NHTSA Complaint #10235316 — 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA

THE FUEL PIPE FROM THE TANK TO THE ENGINE ON MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA LE DISCONNECTED. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY KIDS AND STOPPED AT THE LIGHT, OUR CAR BEING THE FIRST IN THE RIGHTMOST LANE AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE. I MADE SEVERAL MORE ATTEMPTS BUT IT WAS IN VAIN. THE MESSAGE ON THE SCREEN PANEL APPEARED AS A DISCHARGED BATTERY, WHICH AT THAT MOMENT PUZZLED ME VERY MUCH. I STARTED LOOKING AROUND, MAKING SIGNS TO THE VEHICLES BEHIND MINE TO TRY AND GET INTO THE OTHER LANE AS I CAN'T START MY CAR (THERE WERE FEW ANGRY DRIVERS). ONE STOPPED BY ME WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED RED AGAIN AND THEN SAID HE SMELLS GAS. AT THE SAME TIME A WOMAN AND HER OLDER TEENAGE DAUGHTER WERE RUNNING FROM ACROSS THE STREET WAIVING AND SHOUTING 'GET OUT OF THE CAR!'. SHE HELPED ME AND MY KIDS GET OUT AND TOLD US THAT WHILE DRIVING FROM THE OTHER SIDE SHE SAW WHEN THE GAS GUSHED FROM UNDER MY CAR. WELL THE REST IS KNOWN - 911, POLICE, FIRE TRUCK AND MY FAMILY SCARED AND BLESSED TO HAVE ESCAPED A HORROR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT THE PIPE DISCONNECTED, THEY PUT IT BACK AND THAT THEY'VE NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT A WARRANTY ON THIS OR A FUTURE SIGN TO LOOK FOR, THE ANSWER WAS 'IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN, IT CAN'T'. BUT IT JUST DID, RIGHT? I WANT TO MENTION THAT THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS AND IT'S VERY WELL CARED FOR. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OVER $100 WHICH I'M GUESSING TOYOTA WILL NEVER REFUND. I WILL FOREVER BE THANKFUL TO THAT WOMAN AND HER DAUGHTER WHO QUITE POSSIBLE SAVED OUT LIVES. *TR