While driving down the road my wife noticed the far back vent windows sounded open. She hit the button to close them and the clip that holds the window to the motor actuator let loose and the back of the window immediately started drooping and fell off while driving down the road. The window of course shattered into a million pieces but I was able to find the rear bracket that bolts through the hole in the rear of the window completely intact and not even missing the metal clip. The metal clip slipped off the ball socket and through research we found this is not entirely uncommon. After driving beater cars for 20 years, I have never seen this happen and its totally unacceptable, especially for a 3 year old TOYOTA!
After our local dealership contacted corporate they offered to pay for half of the replacement which is definitely better than nothing but they didn't list the mileage outside the warranty as the issue, but noted I was the 3rd owner and that it had an accident on its record as to why they wouldn't pay the full amount. I'm fairly certain they know this tiny metal clip and ball socket is less than the standards they want their vehicles to stand up to, but its incredibly frustrating that I'm out at least 800 bucks for a 12 cent metal clip that probably isn't strong enough.
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While driving down the road my wife noticed the far back vent windows sounded open. She hit the button to close them and the clip that holds the window to the motor actuator let loose and the back of the window immediately started drooping and fell off while driving down the road. The window of course shattered into a million pieces but I was able to find the rear bracket that bolts through the hole in the rear of the window completely intact and not even missing the metal clip. The metal clip slipped off the ball socket and through research we found this is not entirely uncommon. After driving beater cars for 20 years, I have never seen this happen and its totally unacceptable, especially for a 3 year old TOYOTA!
After our local dealership contacted corporate they offered to pay for half of the replacement which is definitely better than nothing but they didn't list the mileage outside the warranty as the issue, but noted I was the 3rd owner and that it had an accident on its record as to why they wouldn't pay the full amount. I'm fairly certain they know this tiny metal clip and ball socket is less than the standards they want their vehicles to stand up to, but its incredibly frustrating that I'm out at least 800 bucks for a 12 cent metal clip that probably isn't strong enough.
- Daniel N., Palmetto, GA, US