NHTSA complaint: 1995 TOYOTA TERCEL — SEATS
CAR REAR-ENDED BY VEHICLE TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 30MPH. CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, INCLUDING FAILURE OF DRIVER'S SEAT WHICH FELL COMPLETELY BACK, EXPOSING DRIVER'S HEAD TO IMPACTED CRASH ZONE. BRACKET ON SEAT WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY (APPARENTLY METAL WAS WEAK AND WARPED OUT OF SHAPE UPON IMPACT) AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED BY BODY SHOP. TOYOTA CANADA WAS INFORMED AND SAID THEY WOULD CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION. ALL PERTINENT DATA WAS PROVIDED FOR THEM. NO ONE EVEN LOOKED AT THE CAR. FINALLY RECEIVED LETTER FROM TOYOTA STATING THAT TOYOTA HAS "UTMOST CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY OF THE SEATS" IN MY CAR! LETTER. ALSO, DOWN PLAYED FACT THAT REPAIR WORK WAS DONE TO FIX FAULTY SEAT BRACKET (EVEN THOUGH I HAVE REPAIR REPORT AVAILABLE). I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT AND TOYOTA HAS NOT BOTHERED TO EXAMINE CAR, REPAIR REPORT ETC..OR CONSIDER A RECALL OF SIMILAR MODELS TO CHECK INTEGRITY OF METAL BRACKET SEAT SUPPORTS! HAD IMPACT BEEN EVEN SLIGHTLY HARDER IN THIS CASE. DRIVER WOULD HAVE SUSTAINED SERIOUS HEAD INJURY OR BEEN KILLED INSTANTLY.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation