NHTSA Complaint #10655040 — 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

TOYOTA CASE #[XXX] THIS IS PART OF A MESSAGE SENT TOYOTA. MY DAUGHTER EXPERIENCED A BURNING SMELL INSIDE HER CAR ON HER WAY HOME FROM WORK. WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF NOTING THE SMELL, HER REAR WINDOW EXPLODED FORCING HER TO PULL OVER AND CALL US FOR ASSISTANCE. WHEN WE ARRIVED WE STARTED THE CAR AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY OF THE BURNING SMELL SHE NOTED SO WE DROVE THE CAR DIRECTLY TO TOYOTA OF HUNTINGTON BEACH FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE WRITER DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DEFROSTER WIRING HAD SHORTED OUT WHICH WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE OVERHEATED THE REAR WINDOW CAUSING THE EXPLOSION. WE AUTHORIZED REPAIRS ACCORDINGLY AND CONFIRMED WE WANTED TO BE CERTAIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS IN GOOD ORDER. WE SUBSEQUENTLY WERE INFORMED BY THE SERVICE WRITER THAT THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM AND WINDOW HAD BEEN REPAIRED AND CHECKED OUT TO BE FUNCTIONAL, WITH THE SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY TURNING OFF WITHIN 15 MINUTES; HOWEVER, IT WAS LEFT TO OUR OPTION TO LEAVE THE SYSTEM DISCONNECTED. ON QUESTIONING WHY, THE WRITER ADVISED THAT HE, NOR THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THE HEAD MECHANIC HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SORT OF MALFUNCTION THOUGH IT WAS THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO LEAVE IT DISCONNECTED. WE AGREED IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY. WE HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED ON VARIOUS WEB BASED BLOGS THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED PRECISELY THE SAME PROBLEM. LINKS WERE SUBMITTED TO TOYOTA. AS DISCUSSED WITH YOUR CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVE, THE COST OF THE REPAIRS WERE AN UNWELCOME SURPRISE, HOWEVER, THE OVERWHELMING CONCERN IS WONDERING IF WE HAVE PLACED OUR DAUGHTER IN A CAR, THAT MAY HAVE INHERENT DESIGN PROBLEMS RENDERING IT UNSAFE FOR HER TRAVELS TO WORK, SCHOOL, AND VACATIONS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR