NHTSA Complaint #10702944 — 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

THE TAILGATE MOTOR UNEXPECTEDLY MALFUNCTIONED AND CLOSED THE DOOR IN AN UNBALANCED WAY CAUSING THE BREAKING OF THE TAILGATE HINGES / ARMS. THE TAILGATE STOPPED / FROZE AND REMAINED AJAR ABOUT 1 INCH ON RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DOOR AND LATCHING ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE DOOR. THE DOOR WOULD NOT MANUALLY OR ELECTRONICALLY OPEN BACK UP. HAD TO HAVE THE DOOR PHYSICALLY REMOVED BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED ENTIRE TAILGATE HATCH, MOTOR AND HINGES. COSTING ME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $5,000 FOR PARTS, LABOR, AND A RENTAL CAR FOR 12 DAYS TO REPAIR AS MY INSURANCE WITH PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE DECLINED COVERAGE UNDER MY COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE AS THEY RELATED BACK TO WEAR AND TEAR. POTENTIAL SEVERE CRUSHING INJURY OR FATALITY COULD HAVE RESULTED FROM WHAT OCCURRED. SINCE THE DOOR CONTINUED TO CLOSE AFTER MALFUNCTIONING AND FROZE IN PLACE (UNABLE TO PHYSICALLY OPEN), HAD SOMEONE'S HAND OR BODY PART BEEN CAUGHT UNDER COULD HAVE RESULTED IN BEING CAUGHT / TRAPPED BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE LATCHING AREA. QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED. ALL SHOWING SIMILAR COST ASSOCIATED WITH REPAIR AND ALL WITH THE SAME LIFE ALTERING OR SEVERE INJURY CONSEQUENCE. WOULD LIKE TO GET TOYOTA TO RECALL THE HIGHLANDER AND FIX THE FAULTY MOTOR BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR WORSE, KILLED BY THIS DEFAULT