NHTSA Complaint #10339624 — 2007 TOYOTA SIENNA

THE TRANSMISSION WAS DOING WHAT FELT LIKE "NEUTRAL DROPS" AT LOW SPEEDS, WHERE I WOULD SHIFT INTO DRIVE, GET THE "CLUNK" THAT I NORMALLY ASSOCIATE WITH THE TRANSMISSION DROPPING INTO FIRST, THEN DEPRESS THE GAS SLIGHTLY TO START MOVING. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE ENGINE WOULD REV SUDDENLY, AND THEN CATCH FIRST, WHICH AS YOU KNOW, CAUSES A SUDDEN LURCH OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SINCE THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REVVING JUST BEFORE IT CAUGHT. IT WOULD ALSO OCCASIONALLY JUST "LOSE" THE GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. ON 6/12/2010 THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME (WITH MY FAMILY) ON THE FWY (NORTH 5) FROM LEGOLAND. I HAVE TO ACROSS 5 LANES TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. I GOT THE VAN BRAND NEW ON 3/28/2007 (W/ONLY3 MILES ON THE VAN) FROM CARSON TOYOTA, CA...I PAID $28000 W/PACKAGE3 (OUT THE DOOR PRICE)...AS OF 6/12/2010 THE VAN HAS UNDER 14,000MILES. THE TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH NO CHARGE (STILL UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY). TRANSMISSIONS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO GO OUT THAT QUICKLY, IT DEFINITELY SEEMS TO BE A QUALITY CONTROL ISSUE. UNDER 14,000 MILES THERE HAS BEEN NO SERVICE DUE SO IT'S NOT A MATTER OF MISSING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY VALID SAFETY CONCERN. *TR