NHTSA Complaint #10790549 — 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA

I PULLED INTO A RELATIVE'S GRAVEL DRIVEWAY WHICH HAS A VERY LARGE PARKING AREA TO THE SIDE. I PULLED UP TO ABOUT TWO FEET FROM THEIR GRASSY AREA, GOT INTO POSITION TO BACK UP INTO A PARKING SPACE, STOPPED, AND PUT MY 2011 SIENNA INTO REVERSE, AND AS SOON AS I GENTLY TOUCHED THE EXCELERATOR TO BEGIN BACKING UP THE VAN SPED FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED CRASHING INTO AND OVER AN 8 INCH RAILROAD TIE THAT HAD A STEELBEAM ON TOP THAT SEPARATED THE DRIVEWAY FROM THEIR YARD. I HAD TO SLAM BOTH FEET ONTO THE BRAKE TO GET IT TO STOP WHICH IT FINALLY DID. I THOUGHT I HAD NOT PUT IT IN REVERSE BUT I LOOKED AT THE GEARSHIFT AND IT WAS INDEED IN REVERSE. I JIGGLED THE GEARSHIFT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS SECURED IN THE SLOT AND IT WAS. I THEN PUT IT IN PARK AND SAT THERE FOR A MINUTE OR TWO TRYING TO GAIN COMPOSURE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT JUST HAPPENED, I WAS IN SHOCK AS NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE. AFTER THAT MINUTE OR TWO I DECIDED I COULDN'T LET THE VEHICLE SIT THERE AND NEEDED TO MOVE IT. SCARED, BUT I PUT IT IN REVERSE AGAIN, READY TO POUNCE ON THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET AND BARELY TOUCHING THE EXCELERATOR I STARTED MOVING IN REVERSE. IT WAS WORKING FINE THEN. I THEN GOT OUT TO CHECK FOR DAMAGE AND THE BUMPER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS DAMAGED FROM THE IMPACT. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, I WAS NOT HURT HOWEVER HAD ANY OF MY RELATIVES BEEN IN THAT AREA AT THAT MOMENT IT COULD'VE RESULTED IN AN INJURY OR FATALITY. I REPORTED WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEN TO TOYOTA USA AS INSTRUCTED IN THE HANDBOOK. NOW I'M REPORTING IT HERE. AM AWAITING CONTACT SUPPOSEDLY WITHIN THE NEXT DAY OR SO TO SEE WHAT TOYOTA INTENDS TO DO WITH THE SIENNA. I WILL NOT DRIVE AGAIN IT UNTIL THE REASON FOR THIS DEFECT IS FOUND AND FIXED AND DAMAGES REPAIRED. THE OUTCOME WILL DECIDE WHETHER I WILL EVER BE A TOYOTA CUSTOMER AGAIN.