NHTSA Complaint #10131401 — 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE WITH OUR SONS (AGES 3 AND 1) IN THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE DIED. SHE COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE STAYED IN VEHICLE AND KEPT THE BOYS IN THEIR CAR SEATS AS SHE WAS ALONG A MAJOR HIGHWAY. A ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE VEHICLE PULLED UP BEHIND HER WITHIN A MINUTE OR TWO. HE ASKED MY WIFE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. SHE TOLD HIM AND HE ASKED HER TO POP THE HOOD. SHE DID. HE OPENED IT AND FLAMES CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NEITHER HE NOR MY WIFE KNEW OR SUSPECTED A FIRE. NO FLAMES. NO SMOKE. NO SMELL. NO HEAT. HE YELLED TO MY WIFE TO GET HERSELF AND THE KIDS OUT OF THE CAR. SHE DID AND THEY WERE ALL UNHARMED. HE PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. OBVIOUSLY, MY WIFE AND CHILDREN PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD THAT ROAD SIDE ASSISTANT NOT BEEN THERE. FL HIGHWAY PATROL ARRIVED. THE FHP OFFICER FILED INCIDENT REPORT # FHPK05OFF042549. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT, TOYOTA OF ORLANDO (3800 W. COLONIAL DRIVE ORLANDO, FL 32808 407-298-4500) I VIDEO TAPED THE BURNED ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE FROM HEAD TO TOE AND WILL BE HAPPY TO SUBMIT A COPY TO YOU. I WAS CALLED BY A MR. MANNY COLON OF TOYOTA OF ORLANDO. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT SLUDGE BUILD UP WAS FOUND AND SAID THAT WAS PROBABLY THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. I HAVE RECORDS (WITH A DIFFERENT SHOP-GOODYEAR) SHOWING THAT THE OIL WAS CHANGED REGULARLY AND NOT TERRIBLY LONG AGO. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN EXTREMELY WELL DOCUMENTED (AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY TOYOTA) SLUDGE PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA'S - INCLUDING THE 99 SIENNA. I HAVE FOUND MANY ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET AND I AM COLLECTING THEM. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS ISSUE BY ANYONE. IF THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE, WHY ARE THESE VEHICLES BEING ALLOWED ON THE ROAD WITH FAMILIES AND CHILDREN RIDING IN THEM? MY ENTIRE FAMILY ALMOST DIED YESTERDAY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS. I DON'T WANT OTHERS TO DIE IF IT CAN BE AVOIDED. *NM