Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Sienna empty, idling, gear in park, takes off, crash! Call it the "dog chow incident."


"Got the dog food, put the dog food in the tailgate..."


Jan 26, 2014 - Lindstrom, MN - Vehicle Speed ControlI PARKED MY CAR ON AN UPWARD INCLINING DRIVEWAY AND LEFT IT IN IDLE. I WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE TO GO AND GET MY DOG AND SPEAK TO MY IN-LAWS. I BROUGHT THE KENNEL OUT TO THE CAR, LIFTED THE TAILGATE AND PUT THE KENNEL IN. I WENT BACK IN THE HOUSE, GOT THE DOG FOOD, PUT THE DOG FOOD IN THE TAILGATE. I WENT BACK INSIDE AND WAS SPEAKING TO MY IN-LAWS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEARD A LOUD CRASH. WE WENT OUTSIDE AND MY CAR HAD ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THEIR GARAGE. THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE ACCELERATION. THE DOG WAS STILL IN THE HOUSE WITH US. THE CAR WAS IN PARK. THE TAILGATE WILL NOT LIFT UNLESS THE CAR IS IN PARK WHILE IDLING. WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE, THE DOORS LOCK. SO, WE KNOW IT WAS IN PARK. THE CAR CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE FROM THE FORCE OF THE ACCELERATION. THE CAR ALSO HAD GRAVITY WORKING AGAINST IT, AS IT WAS AT AN UPWARD INCLINE.

Question: Toyota, how can you manage to blame the driver for this incident?