2001 Toyota Sienna Powertrain & Transmission Problems

ON 8/18/05 MORNING THE SHIFTER LEVER BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BROKEN LOOSE THAT I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE GEARS. THEN I BROUGHT MY VAN TO STEVENS CREEK TOYOTA (SAN JOSE, CA) WHERE I BOUGHT THE SIENNA VAN FOR REPAIR. AFTER THE TOYOTA TECHNICIAN OPENED UP FOR INSPECTION, I LATER WENT THERE TO TOOK SOME PHOTOS OF THE CONDITIONS, I FOUND OUT THAT THE MAIN CAUSE FOR THE MALFUNCTION OF THE SHIFTER WAS A BIG PIECE OF CAST IRON (APPROX. 1/2" THICK) THAT SERVES AS A MAIN FRAME OR BRACKET FOR ALL OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPORT OF THEIR MOVING MECHANISM BROKE IN HALF ( HAVE PHOTOS TO PROVE IT) LITERALLY. SINCE IT APPEARS AS A "DEFECTIVE PART" OF THE SHIFTER AND NOT A "WEAR & TEAR" CONDITION, I 'VE REQUESTED TOYOTA CORP. (BOTH LOCAL & HEADQUARTES) TO REPLACE IT WITH FREE OF CHARGE. THE REQUEST WAS DECLINED DUE TO WARRANTY POLICY BEYOND 30,000 MILES/ 3 YEAR. THEN TOYOTA CORP. ISSUED ME A CASE NO.:2005-0818-0778 (FILED 8/18/05).I ALSO ASKED SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, AUTO MECHANICS, AND TOYOTA CORP. AGENT THAT HAVE THEY SEEN OR HEARD ANYTHING SIMILAR LIKE MY CASE, NOBODY COULD CONFIRM IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM OF "WEAR & TEAR" BEYOND WARRANTY PERIOD. THE QUESTION IS HOW A CONSUMER LIKE MYSELF GET PROJECTED FROM THE "DEFECTIVE PART" THAT A DRIVER DEFENDS HEAVILY FOR MANEUVERING OF THE VEHICLE HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE GEARS? FORTUNATELY, THE INCIDENT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY WIFE AND (3) YOUNG KIDS OR GET STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RAILROAD WITH RUNNING TRAIN APPROACHING. I BELIEVE THAT "SAFETY ISSUE" SHALL BE THE FIRST PRIORITY NEEDED TO BE RESOLVED BY TOYOTA CORP.

WHEN I GOT HOME PUT VEHICLE IN PARK EXITED VEHICLE WITH IT STILL RUNNING. VEHICLE JUMPED INTO GEAR HIT MY GARAGE CAUSING DAMAGE TO GARAGE. *JB

CAR ROLLED UPHILL WHILE IN NEUTRAL INTO THE GARAGE FROM THE DRIVEWAY. I INJURED MY L KNEE AS I WAS TRYING TO GET BACK IN THE CAR TO STOP IT BY BEING PINNED BY THE DRIVERS DOOR AS IT HIT A STEEL SUPPORT POST IN THE GARAGE.