2000 Toyota Sienna

I had my car's brake lines replaced at McGee Toyota in Hanover MA on June 20, 2023. On July 19, 2023, my wife and I had just exited the interstate, and were stopping at a grocery store on our way home. I tried to brake upon entering the parking lot and the brake pedal sank to the floor. There was no resistance when I tried pumping the brakes. Fortunately, I was traveling at a slow speed and there were no moving cars in the lot, so I was able to safely stop the car without an accident. I had the car towed to McGee for repairs and the next day was told the catastrophic brake failure was due to a defective part. Since this would likely have had much more serious consequences such as serious injuries or worse if the failure occurred on the exit ramp or at the busy state highway intersection in front of the grocery store, I wanted to report it to be sure it doesn't happen to someone else.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS STARTED, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND MOVED FORWARD WITHOUT SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT BOTH FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL GEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,581.

I LIKE MY TOYOTA SIENNA VAN (2000) SERVING ME FAITHFULLY. LAST WEEK, IT WAS VERY COLD - WITH ALL THE WINTER STORMS. I WARMED UP THE VAN FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN STARTED TO DRIVE. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, I NEED TO PICK UP ANOTHER CHILD FOR CAR POOLING AND WHEN I TRIED TO MAKE A TURN, I APPLIED BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT WORK AT ALL. I GOT SUDDENLY SCARED AND SOMEHOW MANAGED TO TURN IN THE SAME SPEED. THEN I WAS RUNNING VERY SLOWLY (AND PERIODICALLY CHECKING THE BRAKES) UNTIL I FELT CONFIDENT THAT THE BRAKES STARTED WORKING AGAIN. IT WAS A ONE-TIME EVENT SO FAR AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ONLINE POSTINGS (NOT THIS GOV.'T ONE) TO SEE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A FEW PEOPLE EARLIER FOR 2000 MODEL VANS. INTERESTING! I NEED TO BE CAREFUL WHILE APPLYING BRAKES IN COLD WEATHER. THANKS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN ON DRY PAVEMENT ON A RELATIVELY FLAT STREET. I STARTED BRAKING FOR A STOP LIGHT. THE ABS SYSTEM KICKED IN AND WAS MAKING THAT AWFUL PULSING NOISE THAT IT USUALLY MAKES ON ICY ROADS. THEN SUDDENLY THERE WERE NO BRAKES AT ALL. I THINK THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT BRAKE AND RAN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND THEN THE BRAKES WERE WORKING FINE. ON THE DRIVE TO THE REPAIR PLACE THEY WORKED. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *TR