2019 Toyota RAV4

AFTER PERIODS OF RAIN, SNOWMELTING ON THE CAR, OR GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH, WATER ENTERS VIA THE ROOF RACK AREA,POTENTIALLY EXPOSING THE AIRBAGS TO WATER. THE WATER CAUSED STAINING ON THE HEADLINER ALL OVER (A. B, C PILLARS). THE CURTAIN AIRBAGS FOR THE FRONT AND BACK SEAT WERE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE AREA SATURATED BY WATER. I TOOKTHE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT, AND THEY REPLACED THE HEADLINER AND ROOF RACK HARDWARE AFTER CONFIRMING THERE WAS A LEAK (3/4/21). AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE, A FEW WEEKS PASSED WHERE THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO RAIN TO VERIFY THE LEAKWAS ACTUALLY FIXED. YESTERDAY, (3/26/21) IT RAINED. I WENT TO INSPECT THE HEADLINER, AND THE PASSENGER CURTAIN AIRBAG ON THE A PILLARWAS SURROUNDED BY WETNESS. THIS POSES A RISK TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE AIRBAGS. PLEASE NOTE, NO MODIFICATIONS WERE MADE TO THE CAR- THE ROOF RACKS ARE THE OEM TOYOTA LOW PROFILE (FACTORY INSTALLED). THIS OCCURS (FROM WHAT I CAN TELL) WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY. IN THIS CASE, MY DRIVEWAY.

I AM UNABLE TO LOCK THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR. INTERNAL CONTROLS, REMOTE CONTROLS, AND THE MANUAL KEY FAIL. IT WILL OPEN AND CLOSE (LATCH), BUT CAN BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, WHETHER PARKED OR RUNNING. I HAVE NOT TRIED TO OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE WHEN IN MOTION. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LOCK, THE MECHANICAL INDICATOR BY THE DOOR HANDLE MOVES FROM UNLOCKED TO LOCKED TO UNLOCKED TO LOCKED RAPIDLY AND WITH A HARSH RATTLE NOISE.

ON MARCH 14, 2020, AND AT 12:30 PM, I CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF A PARKED SMALL SUBARU SUV ON MY PRIVATE COMMUNITY STREET, WHICH WAS AT LOW-SPEED (10 MPH) BUT THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS BADLY DAMAGED AND COST ME ABOUT $17,000 TO FIX IT! WHILE NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE OTHER VEHICLE EXCEPT SOME MINOR SCRATCHES ON ITS FRONT BUMPER! ALSO, MY LEFT LEG WAS INJURED BECAUSE OF THE HARMFUL KNEE AIRBAG, AND GOD KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME IF THE ACCIDENT WAS AT A HIGHER SPEED, OR ON THE FREEWAY? OR WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME IF ANOTHER ACCIDENT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE AT A HIGHER SPEED, OR ON THE FREEWAY? SO, I SENT A COMPLAINT LETTER TO TOYOTA AND ASKED THEM TO RETURN THE CAR AND CANCEL MY CONTRACT WITH TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES. BUT THEY DENIED MY COMPLAINT AND SAID THAT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THE CONCERN IS THE RESULT OF A DEFECT IN MATERIALS OR WORKMANSHIP! WHILE I HAD TOLD THEM THAT MY COMPLAINT AND CONCERN IS ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES AND THAT VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE AT ALL, BECAUSE THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE IS VERY WEAK AND CANNOT SAVE MY LIFE IF ANOTHER ACCIDENT IS LIKELY TO OCCUR IN THE FUTURE AT A HIGHER SPEED, OR ON THE FREEWAY. AND AFTER THAT ACCIDENT, I CANNOT TRUST MY CAR ANYMORE, BUT THEY JUST IGNORED ME! I STILL CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A MINOR ACCIDENT CAN CAUSE THAT MUCH DAMAGE TO MY CAR, WHILE THE CAR I CRASHED INTO WAS NOT DAMAGED AT ALL! THE PICTURES OF THE CARS AND MY INJURED LEG ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

WATER STAINS ON THE INTERIOR HEADLINER WHERE THE PLASTIC A-PILLAR COVER MEETS THE ROOF. THIS APPEARS ON BOTH SIDE OF THE CAR. THE WATER LEAKS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR NOT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THERE IS A LOT OF ELECTRONIC WIRES / CONNECTORS / SIDE AIRBAGS AND DRIVER DASH PANEL AND THEY ALL GET WET AND APPEAR THEY GET CORRODED THUS IMPAIRING FUNCTION OF THE CAR AND CREATE DANGER OR UNEXPECTED BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR. THE ISSUE APPEARS TO BE A PIN THAT MOUNTS THE ROOF RAILS TO THE BODY OF THE CAR. WATER WILL LEAK INSIDE THE CAR AFTER RAIN OR CAR WASH. THE ISSUE APPEARS WHEN CAR IS STATIONARY AND WHILE IN MOTION BUT DURING MOVEMENT WATER LEAKS FASTER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OBSTRUCTION REFLECTING OFF THE DASHBOARD ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR. CHEROKEE COUNTY TOYOTA (301 LIBERTY BLVD, CANTON, GA 30114, (770) 704-9525) WAS CONTACTED AND SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT TRY TO GET USED TO THE REFLECTION ISSUE. THE DEALER TRIED TO GET THE CONTACT TO SWITCH TO A CAMRY, BUT SHE REFUSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER AND A CASE MANAGER. THE MANUFACTURER PROMISED A CALL BACK AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT, BUT IT WAS NOT KEPT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48. *JS