NHTSA Complaint #11084968 — 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY

APRIL 13, 2018 MY 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY ENTIRE OVERHEAD CENTER ROOF CONSOLE BOX ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS REQUIRED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT EXPOSURE CAUSING WARPING, CRACKING AND MELTING OF THE SMALL GREY PLASTIC FACING THAT HOUSES THE SMALL BLACK BUTTONS: 3 GARAGE DOOR BUTTONS, TWO INTERIOR INSIDE LIGHT BUTTONS FLANKED BY THE OPEN / CLOSE AND UP / DOWN BUTTONS. THIS WAS NEVER A PROBLEM IN ANY EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED AS A NEW CAR UNTIL APRIL 10, 2018. THE ISSUE OCCURRED DURING HOT WHETHER WHERE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN AN OPEN RESIDENTIAL LOT WITH AND WITHOUT A SUN SCREEN VISOR. THE TOYOTA DEALER INSPECTED THE ASSEMBLY AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT ABLE TO DETECT AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER SAID THIS SAME ISSUE OCCURRED IN 2 TO 3 OTHER TOYOTA CAMRYS AT THAT DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS / WAS THAT THE HEAT WAS SO INTENSE THAT THE PLASTIC FRAMING ABOUT 3' BY 5' WAS ACTUALLY MALLEABLE TO THE POINT THAT I COULD STRAIGHTEN OUT THE DEFORMED PIECES AND PUSH THE FRAME BACK INTO POSITION TO HOLD IN PLACE UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT OVERHEATED AND FEEL OUT OF PLACE. THE CAR IS NOT UNDER EXTENDED WARRANT. BUT THE SAFETY CONCERN IS ABOUT SOME UNKNOWN CAUSE OF OVERHEATING THAT APPEARS TO BE FAR MORE THAN HOT WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY ENTIRE OVERHEAD CENTER ROOF CONSOLE BOX ASSEMBLY PART NO. IS 63650-06432-B0. I PAID $223.90 FOR THE PART AND INSTALLATION OF THE FULL ASSEMBLY. NO WARRANTY OR GUARANTY IS OFFERED BY TOYOTA ON THE NEW INSTALLATION SHOULD THIS REOCCUR ANY TIME SOON. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE ARE / HAVE BEEN RECALLS FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON TOYOTA FORERUNNERS BUT NOT ON 2013 CAMRYS. I BELIEVE THAT A POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL RECALL SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR SAFETY REASONS. SEE 5 ATTACHMENTS