NHTSA Complaint #10786882 — 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA

RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL #A9E A COUPLE YR.S AGO AND HAD THE RECOMMENDED REPAIR DONE ON THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER CABLE. THEN RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTIFICATION IN 10/15 THAT "THE ORIGINAL REMEDY PROCEDURE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATE." INFORMED THAT THE NEW SAFETY RECALL #E0S NOW SUPERSEDES A9E. TOOK VAN TO DEALER FOR THIS REPAIR ON 10/19/15. AFTER MECHANIC BEGAN WORK HE CAME TO WRITER AND ASKED WHERE THE SPARE TIRE WAS. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS NO LONGER A SPARE TIRE UNDER THE VAN-WE HAVE NEVER HAD A NEED TO USE THE SPARE AND HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT FELL OFF. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CABLE WAS BROKEN AND THAT A NEW WHEEL AND TIRE WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS. CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER CENTER AND AFTER MANY PHONE CALLS AND FAILURE OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES TO RETURN CALLS WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT THE LOSS OF THE TIRE WAS DUE TO THE FAULTY SPARE TIRE CARRIER CABLE BUT THAT THEY ARE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE CABLE. IT SEEMS ABSURD THAT OUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS WAS COMPROMISED BY THE SPARE TIRE FALLING OFF AND ALL THE COMPANY ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR IS THE CARRIER CABLE. WE HAVE NOW ORDERED A NEW WHEEL AND TIRE COSTING $300 TO $400 AND HOPE THAT THE MOST RECENT "FIX" WORKS.