2005 Scion Xb

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SCION XB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LATCH DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED WHILE SHE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE TRUNK. AS A RESULT, THE TRUNK WAS UNABLE TO BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,023.

WHILE OPENING THE REAR HATCH DOOR THE HANDLE SNAPPED AND NO LONGER CAN BE USED TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE ELECTRIC NO LONGER WORKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, I CAN NOT OPEN OR LOCK THESE DOORS. THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS REMAIN ON NO MATTER HOW OFTEN I TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO FIX. THESE PROBLEMS ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AND IT SEEMS THEY CAN NOT REPAIR THESE PROBLEMS. *TR

REAR HATCH OUTSIDE OPENING MECHANISM BROKE AFTER ROUTINE USE. THIS APPEARS TO BE DESIGN FLAW USING FLIMSY PLASTIC DOOR APPARATUS. THIS IS DANGEROUS SITUATION - IT HAS RESULTED IN IMPROPER CLOSING OF REAR HATCH DOOR WHICH CAN CAUSE EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE INSIDE ON THE CAR. THIS COULD ALSO CAUSE OBJECTS TO FALL OUT OF THE REAR OF THE CAR WHILE ON THE ROAD. (ANECDOTAL NOTE: I SEE NUMEROUS SCIONS OF THIS ERA WITH TAPED UP REAR HATCH DOOR HANDLES INDICATING THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

THE TAILGATE "HANDLE" RELEASE BROKE OF IN MY HANDS, WITHOUT EVEN PULLING ON IT, ON MY 2005 TOYOTA SCION XB. I WENT OUT TO PLACE SOMETHING INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR AND WHEN I PINCHED THE RELEASE BUTTON AND LIFTED THE GATE AS I HAVE DONE HUNDREDS OF TIMES, THE HANDLE SNAPPED OFF IN MY HANDS! AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE, MANY HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN MORE THAN ONCE! DEALERSHIPS HAVE EVEN STATED, "IT IS FAULTY PART." HOWEVER, TOYOTA FAILS TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

EARLIER IN 2011 WHILE ACCESSING THE REAR OF MY CAR THROUGH THE HATCH DOOR, MY HATCH HANDLE SNAPPED OFF COMPLETELY. AFTER FURTHER LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC CLIPS BUILT INTO THE HANDLES BROKE. MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IS AWARE OF THE "ISSUE" AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS A "DEFECT" WITH THIS SPECIFIC MAKE AND MODEL CAR. ON TOP OF THAT, I HAVE BOTH SEEN MANY BROKEN HATCH HANDLES WHILE ON THE ROAD, AND READ MANY OTHER INCIDENTS SIMILAR TO MINE ON SEVERAL NOTABLE SCION FORUMS ONLINE. OTHERS REPORT THAT THEIR TOYOTA DEALERS FIXED THE ISSUE, FREE PART, BUT STILL CHARGED UPWARDS OF $100 FOR LABOR. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PROBLEM GET FIXED BY TOYOTA AS IT IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

PLASTIC REAR TAILGATE HANDLE BROKE OFF UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN. APPARENT DESIGN DEFECT WHEREBY HEAVY WEIGHT OF REAR VERTICAL TAILGATE DOOR PLACES STRESS ON TWO PLASTIC CONNECTORS. NO PRACTICAL WAY TO OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE OR OUT. PART ALSO HOUSES REAR LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS AND ELECTRONIC OPENING LATCH CONTROL WHICH BECOMES INOPERABLE. DOZENS OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCES POSTED ON EDMONDS.COM. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX OUT OF WARRANTY PERIOD. AFTER COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA, THEY AGREED TO REIMBURSE FOR PART COST ONLY AS ONE TIME CONCESSION. *TR