NHTSA Complaint #10446268 — 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON A CITY STREET, I LOST BRAKE FUNCTION. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A COMPLETE STOP, THANKFULLY AVOIDING OTHER TRAFFIC AND OBSTACLES. ONCE I WAS STOPPED, I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A LONG BOLT ON THE FLOORBOARD UNDERNEATH THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN THE TOWTRUCK DRIVER ARRIVED, HE REACHED IN AND PULLED THE GAS PEDAL COMPLETELY OFF - THERE WAS NOTHING FASTENING IT TO THE CAR. HE WAS ABLE TO REINSTALL THE BOLT, BUT SAID THERE WAS "A PIECE" MISSING, AND TOWED IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER FOUND THAT TWO PEDAL PIVOT BOLTS WERE MISSING, AND THE ONE THAT WAS PRESENT (WHICH HAD ENDED UP ON THE FLOOR), WAS NOT SECURED BY A NUT. THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT SURE WHY THIS HAPPENED - THAT IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FACTORY - BUT SAID THAT THEY REPLACED THE THREE BOLTS AND TORQUED THEM PROPERLY, AND THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. WE ASKED TO SPEAK WITH A MANAGER FOR BETTER EXPLANATION, AND THE MANAGER AVOIDED ALL OF OUR ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT FOR SEVERAL DAYS. *KB