2008 Toyota Sienna: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed May 26, 2017 · Transmission · 56,000 miles · VA · crash · 1 injury

While attempting to maneuver in reverse, experienced sudden unintended acceleration, causing collision with guardrail

Filed Apr 9, 2014 · Brakes, Engine · 55,000 miles · VA

During a recent trip to alabama from virginia, our 2008 toyota sienna suddenly accelerated while pressing the brake pedal instead of braking. Both times, we were approaching moderately heavy traffic. My wife went to apply the brakes to slow the van. Instead of braking and slowing the vehicle, the van went into full acceleration mode. The transmission downshifted and started applying full throttle. The first time we thought we were going crazy. The second time, both my wife and I watched as her foot applied the brakes and to our amazement, the van started accelerating again! Luckily both times, my wife took her foot off the brake pedal and reapplied once the van stopped accelerating and the brakes worked then. I haven't had time to take this into the toyota dealer yet. We are still under a 30 day warranty with carmax, so I have communication out to them to see how we should handle this situation. I thought this toyota sudden acceleration story was exaggerated. Now I've experienced it myself.

Filed Mar 31, 2014 · Acceleration, Body · 42,000 miles · FL · crash

My wife was parking our 2008 toyota sienna with our 3 young boys in the automobile. She slowly brought the vehicle to a complete stop; never using gas, just covering and tapping lightly on the brake. Once the automobile came to a stop my wife pressed the brake a little more in order to put the vehicle in park. At that moment the vehicle accelerated incredible fast, jumped over an 8 inch concrete parking lot divider and crashed into a tree about 10 - 15 feet from the concrete divider. We are certain that this was a "sudden unintended acceleration" incident caused by some mechanical, electrical, programming or other defect in the '08 sienna. This was not "driver error"! My wife did not confuse the gas pedal and the brake. This was not caused by a floor mat obstructing the gas pedal. This was caused by some type of a design or component defect. How can w be so certain? My wife and I have parked in this parking spot (located in our apartment complex) hundreds of times. To park in this parking spot you first have to make a left hand turn at a stop sign. This stop sign is about 30 - 40 feet from the parking spot, which requires that you make a sharp right turn. Once you press the accelerator slightly to make the left at the stop sign, you do not use the gas again. You simply tap and cover your brake until you make the right into the parking spot. Our vehicle came to a stop. In fact, upon "stopping" one of our 3 boys removed his seat belt immediately before the vehicle accelerated out of control. I'm asking for assistance from someone within toyota or the federal safety agency with knowledge of this flaw. My wife and kids were "fortunate". But this is a "fatal flaw" and something must be done.

Filed Nov 25, 2013 · Acceleration · 146,000 miles · VT · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota sienna. The contact stated that while driving approximately 1 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and caused the contact to crash into a tree without warning. The contact stated that the brakes were depressed but failed to stop the vehicle. Also, the contact mentioned that the failure recurred on two other occasions. The contact was not taken to a hospital and there were no injuries reported. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic but there was no diagnostic performed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 146,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Apr 8, 2013 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 16,875 miles · PA · crash

Just notified of sudden acceleration. Hindsight - starting fall 2012 remote starter died,no warmup,my boyfriend and I experienced engine racing when van was cold multiple times,only way to stop it was hand control brake,foot brake was not enough. Planned to have checked but dec.1 2012 at the tanger outlet mall in canonsburg pa. I am paraplegic,my minivan is modified with foldout ramp- passenger side sliding door for wheelchair and then I transfer into the drivers seat. All the van handicapped parking spaces were filled but it was early so I parked in a regular space with an empty space next to it so I could get out. Few van accessible handicapped spaces is common so I used regular spots before as long as someone was with me who could back the van up far enough for the ramp to deploy. When my mother,my sister-in-law,my friend,and I returned to the vehicle a pickup truck was parked next to us. My sister-in-law got in the vehicle to back it up so the ramp had room to come out as she had done often. We stood behind the pickup truck waiting for her to back up. All of a sudden the vehicle flew backward so fast that before we could yell stop my vehicle had slammed into the SUV parked across the aisle so hard that it pushed the SUV into the car parked in front of it in the next row. My sister-in-law was completely shocked as were we, it was so fast it was almost like watching a cartoon. My sister-in-law kept saying "I don't know what happened", she thought all she did was put her foot on the brake and put it in gear. Not knowing about sudden acceleration in sienna's all any of us could think was her foot had slipped even though she has been driving for 25 years without a similar incident she couldn't understand how it could happen, was sure it didn't. The police were called and a report filed. Because one of the welds from modification was broken my vehicle was totaled.

Filed Mar 23, 2013 · Body, Wheels · 30,142 miles · NY · crash

While backing the car in my driveway it suddenly accelerated and could not be stopped by braking before it struck stone wall, blowing the right rear tire, damaging the underbody and damaging the stone wall. Very scary!

Filed Nov 6, 2012 · Acceleration · 59,687 miles · FL · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota sienna. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated while the brake was depressed and caused the contact to crash into the rear of another vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to have a diagnostic performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 59,687...updated 12/11/12 *bf the consumer stated the dealer was notified. The dealer directed the consumer to a local body shop to have the vehicle diagnosed. There were no failures found in the brakes but the mechanic did notice something unusual. The vehicle was taken for repairs. Updated 12/13/2012

Filed Sep 22, 2012 · Acceleration · 35,000 miles · MA

Making left turn into parking spot. The car was going very slowly then all of a sudden the vehicle exhibited an unintended acceleration. Vehicle was abruptly steered in opposite direction to avoid collision with car parked in front and applied brakes aggressively. Incident happened in elementary school parking lot. Fortunately, no one was in the immediate vicinity. Vehicle taken to toyota dealer and was unable to find problem or replicate it.

Filed May 30, 2012 · Acceleration · 60,000 miles · WA · crash · 2 injuries

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota sienna. The contact was stopped in a parking space when the brakes were depressed and the vehicle accelerated to approximately 25 MPH. The vehicle crashed through the parking sign and into a tree. The contact continued to depress the brakes and shifted into reverse. The vehicle then reversed and crashed into another tree. After the contact activated the emergency brake, the vehicle came to a complete stop. The child in the rear passenger seat sustained bruises to the neck and shoulders. The contact sustained neck and shoulder injuries, and bruises to the right leg. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician stated that the floor mat could have possibly caused the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact that an inspector would be sent to inspect the vehicle to determine the cause of the unintended acceleration failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

Filed May 6, 2011 · Acceleration · 16 miles · MA

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota sienna. The contact stated while driving, the rpms increased and the vehicle lunged forward. The failure was intermittent; however, in may 2011, the contact applied the brakes but the vehicle suddenly accelerated. She shifted into neutral and turned the vehicle off in order to stop the vehicle. The same failure occurred 45 minutes later. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer but the dealer could not find anything wrong. The contact called the manufacturer regarding the failure; however, they offered no assistance. The current mileage was approximately 45,000. The failure mileage was 16.

Filed Nov 8, 2010 · Acceleration · 25,000 miles · PA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota sienna. The contact stated that while attempting to park, the vehicle it suddenly accelerated forward. The contact applied the brakes abruptly and was able to stop the vehicle from moving any further. On a separate occasion while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle accelerated independently and caused the contact to crash through a fence, causing damages to the vehicle front end. There were no injuries. The contact called the dealer but no action was taken. The contact believed the vehicle was extremely unsafe to drive. The failure mileage was 25,000.

Filed Aug 9, 2010 · Acceleration · 60,500 miles · MS · crash

Pulling 2008 totally sienna into parking spot. As I was turning my steering wheel towards the left into the parking space, the van suddenly accelerated forward at a high speed and crashed into a car parked adjacent to the space I was attempting to park in. Witnesses observed the event. After appropriate reports were taken, the van was taken to a toyota dealer where I was told that my vehicle was not involved in the recall. I believe that my car make and model were just entered into a database. Not sure a mechanic even inspected the accelerator.