2008 SCION TC Structurebodyhatchbackliftgate Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SCION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK DOOR DUE TO THE BACKDOOR GARNISH ASSEMBLY SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

FIRST, THE RUBBER HATCH RELEASE MELTED & DRIPPED ONTO MY REAR BUMPER. (I SUSPECT THAT FAULTY WIRING OF SOME SORT KEPT THE RELEASE SOMEWHAT ENGAGED, WHICH MELTED THE RUBBER.) THEN THE HATCH LATCH/LOCK WOULD ONLY COMPLETELY RELEASE AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. FINALLY, AFTER UNLOCKING THE HATCH & ENGAGING (I THOUGHT) THE RELEASE, THE ENTIRE PANEL PULLED OFF THE CAR, LEAVING IT DANGLING BY THE WIRING HARNESS. *JS

THE REAR HATCH HANDLE IS PART OF THE A PLASTIC MOLDING GARNISH THAT MATCHES THE COLOR OF THE CAR. THE MOLDING GARNISH THAT HAS THE READ HATCH HANDLE HAD ALL THE PLASTIC CLIPS THAT ATTACH IT TO THE TRUNK BREAK. SO THE PART IS BARLEY STAYING ON THE CAR NOW. I CALLED SCION AND WAS TOLD THAT MOLD AND TRIM PIECES ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND ARE ONLY COVERED FOR THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OR 12000 MILES FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. THIS WAS FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE SCION DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR. AND I BOUGHT THEIR PLATINUM WARRANTY (6 YEARS/100,000 MILES) WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK IN 2007. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS ONLY ABOUT 43,000 MILES AND I HAVE HAD IT JUST ABOUT 4.5 YEARS. *TR