NHTSA Complaint #11398540 — 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA

IN THE MIDDLE OF FEB 2021 THE DRIVER'S SIDE (FACTORY) SEAT HEATER STOPPED HEATING. THE SEAT HEATER BUTTON STILL OPERATED NORMALLY WITH REGARD TO LIGHTS, ETC. I REMOVED THE SEAT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE CONNECTOR BETWEEN THE SEAT HEATER WIRING HARNESS AND THE SEAT HEATER AMPLIFIER HAD ELECTRICALLY ARCED (RED WIRE) AND MELTED THE CONNECTOR TOGETHER. (NOTE: THE PASSENGER SIDE HEATER IS UNAFFECTED. ALSO NOTE: THE FUSE FOR THIS CIRCUIT DID NOT BURN UP AS IT SHOULD HAVE WHEN THE CURRENT SURGED CAUSING THE MELTED CONNECTOR.) UPON DOING RESEARCH THIS IS APPARENTLY NOT AN UNHEARD OF PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR/MODEL TACOMA. I HAVE UPLOADED PHOTOS. THERE ARE THREE ISSUES HERE: 1) A CLEAR DESIGN FLAW, 2) THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE, AND 3) IT LIKELY AFFECTS THE ENTIRE FLEET OF TACOMAS IN THIS YEAR RANGE. MY BELIEF IS THAT THIS RISES TO THE LEVEL OF A RECALL AND HAVE TALKED TO BOTH THE DEALER AND CORPORATE ABOUT IT. TOYOTA HAS AGREED TO PAY HALF THE COST OF REPAIRS, AND I HAVE AGREED TO THIS, (ALTHOUGH THEY ALSO CLAIM TO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE). TOYOTA CASE #: 2103011304