NHTSA Complaint #10578588 — 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA

DURING A RECENT TRIP TO ALABAMA FROM VIRGINIA, OUR 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL INSTEAD OF BRAKING. BOTH TIMES, WE WERE APPROACHING MODERATELY HEAVY TRAFFIC. MY WIFE WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VAN. INSTEAD OF BRAKING AND SLOWING THE VEHICLE, THE VAN WENT INTO FULL ACCELERATION MODE. THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED AND STARTED APPLYING FULL THROTTLE. THE FIRST TIME WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING CRAZY. THE SECOND TIME, BOTH MY WIFE AND I WATCHED AS HER FOOT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND TO OUR AMAZEMENT, THE VAN STARTED ACCELERATING AGAIN! LUCKILY BOTH TIMES, MY WIFE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REAPPLIED ONCE THE VAN STOPPED ACCELERATING AND THE BRAKES WORKED THEN. I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO TAKE THIS INTO THE TOYOTA DEALER YET. WE ARE STILL UNDER A 30 DAY WARRANTY WITH CARMAX, SO I HAVE COMMUNICATION OUT TO THEM TO SEE HOW WE SHOULD HANDLE THIS SITUATION. I THOUGHT THIS TOYOTA SUDDEN ACCELERATION STORY WAS EXAGGERATED. NOW I'VE EXPERIENCED IT MYSELF. *TR