What 610 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Toyota Sienna

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED WITH THE GEAR IN PARK AND THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR OPEN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROVE FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT BECAME TRAPPED BETWEEN THE VEHICLE AND THE CONCRETE PILLAR. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, LEFT HIP, LEGS, TORSO, AND BOTH ARMS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11189725

MINIVAN PARKED BUT ROLL AWAY CAUSED INJURY. THE MINIVAN WAS PARKED TO PICK UP GROCERY BAGS BUT STARTED ROLLING AWAY AFTER THE LAST 2BAGS OF GROCEY

NHTSA ODI 11187286

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

THE CAR ACCELERATES VERY RAPIDLY IN REVERSE AFTER A COLD START. A MORNING A FEW DAYS AFTER BUYING THE CAR, I STARTED IT UP, SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, AND SLOWLY RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAR BEGAN ACCELERATE BACKWARDS SO RAPIDLY THAT I THOUGHT I MUST INADVERTENTLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. I PULLED MY FOOT AWAY FROM THE PEDALS BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I SHIFTED INTO PARK, BUT BEFORE THERE WAS ANY CHANGE IN SPEED THE CAR CRASHED INTO MY NEIGHBOR'S CAR ACROSS THE STREET, CAUSING OVER $5,000 IN DAMAGE. IF THERE HAD BEEN SOMEONE STANDING ACROSS THE STREET, IT WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN A FATALITY. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SENT OUT A CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVE TO EXAMINE THE CAR. HE ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS RAPID ACCELERATION IN REVERSE, AND STATED THAT WAS "NORMAL" OPERATION FOR THE CAR AFTER A COLD START, AND THAT IT WOULD BE EVEN FASTER IN COLD WEATHER (WE LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA). HE STATED THEY HAD INCREASED THE CAR IDLE SPEED AFTER COLD STARTS FOR POLLUTION CONTROL PURPOSES, AND THIS WAS THE RESULT. I CAREFULLY REVIEWED THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND INSIDE OF THE CABIN FOR ANY WARNING ABOUT RAPID ACCELERATION IN REVERSE AFTER A COLD START, AND THERE WAS NONE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A CAREFUL DRIVER WHO HAS MAINTAINED A GOOD DRIVER DISCOUNT, AND NOTHING REMOTELY LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE. AT THE VERY LEAST, BECAUSE THE COMPANY IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE THEY SHOULD PROMINENTLY PROVIDE WARNINGS TO NEW CAR BUYERS AND OWNERS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT WILL RESULT IN INJURY AND DEATH IF NOT ADDRESSED PROMPTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10402983