2016 Toyota Sienna

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine/transmission and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? While driving the vehicle at the rate of 55-60 mph, the vehicle came to a complete/instant stop without warning — potential causing harm or even death to the occupants of the associated vehicle, and it adversely affected my ability to safely control the vehicle. Also, as the incident was occurring, my drivers seatbelt became very, very tight. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, but this is the second occurrence of this same incident within the past 30 days.

OUR 2016 TOYOTA SIENNA SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY AFTER RETURNING FROM A SHORT DRIVE. AFTER PULLING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY AND SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION, MY WIFE SMELLED SMOKE AS SHE WAS EXITING THE PARKED VEHICLE. THIS SMOKE INTENSIFIED AND QUICKLY ACCELERATED BECOMING AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. SHE CALLED FOR ME & THEN CALLED 911; BUT IN THE BRIEF MOMENTS IT TOOK ME TO GRAB A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, THE FIRE FURTHER INTENSIFIED WITH SIZABLE FLAMES ERUPTING OUT FROM AROUND THE HOOD, FRONT GRILL & UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I USED UP 2 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WITHOUT ANY SIGNIFICANT EFFECT. I DID NOT HAVE ANY PROTECTIVE SAFETY GEAR SO AFTER HEARING SEVERAL SMALL EXPLOSIONS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD & FEARING MORE EXPOSURE TO NOXIOUS FUMES, I DECIDED TO ABANDON MY ATTEMPTS TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED WITHIN A FEW MINUTES AND WERE ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT; HOWEVER, THE FIRE PROGRESSED THROUGH THE INITIAL ATTACK AND ENTERED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE VEHICLE (SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS). THE SIENNA IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF ENGINE FIRES IN TOYOTA SIENNAS IN THIS & OTHER CLOSELY RELATED MODEL YEARS (2014-2017). SEE: NHTSA ID NUMBER: 11010601. I CAN ALSO SUPPLY YOU WITH SOME ADDITIONAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS OF OTHER TOYOTA SIENNA ENGINE FIRE REPORTS. OUR SIENNA WAS ROUTINELY MAINTAINED AS PER MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS & WAS LAST SERVICED ON 9/13/2019 (SEE ATTACHED SERVICE RECEIPT). THE VEHICLE HAD APPROX. 35K MILES ON IT & EXHIBITED NO PRIOR SIGNS OF TROUBLE, CHANGE IN PERFORMANCE OR WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS. WE DID HAVE AN UNRESOLVED PROBLEM WITH AUTOMATIC SIDE DOORS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY AFTER A RECALL REPAIR; HOWEVER, THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPT. COULD NOT IDENTIFY A PROBLEM AFTER MULTIPLE SERVICE COMPLAINTS.

MY 2016 TOYOTA SIENNA THAT HAS 16,000 MILES WAS PARKED AT HOME AND I WENT TO GO START IT AND IT STALLED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO HENDRICK TOYOTA OF APEX, NC AND THEY TOLD ME THAT RODENTS CHEWED THREW THE WIRING AND IT WAS NOT COVERED BY MY WARRANTY. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND TO TOYOTA. I HAVE HAD ANOTHER TOYOTA PARKED IN WITHIN THE SAME PROXIMITY FOR OVER 15 YEARS. I HAVE NEVER HAD RODENT ISSUES WITH IT. I AM CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. IIF THERE ARE MICE LIVING INSIDE THE CAR, THEY COULD BE LEAVING RAT DROPPINGS THAT COULD BE HARMFUL TO BOTH OF THEM. I AM ANGRY AND CONCERNED AND DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, WHEN OTHER VEHICLES PARKED IN THE SAME LOCATION AREN'T EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND THAT AUTO MANUFACTURERS IN ORDER TO GO GREEN ARE USING SOY BASED PRODUCTS ON WIRES INSTEAD OF PETROLEUM. THEY ARE USING SUGAR IN THEIR PLASTICS. RICE HUSKS IN THEIR INTERIORS. ALL THIS STUFF ATTRACTS RODENTS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! MY DEALERSHIP SAID THEY ARE SEEING AT LEAST 2 RODENT DAMAGED VEHICLES A WEEK. TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, CHANGE THE MATERIALS THEY USE, AND COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AGAINST TOYOTA FOR THIS ISSUE. HERE ARE TWO ARTICLES THAT DETAIL THE PROBLEM MYSELF AND OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS HAVE HAD - HTTP://CTWATCHDOG.COM/FINANCE/RODENTS-DAMAGE-CARS-BYCHEWING-ELECTRICAL-CONNECTIONS-TIPS-ON-HOW-TO-AVOID-COSTLYREPAIRS, HTTP://WWW.SYNLUBE.COM/INCREDIBLEEDIBLECAR1.HTM

IN COLD TEMPERATURES, THIS VEHICLE MODEL (ACCORDING TO THE DEALER) DOES NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE RIGHT AWAY WHEN DRIVING FROM A COLD-START. THIS CAUSING A MOMENTARY ACCELERATION WHEN BRAKING AND PRESENTS AN UNEXPECTED SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE FOUND THIS ISSUE POSTED ON SEVERAL CAR FORUMS AND IT APPEARS TO AFFECT MORE THAN JUST THE 2016 MODEL SIENNA, BUT DOES NOT TRIGGER A FAULT OF ANY KIND. *TR