2005 Scion Tc Recalls

ODI'S INVESTIGATION DISCLOSES THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES SUSTAIN MOONROOF SHATTERING AND/OR DAMAGE AT RATES COMPARABLE TO THOSE FOR MOST OTHER SIMILARLY EQUIPPED VEHICLES.THIS REVIEW ALSO DISCLOSES THAT SUCH INCIDENTS OCCUR IN MOST VEHICLES WITH MOONROOFS AND THAT WHILE TEMPERED GLASS PANELS COMMONLY USED IN MOONROOF FABRICATION ARE SHATTER-RESISTANT, SOME CATASTROPHIC FAILURES DO IN FACT OCCUR.IMPACT WITH SMALL STONES OR ROAD DEBRIS MAY RESULT IN IMMEDIATE OR DELAYED SHATTER INCIDENTS, DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF DAMAGE SUSTAINED BY THE GLASS MOONROOF PANEL.THE MANUFACTURER CONCLUDES THAT INCIDENTS OF MOONROOF SHATTER ARE RANDOM OCCURRENCES THAT RESULT PRIMARILY FROM IMPACT WITH SMALL STONES OR OTHER OBJECTS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AND THIS PE HAS BEEN CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA BY LETTER DATED OCTOBER 17, 2005, THAT A SAFETY RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED.NHTSA HAS ASSIGNED NO.05V-483 TO THE RECALL.THE CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL CONSIST OF INSTALLING A PLASTIC FILM TO THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE WIND DEFLECTOR GLASS.THE CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL BE PERFORMED ON APPROXIMATELY 71,400 MY 2005 AND 2006 SCION TC VEHICLES MANUFACTURED DURING THE PERIOD OF MARCH 12, 2004 THROUGH JULY 21, 2005. BASED ON THIS ACTION, THE SUBJECT EA HAS BEEN CLOSED.

THE MANUFACTURER STATES THAT THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS OF DEFICIENCIES IN THE DESIGN, MANUFACTURE, OR ASSEMBLY OF THE WIND DEFLECTOR THAT MAY ACCOUNT FOR THE INCIDENTS REPORTED.THE MANUFACTURER ALSO BELIEVES THAT IMPACT OF AIRBORNE ROAD DEBRIS WITH THE WIND DEFLECTOR IS THE PROBABLE CAUSE FOR THE INCIDENTS REPORTED.ODI'S ANALYSES OF THE WARRANTY DATA INDICATE THAT INCIDENTS OF WIND DEFLECTOR BREAKAGE WHILE DRIVING WILL CONTINUE TO OCCUR OVER TIME, AS THE POPULATION AND ON-ROAD EXPOSURE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES INCREASE.THE EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT REGARDLESS OF THE CAUSE FOR SUCH BREAKAGE, THE BROKEN GLASS PARTICLES AND FRAGMENTS MAY FALL DIRECTLY ONTO THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS OF THESE VEHICLES.THESE OCCURRENCES MAY POSE A RISK OF DRIVER DISTRACTION AND PERSONAL INJURY.THIS PE HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA05-013) TO FURTHER ASSESS THIS MATTER.