BEST REGARDS. *TR