NHTSA Complaint #10593140 — 2014 TOYOTA CAMRY

NEW CAR PURCHASE. 40 YEAR BUYER OF TOYOTA CAMRY VEHICLES. APPARENTLY TOYOTA DISCONTINUED A KEY TRUNK LOCKING FEATURE INCLUDED IN ALL PREVIOUS YEARS AND MODELS OF TOYOTA. THEY PROVIDE A "VALET KEY" WHICH KEEPS VALETS OUT OF THE GLOVE BOX BUT NOT OUT OF THE TRUNK AS WAS THE CASE WITH ALL PREVIOUS VALET KEYS PROVIDED WITH MY PREVIOUS 3 CAMRY'S AND 2 COROLLAS. TOYOTA DEALER ADVISE ME THAT I COULD GET A KEY LOCKING TRUNK ON THE AVALON A MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE VEHICLE. HE ALSO SUGGESTED I COULD GET ANOTHER MANUFACTURERS CAR. HONDA HAS KEY LOCKING TRUNKS. CONTACT WITH TOYOTA CORPORATION OF AMERICA RESULTED IN A SUGGESTION THAT I NOT STORE VALUABLE IN THE TRUNK OR TO REMOVE ALL VALUABLES FROM THE TRUNK WHILE TRAVELING. SINCE THE TRUNK RELEASE CAN BE TRIGGERED BY ANYONE SITTING IN THE DRIVER SEAT, THE TRUNK CAN FLY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IN MOTION ALLOWING THE CONTENTS TO BE BLOWN OUT OF THE TRUNK AN INTO THE PATH OF FOLLOWING VEHICLES. THIS OCCURRED ONCE WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PICK UP A KERCHIEF THAT FELL TO THE FLOOR WHILE DRIVING. THE KERCHIEF CAUGHT ON THE RELEASE ANT THE TRUNK POPPED OPEN. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE TRUNK. THE TRUNK DID BLOCK MY REAR VIEW UNTIL I COULD SAFELY MOVE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO CLOSE IT. TOYOTA HAS ADMITTED THAT THE NO KEY LOCK TRUNK WAS A DESIGN ERROR AND MY CONCERN WOULD BE FORWARDED TO SOME DEPARTMENT OR OTHER FOR INCLUSION IN THEIR FUTURE DESIGNS? *TR