What 610 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Toyota Sienna

I was pulling my 2011 Toyota Siena into a parking space. My foot was on the brake and the car was going about 5 mph. The car made a slight sound, along with a perceptible yet small physical shift, and (while my foot was on the brake) independently accelerated with tremendous force. It was like it was ignited. The car hit a concrete pole and was totaled. The acceleration over-rode the brake. No one was hurt. The concrete pole averted what could have been a catastrophic accident, had we hit pedestrians, or had we rear ended a car or truck on the freeway. The brakes failed as the car jumped into independent acceleration. My safety and the safety of my passenger were both at risk. As I said, in a different situation, we might have hit pedestrians, or gone through the wall of the grocery store and hit customers. The concrete pole saved us and others. The mechanic at the service center where the car was towed said it was impossible to discern if there had been a failure in the system of the car - though clearly both my passenger and myself experienced that failure in the car's ability to override an independent, forceful acceleration not caused by the driver. There was no warning of any kind. On the Edmunds site, there are many, many testimonials by other drivers of the Toyota Siena of similar, frightening experiences of independent acceleration. It is terribly dangerous and should be investigated. If there is not a recall on this vehicle, there should be. This is a potentially catastrophic defect.

NHTSA ODI 11605251

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT BECAME STUCK. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO OPERATE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,296.

NHTSA ODI 10944247

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND LEG INJURIES HOWEVER, IT WAS UNKNOWN IF MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 10811882

I PULLED INTO A RELATIVE'S GRAVEL DRIVEWAY WHICH HAS A VERY LARGE PARKING AREA TO THE SIDE. I PULLED UP TO ABOUT TWO FEET FROM THEIR GRASSY AREA, GOT INTO POSITION TO BACK UP INTO A PARKING SPACE, STOPPED, AND PUT MY 2011 SIENNA INTO REVERSE, AND AS SOON AS I GENTLY TOUCHED THE EXCELERATOR TO BEGIN BACKING UP THE VAN SPED FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED CRASHING INTO AND OVER AN 8 INCH RAILROAD TIE THAT HAD A STEELBEAM ON TOP THAT SEPARATED THE DRIVEWAY FROM THEIR YARD. I HAD TO SLAM BOTH FEET ONTO THE BRAKE TO GET IT TO STOP WHICH IT FINALLY DID. I THOUGHT I HAD NOT PUT IT IN REVERSE BUT I LOOKED AT THE GEARSHIFT AND IT WAS INDEED IN REVERSE. I JIGGLED THE GEARSHIFT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS SECURED IN THE SLOT AND IT WAS. I THEN PUT IT IN PARK AND SAT THERE FOR A MINUTE OR TWO TRYING TO GAIN COMPOSURE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT JUST HAPPENED, I WAS IN SHOCK AS NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE. AFTER THAT MINUTE OR TWO I DECIDED I COULDN'T LET THE VEHICLE SIT THERE AND NEEDED TO MOVE IT. SCARED, BUT I PUT IT IN REVERSE AGAIN, READY TO POUNCE ON THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET AND BARELY TOUCHING THE EXCELERATOR I STARTED MOVING IN REVERSE. IT WAS WORKING FINE THEN. I THEN GOT OUT TO CHECK FOR DAMAGE AND THE BUMPER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS DAMAGED FROM THE IMPACT. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, I WAS NOT HURT HOWEVER HAD ANY OF MY RELATIVES BEEN IN THAT AREA AT THAT MOMENT IT COULD'VE RESULTED IN AN INJURY OR FATALITY. I REPORTED WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEN TO TOYOTA USA AS INSTRUCTED IN THE HANDBOOK. NOW I'M REPORTING IT HERE. AM AWAITING CONTACT SUPPOSEDLY WITHIN THE NEXT DAY OR SO TO SEE WHAT TOYOTA INTENDS TO DO WITH THE SIENNA. I WILL NOT DRIVE AGAIN IT UNTIL THE REASON FOR THIS DEFECT IS FOUND AND FIXED AND DAMAGES REPAIRED. THE OUTCOME WILL DECIDE WHETHER I WILL EVER BE A TOYOTA CUSTOMER AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 10790549

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PIN NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,361.

NHTSA ODI 10671772

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE PEDAL PROCEEDED TO DECLINE AND BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR BUMPER OF A SEMI-TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ODI 10511245

ON DEC.5, 2012 WE WERE PICKING UP A GRANDCHILD AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WE WERE IN A LINE OF CARS TO EXIT THE PARKING LOT. A CAR WAS PULLING INTO THE LINE AHEAD OF US. WE TRIED TO STOP TO LET HER IN, BUT THERE WERE NO BRAKES. THERE WAS PLENTY OF SPACE AND TIME TO STOP. WE STOPPED BY HITTING HER CAR. OUR VAN HAD MINIMAL DAMAGE, BUT SHE HAD A FENDER AND PASSENGER DOOR DAMAGE. (WE WERE THANKFUL NO CHILDREN WERE INJURED AS THERE WERE MANY AROUND.) WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO J PAULEY TOYOTA IN FORT SMITH, AS WE WERE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THEY PRONOUNCED IT SAFE TO DRIVE. WE CALLED TOYOTA (800-331-4331) TO HAVE THE BLACK BOX CHECKED AS SUGGESTED. STILL AFRAID TO DRIVE IT WE LEFT IT THERE AND TRADED FOR A NEW VAN (HONDA). (SEE ACCIDENT REPORT FOR 2009 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN VIN# [XXX]. FIRST TIME WE THOUGHT IT WAS PROBABLY A FLUKE. SECOND TIME A PROBLEM WITH THE SIENNAS.) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10487970

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 4,800. UPDATED 08/10/11*LJ UPDATED 08/12/11. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10413078

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH IN REVERSE. THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR THE FAILURE, HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,500 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 850.

NHTSA ODI 10399598

OCTOBER 2010 I PURCHASED A TOYOTA SIENNA 2011. 3 MONTHS LATER I DROVE BACK FROM WORK AND I HAVE MY 4 CHILDREN WITH ME IN THE CAR WHERE THE CAR BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AS WELL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE!!!! WAS THE WORST DAY IN MY LIFE!!!! I CRASHED INTO A TRUCK AND WE WERE ALL IN SHOCKED TO THIS DAY!!!!...AFTER THE CRASH I HAD RECEIVED A RECALL IN THE TOYOTA SIENNA 2011 FOR THE BRAKES? I AM WITHOUT CAR RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGES FOR THE OTHER CARS, IN PAIN, MY KIDS SUFFER SMALL INJURIES AND FOR A AUTO LOAN IN TOYOTA CRASHED. I HAD MADE CALLS BUT UNFORTUNATELY NO ONE WILL GIVE ME A ANSWER OR STAND AND FACE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES... I WONDERED WHY NO OTHER MAKE ( BMW, MERCEDES,HONDA,GMC ETC,,,,,) HAVE SO MANY RECALLS DEFECTIONS WITH THEIR VEHICLE JUST TOYOTA............ IT IS APPEAR SUSPICIOUS TO ME ...I COULD BE WRONG BUT THE SEARCH I HAVE DONE AND THE WORST EXPERIENCE I HAVE WITH MY FIRST TOYOTA .......NEVER IN MY LIFE I WILL BUY A CAR OR ADVISE ONE OF MY FRIENDS TO PURCHASE TOYOTA..... TO MANY RECALL AND UNSAFTE CARS...I DON'T KNOW HOW THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL INSURE A CAR LIKE THIS?? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS AND I NEED ANSWERS......... IT IS TIME FOR THOSE ANSWER TO ALL WORLDWIDE PEOPLE WHO DRIVE OR THINKING TO BUY A TOYOTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111 PLEASE LEARN FROM MY EXPERIENCE!!! I DON'T WISH TO MY ENEMY!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10381731