NHTSA Complaint #11217020 — 2017 TOYOTA SIENNA

DRIVER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PICKING UP FOSTER CHILDREN TO TRANSPORT THEM TO THEIR VISIT WHEN THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE TO THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE THE DRIVER WAS CONCERNED AND CANCELED THE VISIT AND NOTIFIED THE AGENCY DIRECTOR (ME) WHO ADVISED HIM TO RETURN TO TOWN AND DROP OFF THE VAN AT TOYOTA OF OLYMPIA. AS SOON AS I GOT BACK INTO TOWN I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT AFTER A HALF HOUR OF DIAGNOSTICS IT WAS DISCOVERED THE RADIO WAS NOT WORKING AND THE FUSE WAS BLOWN. THEY ADVISED ME THAT PUTTING IN ANOTHER FUSE WOULD JUST CAUSE IT TO JUST TRIP OR BLOW OUT. REQUESTED THEY CONTINUE THE DIAGNOSTICS ON THE VEHICLE AND LET ME KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED DIAGNOSTICS WOULD BE HELD AT NO MORE THAN $250.00 BUT WE WILL SEE WHEN I GO TO PICK THE VAN UP AND PARK IT IN THE YARD. PLEASE SEE THE TEXT MESSAGE SCREENSHOT ATTACHED THAT EXPLAINS THE QUESTION OF THE SMOKE THE DRIVER SAW PER THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONTACT. THE RADIO APPARENTLY GROUNDED OUT AND SHORTED THUS THE SMOKE. HAD MY DRIVER NOT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT OFF THE VAN WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED OR WORSE - WHAT IF THE DRIVER HAD NOT NOTICED THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE IN THE FIRST PLACE. WOULD THE VAN HAVE BURST INTO FLAMES IF THE DRIVER HAD NOT SEEN THE SMOKE AND KEPT DRIVING. WE HAVE HAD THE VAN LESS THAN TWO YEARS AND IT IS HAVING SERIOUS ISSUES. WE JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR BECAUSE IT FROZE IN MID MOTION JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND VERY UNSAFE. SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. ALSO THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING MORE UNTIL THEY REPLACE THE RADIO BUT ALL WIRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL IS OKAY AND THE COST TO REPLACE THE RADIO IS 4109.00 PLUS THE TAX.