NHTSA Complaint #10641826 — 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY

IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR I NOTICED AN AREA ON THE DASHBOARD. THINKING SOMEONE HAD SPILLED SOMETHING, I ATTEMPTED TO WIPE IT AND THE CLOTH LITERALLY STUCK TO THE DASHBOARD. IT WAS GOOEY. OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS IT GOT WORSE AND MORE WIDESPREAD TO NOW BE ALL THE DASHBOARD AREA. I AM FINDING OUT THAT THIS ISSUE IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE COMMON. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THE DASHBOARD AND REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT IN THE VEHICLE. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THE SHINY STICKY MATERIAL REFLECTS SUNLIGHT BACK INTO THE EYES OF THE DRIVER. ADDITIONALLY, KEEPING THE CAR CLEAN IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT BECAUSE EVERYTHING STICKS TO IT AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT THERE ARE SPOTS WHERE THE DARK MATERIAL OF THE DASHBOARD SURFACE HAS COME OFF AND THE SURFACE BENEATH IS NOW SHOWING. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THE ISSUE IN 2011 BUT I WAS NEVER CONTACTED AS THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER/DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, SO TOYOTA WILL NEVER BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING AND CUTTING CORNERS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND ENSURE THAT FOR THE GOOD OF THE PUBLIC AND THE SAFETY OF CONSUMERS PURCHASING THESE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES A RECALL IS ENACTED. *TR