2008 Toyota Sienna Air Bags & Restraints Problems

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL MY FORWARD FACING CAR SEAT USING LATCH, I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE THE HOOK FOR THE TOP TETHER, THAT SHOULD BE LOCATED BEHIND EACH OF MY 2ND ROW SEATS. DESPITE CHECKING THE MANUFACTURERS MANUAL, I WAS MERELY ABLE TO LOCATE WHAT FELT LIKE A HOOK THAT IS COMPLETELY COVERED BY FABRIC. NOT KNOWING ANY BETTER, I MISTAKENLY HOOKED THE TETHER STRAP TO ANOTHER HOOK THAT WAS LOCATED BEHIND THE SEAT. IN COMPLETING A CPST COURSE, I'VE LEARNED THAT THIS PRACTICE COULD HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INJURED OR KILLED MY CHILD IF WE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A WRECK. MY CPST INSTRUCTORS AGREED WITH MY SUSPICION THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE SEATS, AND THAT THE TETHER BAR SHOULD NOT BE COMPLETELY COVERED BY FABRIC. MY FEAR IS THAT OTHER FAMILIES WITH THIS VEHICLE ARE PUTTING THEIR CHILDREN AT RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH BECAUSE THEY AREN'T UTILIZING THE TOP TETHER SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T ACCESS THE BAR FOR IT.

THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT HAS STARTED RELEASING ITSELF DURING MOTION; THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE. IN ADDITION, WHEN STATIONARY AND ABOUT TO DRIVE, WHEN I TRY TO LATCH THE SEATBELT IT HAS BECOME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE SEATBELT TO LATCH. IN ADDITION, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF THE SEATBELT WHEN STOPPING DRIVING BECAUSE IT IS STUCK IN THE LATCH. THIS COMBINATION OF SELF-RELEASE, NON-LATCHING, AND BEING STUCK IS A SERIOUS DANGER HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA. THE VEHICLE IS UNDRIVEABLE IN THIS CONDITION.

FRONT DASHBOARD IS CRACKING AND STICKY. I HAVE HEARD TOYOTA HAD A RECALL AT ONE TIME, HOWEVER I CANNOT FIND IT. ALSO, SEATBELT IN THE MIDDLE AND REAR SEATS LOCK OFTEN IN PLACE WITHOUT BREAKING. MUST UNBUCKLE TO RELEASE AND RESET.

THE DASHBOARD AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS FLASHING WHEN THE VAN IS TURNED ON.

OUR TOYOTA SIENNA HAS 2 SEAT BELTS THAT WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION PROPERLY. WE CONTACTED TOYOTA (CASE# 1609160545) TOYOTA REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THIS SAFETY RELATED FAILURE. THIS IS OUR FAMILIES MAIN TRANSPORTATION AND WE KEEP IT MAINTAINED. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. A VEHICLE MANUFACTURER HAS AN INCUMBENT DUTY TO DELIVER A PRODUCT THAT IS SAFE FOR CONSUMER USE. I FIND IT VERY CONCERNING TOYOTA FEELS IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO OFFER SEAT BELTS THAT WILL OPERATE PROPERLY FOR THE LIFE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS VEHICLE. WE HAVE SEATS WE CAN'T PUT OUR CHILDREN IN DUE TO THE FACT, THERE IS NO RESTRAINTS TO KEEP THEM SAFE. IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE.

MIDDLE ROW PASSENGER SEAT BELT JAMMED AND WILL NOT RELEASE IT IS LOCKED. UNABLE TO USE SEATBELT. WE WERE ON VACATION AT THE TIME HAD TO DRIVE OVER A 1000 MILES HOME WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO USE THE SEATBELT!! IT HAD JAMMED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE AND AFTER SEVERAL TRIES I WAS ABLE TO UNJAM BUT THIS TIME NOT ABLE TO RELEASE IT. TOOK TO DEALER TODAY FOR THE SPARE TIRE RECALL FIX (BEEN DRIVING AROUND WITH SPARE TIRE IN MY TRUNK UNABLE TO FOLD SEATS DOWN AND USE VAN AS NEEDED FOR ALMOST A YEAR) AND TO HAVE THE SEAT BELT REPAIRED THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY IS BROKEN THIS IS A $496.00 (PARTS AND LABOR) REPAIR.!!! SINCE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA. PART NUMBER #73301AE011B0

DRIVER IS NOT REQUIRED TO FASTEN SEAT BELT DUE TO A PROBLEM WIRING OR FAILURE OF THE SEAT BELT LATCH. WORRIED THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE A MAJORITY OF MY FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED. IN FACT, THE BUMPER WAS COMPLETELY TAKEN OFF WITH SIGNIFICANT OTHER DAMAGE WHICH I HAVE PICTURES OFF. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. FORTUNATELY I WAS OK AND DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. I AM JUST SURPRISED BY THE SIZE OF THE IMPACT THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JS

DASH BOARD CRACKED OVER GLOVE BOX, THEN ANOTHER CRACK APPEARED ON THE LEFT SIDE NEAR THE SIDE WINDOW DEFROST VENT. WONDER IF IT WOULD AFFECT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT? *TR

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT HAS FOLDED OVER AND JAMMED. IT IS NOT ABLE TO RETRACT NOW. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BECAME JAMMED AND COULD NOT BE RELEASED. I WAS 3 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND, AFTER STRUGGLING FOR A WHILE, HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITHOUT WEARING A SEATBELT. WE HAD TO TAKE APART THE INTERIOR PANEL TO FIX THE SEATBELT. I HAVE GOOGLED AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE SIENNA. *TR

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT APPARENT CAUSE. WE TOOK IT IN TO TOYOTA DEALER, THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HARNESS , BUT COULD NOT COMPLETE REPAIR, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STILL ON. TOYOTA STILL WAITING FOR ANOTHER PLUG TO REPAIR 2 MONTHS LATER. VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AS THEY SAID AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BECAME INOPERABLE AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

THE DRIVER SEAT SEATBELT KEEPS JAMMING, TO THE EXTENT THAT IT WON'T UNJAM. *TR

FLASHING AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT, 4 TSB'S HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH A REPLACEMENT PART. THE TSB'S ARE E1001-08, TSB 0069-12, TSB 0162-10, AND TSB 0252-08. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO RECALL AND CORRECT. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO MAKE A MANDATORY RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE TOYOTA SIENNA AIRBAG WIRING. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IS DEMANDING $50 TO READ CODE AND AVERAGE REPAIR COST OF MORE THAN $1000 DOLLARS. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OF ANY KIND. THERE IS NO REASON THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE A DEFECTIVE CONDITION SO SOON. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM WHICH IS WHY TOYOTA REDESIGNED THE PART. TOYOTA CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO CHARGE CUSTOMERS $1000'S OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE THIS ESSENTIAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FOLDS UP ON ITSELF AND WON'T RELEASE OR RETRACT. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT'S HAPPENED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON BOTH OCCASIONS AND WAS ADVISED TO NOT "YANK THE BELT HARD." PILLAR COVER WAS REMOVED AND SEAT BELT WAS FOUND TO BE "ALL TWISTED INSIDE." IT WAS "ADJUSTED TO NORMAL OPERATION;" HOWEVER, IT COST ME $108 TO GET IT FIXED. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN IN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED. *TR

ON DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, IT WAS SNOWING AND ROAD CONDITIONS WERE ICY AND SLIPPERY. AS VEHICLE WAS GOING AROUND THE BEND, DRIVER NOTICED CARS WERE STOPPED AT A SIGNAL. DRIVER COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE IN TIME TO AVOID A CRASH SINCE ABS BRAKES LOCKED ALL THE WHEELS AND THE CAR WAS SLIDING AND SO DRIVER SWERVED TO AVOID CRASHING INTO OTHER CARS AND HIT A TREE HEAD-ON. VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT-END DAMAGE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

WAS T-BONED BY SOMEONE WHO FAILED TO YIELD ON GREEN. HE WAS GIVEN A TICKET. I WAS THROUGH THE INTERSECTION GOING 34.8 MILES/HOUR AT THE TRIGGERING EVENT. HAS TOYOTA DO INSPECTION ON CAR AND "CHIP". IT ONLY REGISTERED A "FRONT EVENT". REPAIR COSTS ARE 12K, THIS INCLUDED REPLACING BOTH DRIVER SIDE DOORS????? WHY DID THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOY OR BETTER YET WHY WAS THERE NOT EVEN A SIDE EVENT REGISTERED WHEN HE CLEARLY HIT ME IN THE SIDE?? SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND NECK BACK INJURIES. HAD MY 6 AND 2 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK IN CAR SEATS. *TR

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG CONTROL IS INTERMITTENT, WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT, THE AIRBAG MANY TIMES IS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO TOYOTA 2X FOR THIS PROBLEMS AS THEY POINT TO SEAT BELT LATCH, THE LAST TIME AFTER 2 WEEKS OF THE SYSTEM NOT WORKING, IT STARTING WORKING PROPERLY AGAIN. IT WORKED FOR A MONTH CORRECTLY AND SINCE STARTED WORKING AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR NOW NOT KNOWING IF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL WORK IN A CRASH. TOYOTA CLAIMS THE AIRBAG IS CONNECTED TO THE LATCH OF A SEATBELT WHICH WAS PROVEN FALSE ON 2008 AND 2012 MODELS, THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW THERE SYSTEM ACTUALLY WORKS, SO HOW CAN THEY BE RELIED ON FIXING IT OR KNOWING IF THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED AND THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT BECOME LOOSE AROUND THE PASSENGER UNTIL THE SEAT BELT WAS UNLATCHED. THE SEAT BELT HAD BECOME EXTREMELY TIGHT AROUND THE PASSENGER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED. AFTER HAVING THE SEAT BELT REPLACED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE SEAT WAS TILTED IN A RECLINED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000.