NHTSA Complaint #10033210 — 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA

THIS VAN HAS REAR BRAKES THAT SQUEAL/HUM EVERYTIME YOU USE THEM. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA REGIONAL WHICH CONTACTED TOYOTA NATIONAL WHICH SENT SOMEONE OUT TO LOOK AT THEM. IN THEIR WORDS THEY SAID "BRAKE NOISE IS NORMAL FOR A SIENNA". SOMEHOW ANY CONSTANT BRAKE NOISE SHOULDN'T BE NORMAL. I'M TOLD IT HAPPENS WHEN THE BRAKE SHOES AND THE BACKING PLATES VIBRATE AT A LOW SPEED IT CAUSES THEM TO HUM. ALSO, AT 15,000 MILES (I ONLY PUT 10,000 PER YEAR ON THE CAR) THE ROTORS HAD TO BE TURNED AND SANDED. 1 WEEK LATER THE METAL CRUNCHING SOUND RETURNED. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS WITHIN THE SPECIFICATIONS. NOW, WHENEVER I HAVE TO BRAKE HARD I STILL WILL HEAR A METAL TO METAL CRUNCHING NOISE. UNFORTUNATELY IT ISN'T A CONSTANT PROBLEM AND CANNOT ALWAYS BE DUPLICATED SO IT STILL HASN'T GOTTEN FIXED. I'VE BASICALLY GIVEN UP ON THE VEHICLE AND WILL TURN IT IN AT THE END OF THE LEASE BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THESE TYPE OF BRAKE PROBLEMS.*AK