NHTSA Complaint #11455682 — 2021 TOYOTA redundant SIENNA

While driving during snowy weather suddenly smoke began to billow from steering column area and vehicle slowed down, then stopped, while simultaneously several malfunction indicators lit, I tried to restart the vehicle to pull to a berm, it was unable to restart or even shift into neutral, the vehicle lost all power and had to be towed. This alone could have caused an injury or accident. The problem was from an electrical short from a hole in the firewall made by VMI which permitted snow, road water, and road salt to enter into the cabin area of the vehicle which shorted out the Hybrid ECU circuit board. It also caused electrical arcing to the aluminum cover of the NiMH hybrid battery which had been relocated by VMI to underneath the drivers and passenger seats and can produce electrical shocks of 800 volts or more (the aluminum alone conducts electricity), this alone could have caused injury or death. Furthermore, several relays were shorted-out, the smart key computer. There were burn, arc and water marks on many components noticed. The vehicle has been undriveable and cumulatively in a repair garage for 43 days as of date of this report