Federal safety regulators are currently investigating a complaint of unintended acceleration in the Toyota Sienna. The Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has acknowledged receiving the complaint. The Complainant reported that he applied the accelerator pedal to accelerate the vehicle and experienced unwanted acceleration upon release.

According to the safety regulators, the field data indicates that when a retainer pin is missing from the driver’s side center stack/console trim panel, the panel can detach from the console and the accelerator pedal can become entrapped under the trim panel causing unwanted acceleration. The trim panel was used on Toyota Sienna minivans produced from January through June of 2003, according to the ODI. The new component used after June 2003 apparently does not “entrap the throttle,” according to the safety agency. The ODI has launched a preliminary investigation to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety related consequences of unintended acceleration in the Sienna. Our firm is currently handling cases dealing with the problems with other Toyota vehicles. Graham Esdale is the contact lawyer on those cases for the firm. If you have any questions or need any information feel free to call him at 800-898-2034 or email him at Graham.Esdale@beasleyallen.com.

Source: ODI Web Site

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