NHTSA Complaint #10663231 — 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FROM MY RESEARCH AND MY DISCUSSION WITH THE DEALER. MY 2010 HIGHLANDER WITH 40K MILES HAS A POWER REAR DOOR. THE HINGES HOLDING THE DOOR ARE SPACED TOO FAR WHICH CAUSES STRESS ON THE MECHANICAL ARM AND BOLT THAT ATTACH TO THE DOOR. MY WIFE WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND PRESSED THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE REAR POWER DOOR WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD "POP". THE BOLT ATTACHING THE "ARM" TO THE DOOR STRIPPED AND CAME OUT OF THE DOOR. THE DEALER SAID MY FULL COVERAGE "BUMPER TO BUMPER" WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS AND GAVE ME THE PHONE NUMBER TO TOYOTA. I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA AND THEY INVESTIGATED THE ISSUE WITH THE DEALER. TOYOTA CAME BACK AND OFFERED TO SPLIT THE COST 50%. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE IN MY OPINION AS IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING ISSUE AS WELL AS A SAFETY CONCERN. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN BEHIND THE VEHICLE AND PRESSED THE POWER DOOR BUTTON, SHE COULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK IN THE FACE WITH THE METAL BAR WHEN IT PULLED ITSELF OUT OF THE DOOR. TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO WENT THE EXTRA STEP AND PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH THEM. THIS SHOULD BE BEYOND THE STANDARD 3 YEAR 36K WARRANTY AND ABOVE THAT, SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE. *TR