2008 TOYOTA RAV4 Seats Problems

MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. ALL RECALLS HAVE BEEN FIXED AND THEN I STARTED HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE OCCUPATION DETECTOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT IS NOT REGISTERING THAT THERE IS AN OCCUPANT OVER 1/2 THE TIME. SINCE THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR (ABOUT 500$) I TAKE IT TO HEART KNOWING MY VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE AT ALL TIMES. I DO HAVE 2 CHILDREN AND THIS IS OUR PRIMARY FAMILY VEHICLE. I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A PART THAT AN OWNER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. EVERY NOW AND THEN IT WILL FUNCTION BUT IT'S BEEN ON SOLID FOR OVER TWO WEEKS. HENCE MY EMAIL.

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK FRAME WASN'T PROPERLY CLOSED OUT WHICH RESULTED IN THE DEGRADATION OF PADDING AND EVENTUAL CUTTING THROUGH OF THE SEAT COVER FABRIC OVER THE COURSE OF TIME. THE FRAME HAS A SHARP EDGE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ROUNDED OR COVERED IN A MANNER SO AS NOT TO CUT INTO THE PADDING. AT THIS POINT THE FRAME HAS CUT THROUGH A PORTION OF THE FABRIC AND IS CUTTING INTO THE DRIVER. THE PRIMARY SAFETY CONCERN IS THE SHARP FRAME COULD CAUSE INJURY TO THE DRIVER (ESPECIALLY IF THE VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED IN AN OFF-CENTER, DRIVER SIDE IMPACT) BY CUTTING INTO THE DRIVER'S BACK. PER DISCUSSION WITH THEIR CUSTOMER HOTLINE TODAY, TOYOTA WILL NOT ASSIST IN THE REPAIR OF THE SEAT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEATS BECAME WORN, FRAYED AND DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE DAMAGED REAR SEATS AT NO EXPENSE TO THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

THIS IS MY EFFORT TO SUBMIT A COMMENT ON YOUR REGULATIONS, NOT A COMPLAINT OF AN INCIDENT. I WAS DIRECTED TO THIS FORM BY LOU MOLINA AT NHTSA. I AM A DRIVER WHO FOR HEALTH REASONS WISHES TO SIT ERECT. I AM NOT FAT, AND OF NORMAL HEIGHT (5'6"). THIS LAST WEEKEND I PURCHASED A RAV4. THE HEADRESTS INTRUDE INTOLERABLY INTO MY HEAD SPACE. IN ORDER TO SIT AT MY PREFERRED ANGLE AND KEEP MY BACK TO THE SEATBACK, MY HEAD IS TILTED DOWN SO THAT I MUST RAISE MY EYES TO LOOK OVER MY EYEGLASSES, OR MY STRAIGHT VISION IS DIRECTED TO THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I TRUST THAT THESE HEADRESTS MEET YOUR STANDARDS. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT YOU HAVE ENGINEERED THIS STANDARD FOR AN OBESE, FAT-SHOULDERED PERSON WITH TIGHT HAMSTRINGS, SOMEONE WHO PREFERS TO DRIVE RECLINED TO ACCOMMODATE HIS BELLY AND IS HELD AWAY FROM...