2001 Toyota Sienna

[THIS INCIDENT HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED TO TOYOTA - CASE # [XXX].] I EXITED PARKING LOT AND TURNED LEFT TO TRAVEL NORTH ON TWO-LANE STREET AT 5 PM. IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENTERING THE LANE, MY CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, AND IT WAS STUCK IN POSITION. I TAPPED THE PEDAL, AT WHICH POINT THE PEDAL LOCKED IN THE DOWN POSITION, AND THE CAR RACED FORWARD, WITH TIRES SCREECHING. I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKES AND PUT IN CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AT 5000-6000 RPM WHILE I PULLED OFF TO THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT. AFTER PUTTING THE SHIFT INTO PARK, I REACHED DOWN WITH MY HAND, NOTED THERE WAS NO CARPET INTERFERING WITH THE PEDAL, YET IT WAS STUCK IN THE DOWNWARD POSITION. I PULLED BACK A FEW TIMES AND WAS ABLE TO FREE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MOVEMENT, AT WHICH POINT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO IDLE. I TESTED THE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE RESUMING MY ROUTE. AT MY FIRST LEFT TURN AFTER THE ACCELERATION INCIDENT, I NOTED THAT THE CAR HAD NO POWER STEERING, AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO TURN THE CAR A SHARP 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE REMAINDER OF MY RIDE HOME, THE CAR HAD NO POWER STEERING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 4/19/2016*JS

ON 8/18/05 MORNING THE SHIFTER LEVER BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BROKEN LOOSE THAT I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE GEARS. THEN I BROUGHT MY VAN TO STEVENS CREEK TOYOTA (SAN JOSE, CA) WHERE I BOUGHT THE SIENNA VAN FOR REPAIR. AFTER THE TOYOTA TECHNICIAN OPENED UP FOR INSPECTION, I LATER WENT THERE TO TOOK SOME PHOTOS OF THE CONDITIONS, I FOUND OUT THAT THE MAIN CAUSE FOR THE MALFUNCTION OF THE SHIFTER WAS A BIG PIECE OF CAST IRON (APPROX. 1/2" THICK) THAT SERVES AS A MAIN FRAME OR BRACKET FOR ALL OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPORT OF THEIR MOVING MECHANISM BROKE IN HALF ( HAVE PHOTOS TO PROVE IT) LITERALLY. SINCE IT APPEARS AS A "DEFECTIVE PART" OF THE SHIFTER AND NOT A "WEAR & TEAR" CONDITION, I 'VE REQUESTED TOYOTA CORP. (BOTH LOCAL & HEADQUARTES) TO REPLACE IT WITH FREE OF CHARGE. THE REQUEST WAS DECLINED DUE TO WARRANTY POLICY BEYOND 30,000 MILES/ 3 YEAR. THEN TOYOTA CORP. ISSUED ME A CASE NO.:2005-0818-0778 (FILED 8/18/05).I ALSO ASKED SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, AUTO MECHANICS, AND TOYOTA CORP. AGENT THAT HAVE THEY SEEN OR HEARD ANYTHING SIMILAR LIKE MY CASE, NOBODY COULD CONFIRM IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM OF "WEAR & TEAR" BEYOND WARRANTY PERIOD. THE QUESTION IS HOW A CONSUMER LIKE MYSELF GET PROJECTED FROM THE "DEFECTIVE PART" THAT A DRIVER DEFENDS HEAVILY FOR MANEUVERING OF THE VEHICLE HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE GEARS? FORTUNATELY, THE INCIDENT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY WIFE AND (3) YOUNG KIDS OR GET STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RAILROAD WITH RUNNING TRAIN APPROACHING. I BELIEVE THAT "SAFETY ISSUE" SHALL BE THE FIRST PRIORITY NEEDED TO BE RESOLVED BY TOYOTA CORP.