This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
When negotiating moving into traffic at slow speeds, when a small amount of accelerator movement is made the vehicle rapidly accelerates making it necessary to quickly apply the brakes to avoid collision. The vehicle was purchased used from a dealer and there was a recall bulletin (tech service bulletin issued 11/7/2003 for 04-05 Sienna bulletin no TC007-03 out on the engine control module. When pointed out to the dealer they simply stated that that recall was only available to the original purchaser and then only if reported within the first three months after purchase. Was told by two dealers that the recall did not apply to our vehicle and later that a recall was not issued for that problem. ( I have a copy of the origional recall notice stating the above problem)
Radiator failure resulting in coolant leakage in the transmission fluid and transmission is failing. I noticed my 2004 Toyota Sienna had some belt noise that got worse. The van was due for a water pump/timing belt change. Later the engine temperature gauge read high and after checking the fluids noticed the antifreeze level to be low and topped it up. A week later while driving on the highway steam started coming out of the hood. I noticed the pink fluid had also leaked out of a tube (looked like a relief tube) on the driver side. Radiator level was low. The transmission fuel looked pinkish and read about six inches above the max level on the dipstick. Trans fluid was milky pink, thick, and had grainy deposit. Took the van to the autoland dealer in springfield, NJ to diagnose the problem and to have the water pump and timing belt change at the same time. Had to leave the van overnight. I picked up the vehicle with a nearly $2000 bill for repairs (brakes, tire rotation, timing belt and water pump) other than changing the trans. Fluid or telling me what was wrong. Dealer said someone put additive to the fluid"?". note that only autoland had been servicing the vehicle. They refused to change the trans fluid. "I am not touching that." The dealer said. I now know from a local trans repair shop that the radiator was leaking coolant into the trans fluid. A known problem with radiators on Toyota vehicles that had a recall. I never received notice of the recall. I now have an estimated $4,000 problem to replace the radiator and transmission that could have been prevented if autoland had done its job properly and not refused to change the trans. Fluid. I am very disappointed with Toyota and with autoland's service.
- Scotch Plains, NJ, USA
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The outside temperature was below 32 and it was close to 25 or so. When I was driving the car at 40 mph with engine temp still slightly above cold(not at optimal which is almost half way) and slowed down by using gentle brakes(not hard brakes). Just before the vehicle comes to a full stop, there is unintended acceleration and I could see even the RPM(scale) to spike temporarily. This has been happening every time when outside temp is cold and vehicle is driven with cold or slightly above cold engine temperature. There is a risk of hitting another vehicle or meeting accident if misjudge my braking because of this problem.. please note : this problem disappears when engine temperate is at optimal and I have driving a Honda Accord 2008 exl for last 7 years(was bought new one), I never had experienced this problem in that car even when driven with cold engine.
Fan belt started squealing upon engine start, took to dealer and replaced serpentine belt. Several months later groaning noise started coming from engine, suspected misaligned belt or bad pulley. Took vehicle to the dealer and they found wear on the exterior of the timing belt cover caused by the partial separation of the crankshaft pulley. Several reports online of owners experiencing this problem with Toyota. Checked with dealer and Toyota customer service and they claim my VIN is not covered by the recall they issued in 2011 for the very same failure I am experiencing (11V539000). How is it possible that a known defect in their vehicles can be excluded because their experts have made the determination that the "cause" was a problem at one factory or part supplier when other owners that don't fall into the specific parameters have had the very same problem and were forced to pay for repairs out of pocket?
Complete loss of power while in motion entering freeway. Previously had noticed steering difficulty at times and engine light going on, but had always stopped after a short while. After the failure it was diagnosed as failure of crank shaft pulley. We found that Toyota had done a recall for this issue, but had not included our vehicle in the recall or notified us. Toyota denied coverage of the required repair. Driver and two small children in care at time of failure, just about to enter freeway. Over $800 in repairs.
Passenger side sliding door cable snapped and will not open. Passengers can be trapped in the van and not able to get out. This is a known problem with Toyota Sienna minivans with electric doors. In addition, the motor is often known to fail. The the cable has a black sheathing that is inadequate and wears causing it to jam in the pulley and break or exposing it to later corrosion and then it will break as well. Toyota has known of this problem for years and does not issue a recall. You only need to check the Toyota forum to confirm the problem with many owners reports. Repairs run $1,200 to $2,000 at the Toyota dealer.
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while starting the engine, he noticed an abnormal squeaking noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the crank shaft pulley had detached from the vehicle. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 11V539000 (engine and engine cooling) but wasw advised by the manufacturer that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
My wife and I purchased a 2004 Toyota Sienna with 25,000 mi. It was a used vehicle when we purchased it. When we purchased the vehicle we also purchased a 7 year, 100,000 mile bumper to bumper extended warranty that has currently expired. Approximately three months ago we notices that when coming to a stop there was a thump below the vehicle which we originally thought was the transmission. My wife and I brought it to a local shop and explained that when the vehicle hits approximately 15 mph we feel a thump below the vehicle towards the center. Regardless of breaking, accelerating or coasting we felt a thump. We had problems with the transmission while the vehicle was under warranty. We brought it to Toyota for repair. Toyota replaced the transmission "under warranty? at approximately 95,000 miles with a brand new transmission. We currently have the vehicle at a local repair shop. They have informed us that the way that the Toyota transmission works is that they have a pipe that runs through the radiator. That allows for cooling for the transmission fluid. We were informed that due to age, the pipe simply corroded and cracked causing coolant to leak into the transmission and transmission fluid to leak into the radiator. We requested the simplest solutions and we were told to replace the radiator and flush the tranny and hope for the best. The repair shop has had the vehicle for approximately a month because the ordered an aftermarket radiator in an effort to save us money. The after marker radiator did not fit. I was informed this past weekend that after speaking with Toyota, Toyota has recognized this issue and has discontinued the standard radiators and a new model with mounts now needs to be ordered. Our feeling is that this is a safety issue as well as a design flaw. What can be done"
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that there was a significant amount of anti freeze missing from the radiator reservoir. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 166,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bakersfield, CA, USA