NHTSA Complaint #10967090 — 2007 TOYOTA RAV4

THERE HAVE BEEN TWO SAFETY RECALLS ON THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS OF 2006 TO 2011 TOYOTA RAV 4S. I HAD BOTH RECALL REMEDY PROCEDURES PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE. THE SECOND RECALL REMEDY INVOLVED SEALING THE ADJUSTABLE SUSPENSION ARMS WITH AN EPOXY WHICH MAKES THEM NON-ADJUSTABLE IN THE FUTURE. I HAD THIS PERFORMED 6/4/14. THIS REMEDY ALSO RENDERS THE REAR WHEELS UNABLE TO BE ALIGNED. THEREFORE, IF THE REAR WHEELS GO OUT OF ALIGNMENT, THE REAR SUSPENSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. SO INSTEAD OF A $60 ALIGNMENT CHARGE, THE CUSTOMER IS NOW SUBJECT TO A $480 REPLACEMENT CHARGE EVERY TIME THEIR CAR NEEDS REALIGNMENT. I PUT NEW TIRES ON MY CAR ON 12/19/2014. ON 1/1/17, MY MECHANIC NOTICED OUTER EDGE TIRE WEAR ON BOTH REAR TIRES SUGGESTING AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE. ON 1/18/17, SEARS CONFIRMED ONLY REAR WHEELS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. ON 1/27/17, LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER CONFIRMED REAR WHEELS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND SAID $480 REPLACEMENT OF REAR SUSPENSION ARMS WAS ONLY SOLUTION. THE LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY NEW THERE WOULD BE PROBLEMS WHEN THIS RECALL REMEDY WAS PUT INTO PLACE BY TOYOTA. MY REAR TIRES WERE RUINED AT 24,000 MILES. I ASKED TOYOTA TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT (CASE NO. 1701201908). THEY REFUSED AND SAID IT WAS A DECISION MADE AT THE US REGIONAL MANAGER LEVEL THAT WAS ACCEPTED BY TOYOTA NATIONAL. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AND THE REAR SUSPENSION ARMS. I OPTED FOR AFTER MARKET ADJUSTABLE REAR ARMS AT A COST OF $222 PLUS ALIGNMENT. I ASSUME I AM NOW AT MORE RISK ON THE HIGHWAY. TOYOTA FORCED THIS DECISION BY PROVIDING A NON-ADJUSTABLE SOLUTION FOR A FAULTY ADJUSTABLE PART. THEIR DECISION NOW COSTS CUSTOMERS $480 EVERY TIME THEY NEED A $60 ALIGNMENT. MY CAR WAS DRIVEN ONLY ON NORMAL PAVED ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. THIS IS UNFAIR TO CUSTOMERS AND PLACES CUSTOMERS LIKE ME A HIGHER RISK IF THEY ARE UNWILLING TO PAY THE REPLACEMENT COST. I ALSO CALLED NHTSA AND STARTED COMPLAINT (REF. 1063186, BEAU).