NHTSA Complaint #11254003 — 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH I HIT A PIECE OF WOOD ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 72 MPH. THE WOOD WAS THE SIZE OF A TYPICAL PIECE OF FIREWOOD. MY TIRE INSTANTLY WENT FLAT AND I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. UPON INSPECTION, I SAW THAT THE RIM BROKE INTO TWO PIECES. ESSENTIALLY, WHILE I WAS PULLING OVER, I WAS DRIVING ON A 1/4" LIP OF BROKEN WHEEL RIM. I WAS SHOCKED THAT THIS COULD EVEN HAPPEN. THIS IS REMARKABLY DANGEROUS AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SOMETHING MUCH MORE HARMFUL THAN A FLAT TIRE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MATERIAL THIS RIM IS MADE OF. DOES TOYOTA BELIEVE IT BROKE BY DESIGN OR THAT FAULTY MATERIALS WERE USED? HOW MANY OTHER INSTANCES LIKE THIS HAVE BEEN REPORTED?