NHTSA Complaint #10854153 — 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA

COMPLAINT: TOYOTA SIENNA 2011 SE ON 2/3/2016 I TOOK MY 2011 SIENNA TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE INFORMATION DISPLAY SCREEN INDICATED VSC SYSTEM WARNING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT, TRAC SYSTEM LIGHT, AND WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. AFTER DIAGNOSTICS THE SERVICE ADVISOR EXPLAINED THAT FUEL EMISSION SWITCH VALVE WAS STUCK IN THE OFF POSITION. THE TECHNICIAN REPORT IDENTIFIED THE PART AS P2440 EVAPORATIVE EMISSION PRESSURE SWITCH VALVE. THE SWITCH REGULATES THE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE PUMPED INTO THE TANK THROUGH THE INTAKE AND OUTTAKE OF AIR. VACUUM HOSES CONNECT THE VALVE TO A 'CHARCOAL CANISTER' WHICH COLLECTS GAS FUMES FROM THE TANK AND ROUTES THEM TO THE ENGINE FOR COMBUSTION. UNFORTUNATELY, TOYOTA SELLS THESE VARIOUS COMPONENTS IN EMISSION SYSTEM AS ONE UNIT. THE PART WAS $537.92 AND $148.88 FOR LABOR. THE SUGGESTED CAUSE WAS OVERFILLING THE GAS TANK. WE HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM FILLING UP TANKS (STOPPING BEFORE THE POINT OF OVERFLOW) WITH MANY PREVIOUSLY OWNED TOYOTA TRUCKS AND SEDANS. THE CORE OF MY GRIEVANCE IS THE FACT THAT THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY CAUTION THE OWNER THAT THIS PRACTICE CAN DAMAGE OR CAUSE A MALFUNCTION OF THE EMISSION SYSTEM. THE MANUAL ONLY CAUTIONS THE PERSON PUMPING FUEL 'DO NOT SPILL FUEL DURING REFUELING.'(P.150 IN REFUELING SECTION). IF THIS WAS THE REAL CAUSE FOR THE NEEDED EMISSION PART REPLACEMENT I HOPE THAT TOYOTA WILL WRITE A CLEAR WARNING ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF "FILLING UP" IN THEIR MANUAL OR CONSIDER REDESIGNING THE EMISSION SYSTEM. PERHAPS THIS COMPLAINT WILL PREVENT ANOTHER TOYOTA CUSTOMER THE COST AND DISSATISFACTION OF THIS SAME EXPERIENCE.