TOYOTA SIENNA (2004+) AWD MODELS USE RUN-FLAT TIRES SINCE NO SPARE TIRE IS PROVIDED BY TOYOTA. THESE RUN-FLAT TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE IN THAT THEY WEAR OUT EXCEEDINGLY FAST. MINE ARE NEARLY WORN OUT AT 17K MILES ON MY 2004 SIENNA. AT A EQUIPMENT AND LABOR REPLACEMENT COST OF ~ $1600 FOR ALL 4 TIRES, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. IF YOU SEARCH THE INTERNET, THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE SIENNAS USING RUN-FLATS. TIRES SHOULD NOT COST ME $100 PER 1000 MILES DRIVEN. SECONDARY ISSUE WITH THE TIRES IS THE SAFETY. I HAVE NOT EXPERIECED THIS PROBLEM, BUT OTHER OWNERS ARE STATING THAT IF THE TIRE IS CUT, THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. BECAUSE RUN FLATS ARE NEW, THERE ARE HARDLY ANY PLACES IN THE U.S. THAT STOCK THESE TIRES, LET ALONE HAVING THE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT TO INSTALL THEM. YOU'LL SEE MANY OWNERS HAVE RESORTED TO BUYING REGULAR TIRES FOR THEIR SIENNAS, THEN PURCHASING A SPARE TIRE AND THROWING IT INTO THE BACK OF THEIR VAN. THIS TAKES AWAY FROM THE UTILITY OF THE VAN A GREAT DEAL, SINCE STORAGE IS A PRIMARY SELLING POINT OF MINIVANS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. TIRES SHOULD LAST ~40K MILES, AND SINCE THESE RUN FLATS ARE SO EXPENSIVE, REPLACING EVERY 15K MILES PUTS A HUGE COST ON THE OWNER THAT TOYOTA NEVER WARNED NEW OWNERS. I WOULD EXPECT TOYOTA TO COVER REPLACEMENT COST OF THESE TIRES UNTIL A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT IS DEVELOPED, OR FIND A WAY TO USE REGULAR TIRES AND STORE THE SPARE SOMEWHERE ON THE VEHICLE WITHOUT TAKING UP THE ADVERTISED PASSENGER STORAGE SPACE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE, -BRIAN ARMER
1998
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PRIUS IN CALIFORNIA THE SAME DID HAPPEN TO US BACK IN 1999 WITH OUR TOYOTA SIENNA VAN. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON I-5 IN OREGON. SHE PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO OVERTAKE A CAR AND THEN WHEN SHE PRESSED THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK. SHE DROVE INTO THE HWY MEDIAN FENCE TO STOP THE CAR. WHEN WE CONTACTED TOYOTA, THEY DIDN'T ADMIT ANY FAULT WITH THEIR CAR (THE SAME WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW) AND TOLD US IT WAS OUR FAULT THAT WE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO USE THEIR BRAKES. WE HAVE SEVERAL CARS BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OTHER CARS. I DIDN'T BUY A TOYOTA AFTER THAT CRASH BUT I AM ALSO WORRIED WHO ELSE THE PART SUPPLIER HAS BEEN SUPPLYING PARTS TO. I CAN BE REACHED AT [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR