NHTSA Complaint #10313068 — 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA

OUR 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING GAS PEDAL PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE GAS PEDAL STICKS UNTIL EXCESSIVE PRESSURE IS APPLIED. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR FINALLY ENGAGES, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. THIS PROBLEM MAKES THE VEHICLE FRIGHTENING TO DRIVE. THE FIRST TIME WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT (TOYOTA OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA) ABOUT THIS ISSUE WAS FEBRUARY 2008 (ODOMETER 101,112). THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD US THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT SERVICED THE THROTTLE BODY AND LUBRICATED THE EXPOSED THROTTLE CABLES. THE GAS PEDAL RESPONDED BETTER. IN NOVEMBER 2009 WE STARTED EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AGAIN AND ON DECEMBER 10, 2009 WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT (ODOMETER 111,596). WE REQUESTED A SIMILAR SERVICE TO SEE IF IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMED TO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY HAD DONE ON THE PREVIOUS VISIT TO 'FIX' THE STICKY GAS PEDAL. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND WE TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME. WITHIN THE SAME DAY THE ACCELERATOR WAS STICKING. WE FELT UNSAFE DRIVING OUR TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE AND PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE FOR A MONTH UNTIL WE COULD TAKE IT BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. ON JANUARY 11, 2010 WE BROUGHT IT BACK AND INSISTED THEY FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WE WERE ASSURED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL WITH OUR VEHICLE, PERHAPS JUST SOME CARBON BUILD UP ON THE THROTTLE BODY PLATE. WE DIDN'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME AND LEFT IT AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE IT HAS REMAINED TO THIS DAY. ON JANUARY 21, 2010, TOYOTA ANNOUNCED A RECALL DUE TO A STICKING GAS PEDAL THAT, IN PART, DESCRIBES OUR ISSUE. OUR 2001 SIENNA IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. *TR