NHTSA Complaint #11355155 — 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA

I'VE ONLY HAD THE VAN FOR 5 MONTHS AND THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED OVER A DOZEN TIMES, BEGINNING WITH THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. AND EVERY TIME THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED I'VE BEEN DRIVING ON DRY ROADS. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AROUND A CORNER, ANYWHERE FROM 35-65 MPH, FAR. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STARTS BEEPING, THE BRAKES ENGAGE ON THEIR OWN, AND THEN ENGINE MAKES A LOUD NOISE (LIKELY DOWNSHIFTING ITSELF). IT'S AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE THINKS IT IS SLIPPING, EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT, I DRIVE VERY CAUTIOUSLY SO IT'S NOT ME FLYING AROUND A CORNER SUPER FAST, IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN MY PARTNER DRIVES THE VAN AS WELL. I FINALLY TOOK THE VAN TO A MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR THAT WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, SO I SPENT $900 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I'VE HAD THE VAN BACK FOR LESS THEN 2 WEEKS AND JUST TRIED TO TAKE IT ON A ROAD TRIP, GOT ABOUT AN HOUR FROM OUR HOUSE AND IT DID IT AGAIN 3 TIMES IN LESS THEN 15 MINUTES, AGAIN DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT AND WHEN DRIVING ON A WINDY HIGHWAY. IT'S TERRIFYING WHEN THIS HAPPENS ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN WE'RE GOING AROUND A CORNER, IT'S VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING WITH A LOT OF OTHER SIENNA'S, EVEN NEWER ONES. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE PROBLEM THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, SOMEONE IS GOING TO WRECK AND DIE FROM THIS IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY.