NHTSA Complaint #11218055 — 2013 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID

WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, THERE IS A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE AS THE RETRACTABLE REAR WINDOW SCREEN TRIES TO GO UP. WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN GEAR THERE IS A DIFFERENT GRINDING NOISE. THE SCREEN HAS FROZEN IN VARIOUS STAGES OF UP OR DOWN, BUT NOW IS STUCK DOWN, OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO RAISE. ACCORDING TO MANY POSTS ONLINE, INCLUDING SOME FROM TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR OVER 10 YEARS. IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AT NIGHT WHEN THE SCREEN HAS BEEN STUCK IN THE UP POSITION AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT. IT IS ALSO A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THE NOISE IS VERY LOUD AND DISTRACTING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERS WHO SAY IT WILL COST $1,600 TO REPLACE, BUT IT WOULD ONLY BE GUARANTEED FOR 1 YEAR. THE FUSE CAN'T BE REMOVED TO DISABLE IT AND STOP THE NOISE BECAUSE IT WILL AFFECT THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE BLINKERS. I WANT THE NOISE SILENCED. TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE THROUGH A WARRANTY EXTENSION OR RECALL.