2001 Toyota Sienna

I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN CE. IN THE PAST 1.5 YEARS ALL DOOR HANDLES HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE CAR. THIS INCLUDES THE DRIVER, PASSENGER, REAR DRIVER, REAR PASSENGER AND TAILGATE DOORS HANDLES. THESE HANDLES ARE MADE FROM PLASTIC AND CRACK AND BREAK OFF AT THE HINGE POINT. I DON'T BELIEVE THE NUMBER OF BREAKAGES OF THESE HANDLES CAN BE CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND CERTAINLY WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND TWO ADULTS MAKING USE OF THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSTITUTE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS PROBLEM IS A DEFECT OF DESIGN OR WORKMANSHIP OF THE HANDLE AND THE COST TO REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $350 PER HANDLE. IT IS A SERIOUS THREAT SHOULD THEY BREAK AT THE IMPROPER TIME OR FOR EMERGENCY ACCESS TO THE AUTOMOBILE. I HAVE ADDRESSED MY CONCERNS WITH TOYOTA AND THEY DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS A NEED TO CORRECT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND RESPOND. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE HORN WAS ENGAGED AND FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS UNDER THE AIR BAG REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

OUR 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING GAS PEDAL PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE GAS PEDAL STICKS UNTIL EXCESSIVE PRESSURE IS APPLIED. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR FINALLY ENGAGES, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. THIS PROBLEM MAKES THE VEHICLE FRIGHTENING TO DRIVE. THE FIRST TIME WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT (TOYOTA OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA) ABOUT THIS ISSUE WAS FEBRUARY 2008 (ODOMETER 101,112). THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD US THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT SERVICED THE THROTTLE BODY AND LUBRICATED THE EXPOSED THROTTLE CABLES. THE GAS PEDAL RESPONDED BETTER. IN NOVEMBER 2009 WE STARTED EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AGAIN AND ON DECEMBER 10, 2009 WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT (ODOMETER 111,596). WE REQUESTED A SIMILAR SERVICE TO SEE IF IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMED TO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY HAD DONE ON THE PREVIOUS VISIT TO 'FIX' THE STICKY GAS PEDAL. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND WE TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME. WITHIN THE SAME DAY THE ACCELERATOR WAS STICKING. WE FELT UNSAFE DRIVING OUR TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE AND PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE FOR A MONTH UNTIL WE COULD TAKE IT BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. ON JANUARY 11, 2010 WE BROUGHT IT BACK AND INSISTED THEY FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WE WERE ASSURED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL WITH OUR VEHICLE, PERHAPS JUST SOME CARBON BUILD UP ON THE THROTTLE BODY PLATE. WE DIDN'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME AND LEFT IT AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE IT HAS REMAINED TO THIS DAY. ON JANUARY 21, 2010, TOYOTA ANNOUNCED A RECALL DUE TO A STICKING GAS PEDAL THAT, IN PART, DESCRIBES OUR ISSUE. OUR 2001 SIENNA IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. *TR

THE ENGINE FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $5,000 DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILDUP. TRAVELING ON I-4 FROM TAMPA TO ORLANDO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED THEN WE HEARD A TAPPING FROM THE ENGINE,. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND AAA TOWED THE VEHICLE AND A RENTAL CAR COMPANY PICKED US UP. I HAD TWO ELDERLY PASSENGERS (IN THEIR 80'S) WITH WALKERS WHO HAD TO TRAVERSE THE GRASS ALONG THE INTERSTATE TO GET TO THE RENTAL CAR AND WERE NEARLY BLOWN OVER BY PASSING TRUCKS. TOYOTA REFUSED TO HONOR A CLAIM FOR REPAIRS ALTHOUGH THEY HAD AGREED IN A RECENT LOUISIANA LAWSUIT TO COVER SAID REPAIRS FOR 8 YEARS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. MY FAILURE WAS 8 YEARS AND 10 MONTHS FROM PURCHASE. THE SLUDGE TOOK MUCH LONGER THAN 8 MONTHS TO BUILD UP BUT TOYOTA REFUSED TO HONOR THEIR STATED COMMITMENT TO ASSIST ALL AFFECTED BY OIL SLUDGE DAMAGE (OVER 3,000 COMPLAINTS). THEIR PRODUCT WAS DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS AND THEIR DENIAL TO ASSIST WAS DISHONORABLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, MOMENTS LATER THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE ENGINE SLUDGE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.