NHTSA Complaint #10681249 — 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA

THE PLASTIC ON THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING AS IF IT WAS SLASHED WITH A RAZOR KNIFE. I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND NUMEROUS SITES HAVE PEOPLE REPORTING THE PROBLEM GOING BACK TO 2004 MODELS. THE TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT JUST SAYS THE VAN IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE CRACKS ARE DUE TO AGE (WHICH THEY PROBABLY ARE TO SOME DEGREE) BUT PRESENT NO SAFETY ISSUES. I REFUTE THAT CLAIM. IF THE DASH IS CRACKING THEN I ASSUME THE INTEGRITY OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS COMPROMISED. HAVE OLDER SIENNAS BEEN TESTED THAT HAVE A CRACKING DASHBOARD? MY WIFE'S 2000 AVALON ALSO HAS A PLASTIC DASH AND IT IS NOT CRACKING AT ALL. NEITHER ARE MY TWO SONS OLD 4RUNNERS OR MY DAUGHTERS 2005 SIENNA. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FRONT AIRBAGS AND THEIR PROPER DEPLOYMENT IN AN ACCIDENT.