{"count":1,"message":"Results returned successfully","results":[{"odiNumber":10645047,"manufacturer":"Toyota Motor Corporation","crash":true,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"12/24/2011","dateComplaintFiled":"10/16/2014","vin":"JTMBD33V575","components":"SUSPENSION","summary":"WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, THE REAR TIE ROD (SUSPENSION ARM) ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF OUR RAV4 SUDDENLY FAILED, CAUSING THE CAR TO SWERVE WILDLY OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASH INTO A CONCRETE DIVIDER.  AFTER THE CAR CAME TO A STOP, THE AFFECTED WHEEL WAS FOUND TO BE TILTED ON AN ANGLE.  THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A MECHANICAL PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE FAILURE.  THE RAV4 HAD 62,422 MILES AT THE TIME.  THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 24, 2011 - PRIOR TO THE RELATED RECALLS 12V373000 (C0J) AND 13V383000 (CSJ).  I WROTE TO TOYOTA EXECUTIVES IN JANUARY 2012.  MY LETTER DESCRIBED OUR INCIDENT, AND I INCLUDED THREE SIMILAR REPORTS FROM OTHER DRIVERS FROM THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND AN INTERNET SEARCH.  I WAS PUT IN CONTACT WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM TOYOTA EXECUTIVE OFFICES.  I MAILED THE FAILED PART TO TOYOTA U.S.A. HEADQUARTERS IN FEBRUARY 2012 AFTER TAKING PHOTOS TO DOCUMENT THE PROBLEM.  CORROSION WAS HIDDEN WITHIN THE TUBE OF THE SUSPENSION ARM.  THE THREADS ON THE TIE ROD END HAD CORRODED, SO ONE PIECE COULD BE PULLED STRAIGHT OUT FROM THE OTHER PART WITHOUT HAVING TO UNSCREW IT.  THE LOWER PART OF THE BOLT OR TIE ROD END WAS ALSO FRACTURED DUE TO THE CORROSION.  AFTER FOLLOWING UP WITH TOYOTA EXECUTIVE OFFICES, I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS ISSUE WAS ALREADY KNOWN TO THEM, AND RESULTED FROM IMPROPER TORQUE APPLIED DURING A WHEEL ALIGNMENT.  MY CAR PREVIOUSLY HAD A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AT AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER.  TOYOTA OFFICIALLY STARTED THE RECALL PROCESS WITH THE NHTSA ABOUT A HALF YEAR LATER.  TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE TAKEN STEPS MUCH EARLIER TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF THIS VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE!  A DOCUMENT ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE INDICATES TOYOTA STARTED AN INITIAL INVESTIGATION IN 2008.  BASED ON OTHER RECALL-RELATED DOCUMENTS, IT IS SCARY THAT THERE APPEAR TO BE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF INVOLVED VEHICLES THAT HAVE YET TO BE INSPECTED.  UPDATED 12/03/14. *JB  UPDATED 01/26/15.*JB  UPDATED 01/27/15*JB  THE CONSUMERS CLAIM WAS DENIED, BECAUSE TOYOTA DID NOT GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS HIS CONCERN OR CONFIRM IF THE INCIDENT WAS A RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. UPDATED 02/24/15  UPDATED 05/11/15.  UPDATED 06/03/15. *JB  UPDATED 08/06/15*JB","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2007","productMake":"TOYOTA","productModel":"RAV4","manufacturer":"Toyota Motor Corporation"}]}]}