NHTSA Complaint #10070059 — 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA

I AM SENDING THIS LETTER TO EXPRESS CONCERN RELATIVE TO THE SAFETY AND USABILITY OF OUR 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA MINI VAN. WE HAVE HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN THAT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THE DEALER (KENNY KENT TOYOTA IN EVANSVILLE, IN) AS WELL AS TOYOTA. THE ENGINE IS OUR BRAND NEW VAN HAD GELLING ISSUES TO DUE MANUFACTURE?S DEFECTS. THE PROBLEMS ARE CONTINUING TO DATE. IN THE MANUFACTURE?S RESPONSE IT STATES THAT TOYOTA OFFERED GOODWILL ASSISTANCE TO US FOR THE ENGINE GELLING. (THIS HAPPENED TO A BRAND NEW VAN). IT ALSO STATES THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. TOYOTA SAID THAT THIS WAS A WARRANTY ISSUE AND IT IS ALSO LISTED AS WARRANTY IN TOYOTA DOCUMENTATION. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER?S WARRANTY INFORMATION BOOK, THE BASIC WARRANTY IS 36 MONTHS OR 36,000 MILES AND THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY IS 60 MONTHS OR 60,000 MILES. THE DEFECT WITH THE ENGINE BASED UPON THE WARRANTY AS STATED IN TOYOTA?S WARRANTY INFORMATION BOOK STATES THAT ALL REPAIRS AND ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED TO CORRECT DEFECTS IN MATERIALS AND WORKMANSHIP OF ANY PART SUPPLIED BY TOYOTA IS COVERED. IN THE MANUFACTURE?S RESPONSE IT STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT EXHIBITING ANY WARRANTABLE NONCONFORMITIES THAT SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIR THE USE, VALUE OR SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY THIS STATEMENT IS NOT TRUE. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE EXTREME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN. THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONTINUING TO DATE FOLLOWING TOYOTA?S ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE ENGINE. ON ONE OCCASION MY WIFE AND MY SIX-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WERE IN THE VAN ALONE WHEN THE VAN REFUSED TO START. IT WAS A 90+-DEGREE DAY. TOYOTA SERVICE CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE AND PROBLEMS CONTINUE. THE ENGINE DOESN?T HAVE THE POWER IT DID PRIOR TO THE REPAIRS, THE VALVES CLATTER VERY LOUDLY AND THE ENGINE MAKES A CHUGGING SOUND WHEN IT IDLES. WE NOW HAVE A NEW VAN THAT FOR LACK OF ANY WORD HAS BEEN BUTCHERED. THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRASTICALLY DIMINISHED. NOBLE JONES 801 S. PARKWAY HENDERSON, KY 42420 270-826-2801