NHTSA Complaint #745472 — 1997 TOYOTA AVALON

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN A RAIN STORM WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE AUTO WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA DIRECT, THE CLOSEST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS WIPER TRANSMISSION BROKEN AND THE SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE THE WIPER TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS EXPLAINED TO ACTUALLY BE A LINKAGE ASSEMBLY. THE REPAIR COST (INCLUDING TWO NEW WIPER INSERTS) WAS $295.05. THIS WAS $182.65 FOR PARTS (LINKAGE $171.77, WIPER INSERTS @ $5.44 EACH), LABOR-MECHANICAL - $88.04, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS - $4.40, SHOP SUPPLIES - $4.40, AND SALES TAX OF $15.56. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE AND NOT COVERED BY THE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE PURCHASED AT TIME AUTO WAS PURCHASED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ELECTRICAL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. WIPERS SHOULD NOT BE FAILING LIKE THIS ON A NEW OR RECENT MODEL AUTO. THESE WIPERS GAVE NO WARNING OF THE PROBLEM. THE STOPPAGE WAS SUDDEN AND ABRUPT AT A TIME WHEN THEY WERE MOST NEEDED.*AK