NHTSA Complaint #10929634 — 2006 TOYOTA RAV4

I BOUGHT A 2006 RAV4 OVER THE WEEKEND AND THE UNDERINFLATION LIGHT IS ON. I CHECKED THE 4 TIRES ON THE GROUND AND THEY WERE ALL OK. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE SPARE AND AFTER ABOUT 30-45 MINUTES OF FRUSTRATION, I GAVE UP TRYING TO REMOVE THE COVER. I CALLED SERVICE AND THE TECH SAID, SOMETHING LIKE, "YEAH, THOSE ARE HARD TO GET OFF AND EVEN HARDER TO GET BACK ON." ANYWAY, THIS IS THE COVER WITH THE HARD SHELL AND THE VINYL WITH ELASTIC AROUND THE BACK--IT DOES NOT HAVE THE LATCH. I FINALLY GOT THE VINYL COMPLETELY PULLED TOWARDS THE BACK AND AROUND THE HARD SHELL BUT I YANKED, PULLED AND PRIED AND COULDN'T GET THE HARD SHELL TO BUDGE. IT WAS COLD IN THE GARAGE AND MY HANDS PROBABLY WEREN'T WORKING SO WELL BUT IT SHOULD BE EASIER. THE QUESTION IS: WHAT IF I HAVE A FLAT TIRE WHILE IN HIGHWAY, FIRST OF ALL REMOVING THIS COVER IS NOT EASY AT ALL FOR MEN, WHAT ABOUT WOMEN? ALSO, STOPPING ON THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER FOR LONG TIME TRYING TO REMOVE THIS COVER IS NOT A SAFE OPTION. I SAW ANOTHER RAV4 WITH THE SAME SHAPE OF THIS COVER BUT WITHOUT THIS VINYL. IT'S LIKE A BODY FROM BACK AND THE SHELL CAP OVER IT. THIS ONE TAKES LESS THAN A MINUTE TO REMOVE IT. I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THIS TYPE OF SPARE TIRE COVER AND CHANGE IT WITH THE NEWEST BODY AND SHELL ONE. *TR