NHTSA Complaint #10717381 — 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA

UPON EXITING THE INTERSTATE, WE BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING SMELL AND THE LIGHT FOR THE A/C STARTED FLASHING AND WOULDN'T TURN BACK ON. WE DROVE ABOUT A MILE THINKING THAT THE SMELL WAS ROADWORK, BUT THEN WE DECIDED TO STOP AND CHECK IT UNDER THE HOOD. ONCE WE OPENED THE HOOD, WE WERE HIT WITH A PLUME OF SMOKE, AND REALIZED THERE WAS A POOL OF OIL UNDER THE VAN. WE BEGAN TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET FOR CAUSES, WHERE WE CAME ACROSS SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THE OIL HOSE BLOWING AND THE VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL. THEY DIDN'T KNOW OF ONE, BUT STATED THAT THEY'D FIXED SEVERAL VEHICLES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS VERY ALARMING SINCE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, OIL LIGHT, ETC DIDN'T EVEN TURN ON. HAD WE DRIVEN ANOTHER MILE, WOULD THE VAN HAVE CAUGHT FIRE? WE HAVE A VAN FULL OF CHILDREN, AND IT'S FRIGHTENING TO THINK THAT THIS COULD HAVE ENDED MUCH WORSE.