NHTSA Complaint #11251810 — 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

I PURCHASED A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN APRIL 2017 FROM THE JIM COLEMAN DEALER IN BETHESDA, MARYLAND. SINCE THEN, THIS TERRIBLE DESIGNED CAR IS HURTING ME AND MY FAMILY. IN THE BACK OF THE CAR, THE REAR LIGHT COVERS STICK OUT ABOUT 3 INCHES, THE EDGES ARE AS SHARP AS A KEEN KNIFE (PHOTOS ATTACHED). WHEN I UNLOAD STUFF FROM THE TRUNK, IT OFTEN HURTS ME. I HAVE TRIED TO BE VERY CAREFUL. I ALSO REMINDED MY TEENAGE SON WITH CAUTION. HOWEVER, IT STICKS OUT TOO MUCH AND IS TOO SHARP. IT IS HARD TO AVOID. IT KEEPS HURTING. FOR EXAMPLE, THREE MONTHS AGO, ON AN EVENING IT WAS DARK AND RAINING, AT A COSTCO PARKING LOT, WHEN I UPLOADED GROCERIES ONTO THE CAR, MY RIGHT ARM AND JOINT WERE SUDDENLY HIT BY THIS SHARP CUTTING EDGE OF THE REAR LIGHT COVER. THE KEEN EDGE CUT MY ARM, AND THE STICK OUT PART BADLY HURT MY JOINT (PHOTOS ATTACHED). I COULD NOT RAISE MY ARM. THREE MONTHS HAVE PASSED; HOWEVER, MY JOINT IS STILL PAINING. I WENT TO JIM COLEMAN DEALER AND POINTED OUT THE DANGER PART IN THE REAR. I HAD THEIR MANAGERS AND STAFF TO FEEL BY PUTTING THEIR HANDS ON THE KEEN EDGE. THEY ALL ADMITTED IT IS BAD DESIGN AND EASY TO INJURE PEOPLE. BUT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I ASKED IF THEY COULD REPORT INCIDENTS/CASES TO MANUFACTURERS, AND HAVE IT IMPROVED. THEY SAID THEY SELL CARS ONLY. I RANDOMLY TOOK PHOTOS OF OTHER MADE OF CARS (PHOTOS ATTACHED). NONE OF THEM STICK OUT A KNIFE LIKES HIGHLANDER. IT IS A NIGHTMARE WHEN USING THIS HIGHLANDER DAILY. *JS