NHTSA Complaint #10111882 — 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA

THIS COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO THE HAZARDS OF TOWING WITH THE 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA WHICH I OWN. THIS MODEL IS ADVERTIZED AS TOWING READY WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT EXCEPT A HITCH AND HAS A TOWING CAPACITY OF 3500 POUNDS. WHEN THE HITCH IS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE THE CLEARANCE OF THE RECEIVER IS DANGEROUSLY LOW TO THE GROUND WITHOUT A TRAILER ATTACHED. ONCE THE TRAILER IS ATTACHED WITH A TONGUE WEIGHT LESS THAN MAXIMUM, THE RECEIVER SITS 3 INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND. THIS EXTREMELY LOW CLEARANCE PROVIDES VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS ON A VEHICLE THAT IS ADVERTIZED AS SUITABLE FOR THIS TYPE OF USE. THE HITCH BOUNCES AND BANGS OF THE ROAD SURFACE AND NEGATIVELY EFFECTS HANDLING. IN ORDER TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AN AIRLIFT SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED IN THE REAR SUSPENSION TO ELEVATE THE REAR END WHILE TOWING. THIS IS SUITABLE AS IT STIFFENS THE REAR SUSPENSION WHEN A LOAD IS APPLIED. HOWEVER, WITHOUT A LOAD THE REAR SUSPENSION IS TOO STIFF WITH THE AIR BAGS INFLATED, YET THE REAR END IS TOO LOW WITH A HITCH AND TH EBAGS DEFLATED. ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DO NOT HAVE ANY SOLUTIONS.