2005 Scion Xa

THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL CABLE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN THAT HAD "FAILED". THIS IS THE PART THAT CONTROLS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I ASKED IF THE COMPANY (TOYOTA) WOULD ASSIST WITH THE REPLACEMENT, AND WAS TOLD "NO. SOME JUST FAIL. THAT'S PART OF OWNING A CAR." THE PART IS ON ORDER, AND THE REPAIR IS GOING TO COST $530 - $300 FOR THE PART, $100 LABOR AND $130 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. ALL THIS FOR A PART THAT "_FAILED_" THIS HAPPENED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND I WAS _NOT_ IN AN ACCIDENT OF ANY SORT, NOR DID I CONTRIBUTE TO ITS FAILURE. THIS PART _FAILED_- WONDERING IF THE PART IS DEFECTIVE AND WHAT ASSISTANCE TOYOTA WILL GIVE ME. *TR

ON JUNE 15, 2009 I WAS PARKING MY 2005 TOYOTA SCION XA IN MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR ACCELERATED AND THE ENGINE RACED AND TOOK OFF OVER THE BUMPER INTO THE WALL. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR BECAUSE THE BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED. WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES THEY JUST WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. LUCKILY I WAS NOT HURT BUT MY CAR IS A MESS. WHEN I EXPLAINED THE INCIDENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED AND WOULD CHECK OUT THE CAR AFTER THE BODY WORK IS DONE AND THE CAR BECOMES DRIVABLE AGAIN. THANKFULLY I DIDN'T INVOLVE ANY OTHER VEHICLES AND MY GRANDCHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR WITH ME. AFTER READING OF ANOTHER INCIDENT WITH A TOYOTA TC, THAT INCIDENT FAR WORSE THAN MINE, I FELT I NEEDED TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN THAT NOT AND JUST NOT SOMEONE MISTAKING THE GAS PEDAL FOR THE BRAKES. *TR

THE TOYOTA COROLLA SPORT 2005 HAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER. THERE IS A PROLONGED CRANKING PROBLEM AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO TAKE MY CAR BACK AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED ABOUT 6 TIMES AND WHEN I WENT INTO ARBITRATION, I LOST. I HAVE BEEN A TOYOTA CUSTOMER FOR 10 YEARS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE COMPANY AND I WILL NEVER BUY FROM TOYOTA AGAIN BECAUSE THEY DO NOT VALUE VALUED CUSTOMERS. *NM

ON AUGUST 20, 2005 I WAS PARKING MY SCION TC 2005 IN MY DRIVEWAY, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED. THE CAR TOOK OFF AS IF IT WERE POSSESSED. I TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITH MY STEERING WHEEL, AND AVOIDED HITTING MY HOUSE AND MY BASKETBALL POLL. SLAMMING THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK, AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR HIT A TREE IN MY BACKYARD. I SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES, INCLUDING CHEST CONTUSION, AND MULTIPLE FRACTURES IN MY LEFT HAND. MY DAUGHTER CALLED 911, THE POLICE ARRIVED AND I WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE. SINCE THEN I HAD TWO SURGERIES DONE, OF WHICH THE OUTCOME IS PENDING. SINCE I AM AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN I AM UNABLE TO WORK. I HAVE NOTIFIED TOYOTA SCION PERSONNEL AND THEY WILL INSPECT THE CAR WHEN THE CAR IS TAKEN TO A YARD, SINCE THE CAR IS TOTALED. A SIMILAR EPISODE HAD HAPPENED WITH THE SAME CAR INVOLVING MY DAUGHTER WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING. THE CAR SUDDENLY TOOK OFF ON THE BQE, AND HIT THE MEDIAN. AT THE TIME, I DID NOT BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN. I RECOMMEND ALL SCION TC'S TO BE CHECKED OUT FOR SIMILAR DEFECTS; SO THAT INJURIES TO OTHERS AND DEATH CAN BE AVOIDED. *NM