NHTSA Complaint #11176212 — 2014 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 0278-17I WAS ISSUED REGARDING THE AUTOMATIC RUNNING BOARDS. THE BULLETIN INDICATED THAT THE RUNNING BOARDS MAY FULLY DEPLOY, BUT THEN RETRACT WHEN STEPPED ON OR RETRACT ON THEIR OWN. THE FAILURE WAS IDENTIFIED ON THE RUNNING BOARD'S COMPUTER SENSOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT, DUE TO THE SENSOR, THE RUNNING BOARDS WOULD RETRACT BEFORE THEY WERE EVEN ACCESSED. THE CONTACT CALLED HERB CHAMBERS TOYOTA OF BOSTON (32 BRIGHTON AVE, BOSTON, MA 02134, (617) 787-1700) TO INQUIRE IF THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INSPECTOR TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADMITTED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE BACK WITHIN A YEAR IF HE HAD THE RUNNING BOARDS REPLACED WITH NEW ONES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DESIGN WAS FAULTY AND THE RUNNING BOARDS WERE TOO EXPOSED TO THE WEATHER ELEMENTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.