NHTSA Complaint #724096 — 2000 TOYOTA ECHO

DRIVER WAS TRAVELING ON ROUTE 1 AT ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR AND ENTERED A SWEEPING CURVE AT 2:00 AM IN STAFFORD, VIRGINIA. THE DRIVER WAS RETURNING HOME FROM WORK AT WALMART. THE ROAD WAS WET DUE TO RECENT HEAVY RAINFALL. UPON ENTERING THE CURVE THE REAREND OF THE ECHO LURCHED WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE REAR OF THE CAR TO SLAM AGAINST THE METAL GUARDRAIL AND TURNOVER ONTO ITS TOP. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS (BOTH SHOULDER AND LAP BELTS). THE STATE POLICE INVESTIGATED AND DID NOT CITE DRIVER SINCE THE DRIVER WAS NOT SPEEDING AND IN FACT WAS DRIVING LESS THAN THE RECOMMENDED SPEED DUE TO WET ROADS. THE DRIVER RECEIVED SEVERAL DEEP LACERATIONS NEAR THE RIGHT EYE WHICH REQUIRED STITCHES AND WILL REQUIRE PLASTIC SURGERY, ACCORDING TO THE ER DOCTOR AT MARY WASHINGTON HOSPITAL. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE A HIDDEN HANDLING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR THAT HAS NOT COME TO LIGHT DUE TO THE NEWNESS OF THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. ALSO, WHEN THE REAREND OF THE CAR LOST TRACTION AND SLAMMED INTO THE METAL SIDE BARRIER OF THE ROAD, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY (MAYBE IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO). BOTTOM LINE: THE CAR LOST TRACTION WHEN THE REAR OF THE CAR VIOLENTLY SWUNG OUT DESPITE THE DRIVER TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED WHICH MIGHT INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. *AK