NHTSA complaint #11668583

Owner complaint summary

FORWARD FACING RADAR SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. IF VEHICLE IS PARKED IN THE SUN AND WINDSHIELD IS HOT THE FORWARD FACING RADAR IS OVERHEATED AND WHEN YOU START THE VEHICLE THE SAFETY SYSTEM FAIL TO BOOT UP. IF THIS ISN'T ENOUGH OF A SAFETY CONCERN THE ERROR MESSAGES OBSTRUCT YOUR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SCREEN SO YOU CAN NOT SEE IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE YOUR SPEEDOMETER. YOU CAN CANCEL THE WARNING BUT WITH IN A FEW SECONDS IT REAPPEARS AND OBSTRUCTS YOUR VIEW. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR SAFETY BULLETINS ON IT FROM TOYOTA CORP AND NO KNOWN FIX. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST UNTIL TOYOTA MOVED FORWARD RADAR FROM GRILL AREA AND PLACED IT INSIDE WINDSHIELD TOP CENTER. IF I MANUALLY COOL THE AREA WITH COLD WATER OR PROLONGED FAN BLOWING ON THE AREA I CAN RESTART AND SAFETY SYSTEM BOOTS UP FINE. THIS CONTINUALLY HAPPENS OVER SEVERAL YEARS, AND YET STILL NO RECALL. SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS ON TOYOTA'S FORUM ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE. YET NEITHER TOYOTA OR NHTSA ARE ADDRESSING IT. LETS RECALL AND FIX THIS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES AS A RESULT OF THE SAFETY SYSTEM MALFUNCTION OR THE WARNING MESSAGE OBSTRUCTING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.