NHTSA Complaint #10855491 — 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WINDOW HAS BROKEN. THE BREAK IS IN THE GLASS DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT IN HOW THE POWER WINDOW LIFT TRACK ATTACHES TO THE GLASS. THE WINDOW IS DESIGNED WITH TABS THAT FIT INTO THE LIFT MECHANISM. EACH TIME THE WINDOW BREAKS, IT IS THE TAB THAT IS SNAPPING OFF ON ONE SIDE OF THE WINDOW. THIS CAUSES THE WINDOW TO NOT BE OPERATIONAL. IF YOU ATTEMPT TO LOWER THE WINDOW, SINCE IT'S NOT SUPPORTED FULLY BY THE TRACK, IT WILL ANGLE OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND IF YOU CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE OPEN FUNCTION IT WOULD SNAP THE WINDOW. TOYOTA REIMBURSED ME FOR THE 1ST OCCURRENCE AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW WINDOW. NOW IT'S HAPPENED A 2ND TIME. IT WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ANYONE NEEDING TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY IF THE WINDOW CAN NOT BE ROLLED DOWN. THE WINDOW HAS NOT YET BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS OVER 45 DEGREES WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE 2ND TIME.