NHTSA Complaint #10136101 — 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA

RUN FLAT TIRES ARE UNSAFE. 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE AWD HAS OE DUNLOP SP SPORT 4000T DSST 'RUN FLAT' TIRES. CAR HAS 19,500 MILES OF MODERATE DRIVING. DEALER REFUSED TO ROTATE AND PERFORM ALIGNMENT AT 19,000 MILES BECAUSE TIRES WERE TOO WORN. REFERRED TO DUNLOP WHO ELECTED TO DO NOTHING. NOW, AT 21,500 CORDS ARE VISIBLE ON INSIDE EDGES OF FRONT TIRES. A. THE ONLY AVAILABLE REPLACEMENTS (FROM TIRERACK.COM) ARE $845 PLUS MOUNTING AND BALANCING ($142). B. 'RUN-FLAT' CARS DO NOT HAVE SPARE TIRES, JACKS OR TIRE WELL FOR STORAGE, SO THERE IS NO PRACTICAL WAY TO SWITCH TO REGULAR TIRES. C. DEALER SAYS THAT TOYOTA WILL SELL A KIT THAT INCLUDES A MINI-SPARE. REQUIRES RECONFIGURING REAR OF VAN. RESULT MEANS THAT THERE IS NO MORE STORAGE WELL UNDER REAR SEATS. TOYOTA WILL NOT GIVE THE KIT TO AFFECTED OWNERS. THEY SELL IT FOR $1,300. D. A DECISION TO STAY WITH (AND REPLACE) THE 'RUN FLATS' MEANS AN OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE OF ~$1,000 EVERY YEAR. E. IF TOYOTA ABANDONS THE 'RUN FLAT' CONSUMER IS ABSOLUTELY VICTIMIZED. F. IF THE SUSPENSION IS A CULPRIT, IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO A CLASS OF OWNERS WHO GENERALLY HAVE INFANTS OR YOUNG CHILDREN. NHTSA SHOULD ACT TO REQUIRE TOYOTA TO ISSUE RECALL AND RETROFIT ALL AFFECTED SIENNAS WITH STANDARD TIRES AND THE COMPONENTS TO FIX FLATS!. *JB