NHTSA Complaint #10893234 — 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA

THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC) SYSTEM UNEXPECTEDLY ENGAGED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT A SAFE SPEED ON A DRY, PAVED, WINDING ROAD. THIS HAPPENED 10 - 15 TIMES DURING A 1 HOUR PERIOD, USUALLY WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 20 TO 40 MPH IN A RIGHT HAND CURVE. EACH TIME THE PROBLEM HAPPENED, THE BRAKES SUDDENLY AND AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED HARD, CAUSING A NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE SKID INDICATOR LIGHT BLINKING AND A LOUD BEEPING SOUND. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP STATED THAT A WORN RACK AND PINION IS CAUSING THE VSC SYSTEM TO INCORRECTLY DETECT THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN A SKID, SO THE SYSTEM IS APPLYING THE BRAKES IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN CONTROL. IF THIS ISSUE HAD HAPPENED AT A HIGHER SPEED OR WHILE BEING FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.