NHTSA Complaint #10929020 — 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA

ON MAY 2, 2016, THE DRIVER SUDDENLY LOST ALL ABILITY TO SHIFT THE 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND THEREFORE OPERATE THE VEHICLE, UPON ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM *D* TO *R*, I.E., DRIVE TO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME, WHILE PREPARING TO PULL INTO A SPACE IN A PARKING LOT. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE EVENT WAS THE VEHICLE'S SHIFT CABLE HAD BROKEN AT THE CABLE'S TERMINATION WITH EITHER THE SHIFT LEVER OR THE TRANSMISSION. REPAIR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE CABLE, TOYOTA PART NUMBER 33820-08020. THE SUDDEN INABILITY TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BE STRANDED, OBSTRUCTING OTHER VEHICLE TRAFFIC. IF THIS EVENT HAD OCCURRED IN TRAFFIC, SUCH AS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK, THE DISABLED VEHICLE WOULD HAVE PRESENTED A COLLISION DANGER TO THE DRIVER AS WELL AS TO OTHER VEHICLES.