NHTSA Complaint #10187365 — 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA

IN JULY 2006, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING OUR NEW 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA, THE AIRBAG OFF LIGHT CAME ON. BEFORE WE COULD TAKE IT FOR SERVICE SOMEONE BROKE INTO OUR MINI VAN AND IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR A MONTH BEING REPAIRED. THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ABOUT A MONTH LATER, BUT THE DEALER, BALISE TOYOTA IN WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA, RESET IT DURING AN OIL CHANGE. IN MID OCTOBER, MY WIFE WAS BROADSIDED IN HER DOOR BY A HONDA CIVIC. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS, INCLUDING THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE MINI VAN WAS IN THE SHOP FOR ANOTHER MONTH, AND THE DEALER AGAIN RESET THE LIGHT, WHICH HAD COME ON, APPARENTLY DURING THE CRASH. SINCE OCTOBER THE VAN HAS BEEN SERVICED FIVE OR SIX TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US IN JANUARY THAT TOYOTA IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS, DESIGNED THE AIRBAGS TO PERMANENTLY TURN OFF IF A HEAVY PERSON RODE IN THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO TURN THE AIRBAGS BACK ON AGAIN, AND CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS NO FIX FOR THIS BECAUSE IT WAS INTENTIONAL. OTHER DEALERS WANT TO CHARGE US FOR THIS, EVEN THOUGH IT SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. LAST WEEK, A PERSON AT MOORE OF TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE TOLD ME THAT THE COMPANY'S OFFICIAL POSITION WAS THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT BROKEN, BUT RATHER THAT MY WIFE AND I DID NOT DESERVE THE PROTECTION BECAUSE OF OUR WEIGHT. THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY MIGHT BE WILLING TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK, BUT I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO BUY IT BACK. I JUST WANT THE MINI VAN TO WORK THE WAY IT SUPPOSED TO WITHOUT HAVING TO RESET THE COMPUTER EVERY WEEK. BESIDES, IF THEY WERE TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS BEING A FEDERAL LAW, THERE WERE NO CARS IN AMERICA THAT WERE SAFE FOR US TO DRIVE. I COULD NOT EVEN GET MY BRAND NEW MINI VAN INSPECTED THIS YEAR BECAUSE AN AIRBAG LIGHT WAS GROUNDED FOR DISQUALIFICATION. TOYOTA KNOWINGLY SOLD ME AN UNSAFE VEHICLE, ONE THAT WAS DESIGNED TO BE UNSAFE FOR 30% OF PEOPLE OH, AND NOW THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED BY THE REARVIEW MIRROR.*AK