NHTSA Complaint #10510945 — 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA

THE POWERED FOLD UP RAMP AND MOTOR LOCKED UP COMPLETELY BLOCKING WHEEL CHAIR EXIT AND ENTRY ACCESS IN THE TOYOTA SIENNA 2011 BRAUN ABILITY RAMPVAN. THE ALLEGED MANUAL RAMP OPERATION FUNCTION FAILED TO WORK TRAPPING THE WHEEL CHAIR OCCUPANT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS DANGEROUS DESIGN HAS BEEN MADE SINCE 2011 AND CONTINUES TO BE MADE INTO 2013. BRAUN HAS RELEASED ANOTHER IN-FLLOOR RAMP OPTION THIS YEAR WHICH IS A MUCH SAFER DESIGN THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BLOCK DOOR ACCESS EVEN IF IT MALFUNCTIONS. BRAUNABILITY NEEDS TO RECALL THIS DESIGN AND MAKE A TRUE MANUAL RELEASE THAT DISCONNECTS FROM THE MOTOR INCASE OF FAILURE OR LOCKUP. MY SON IS SEVERELY DISABLED AND HAS ALOT OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT. THE JUMP SEAT BOLTED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FLOOR BLOCKED ENTRY AND EXIT CLEARANCE FOR A WHEEL CHAIR ON THE OTHER SIDE AS A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE EMERGENCY EXIT. WE HAD TO LITERALLY PULL HIM OUT OF HIS WHEEL CHAIR AND DISCONNECT HIS EQUIPMENT - ALL VERY DIFFICULT IN THE TIGHT SPACE AND VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY. THE VAN WAS TOWED AND IN THE SHOP FOR 3+ WEEKS TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND REPLACE THE EQUIPMENT. *TR