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.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while his wife was parking, she depressed the brake pedal however, the vehicle failed to stop. A message displayed on the instrument panel -??Parking brake failure see dealer-??. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a wall. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact-??s wife sustained injury to her neck and shoulder. Medical attention was required. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the undisclosed dealer-??s service center lot. The vehicle had not yet been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 28,800. The contact stated that their vehicle continues to display the same message about the parking brake. They are unwilling to drive their vehicle.
Our 2021 Toyota Siena LE AWD has an issue with the brakes randomly releasing briefly when slowing to a stop. While slowing to a stop with steady pressure on the brake pedal, the braking action will momentarily give out, resulting in the vehicle lurching forward beyond the anticipated stopping/slowing distance before the braking action re-engages. This could easily result in a collision with cars, bikes, or pedestrians as the vehicle suddenly stops slowing without warning and unexpectedly increases stopping distance. It could result in a serious collision if the issue caused the Sienna's stopping distance to go past a stop sign or red light into an intersection. The problem is intermittent and difficult to reproduce, but has occurred repeatedly over the 2+ years we've owned the Sienna. Going over any kind of bump, crack, pothole, etc. seems to increase the likelihood of the occurrence, but it also happens on dry, flat pavement. No warning lamps, error messages, or other related symptoms from the vehicle either before or after occurrences of the problem.
The breaks give out to a point where you run the risk of running into someone or something. We've visited Toyota 3 times now complaining of this issue yet they just state it's the regenerative breaks and how they operate. Although the breaking never got to this level of safety concern until we reached around 30,000 miles. I filed a complaint with Toyota that resulted in nothing being done. A couple examples would be sitting at a stop light and the breaks release almost causing us to run into the car in front of us. Pulling into daycare trying to stop while pulling into the parking spot and the breaks release. The last one is while going down hills the breaks seem to let go and the vehicle speeds up. It scared my wife so much that we actually sold the vehicle as Toyota deemed it safe. We loved the vehicle but can't risk the safety of our family.
Since the day I bought the van new from a Toyota dealer, the brakes periodically (roughly once a week) will feel as if I've momentarily let off the brake and tapped the accelerator. In other words, the decelerating van suddenly has a quick surge forward or lunge of acceleration. It seems quite random when this happens. I'm usually applying a gentle to medium amount of braking and the van is traveling somewhere in the 5-35 mph range. I've yet to have any close calls, but it is a scary sensation (as if the brakes have momentarily given out) and I have to quickly react by pressing down harder on the brake pedal. Because it occurs quite randomly, I haven't taken the vehicle to the dealer yet as it is highly unlikely I'll be able to replicate the issue for them. I searched online and saw that hundreds of other Sienna 2021-23 drivers are reporting the same issue. To repeat: the problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer, nor inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance rep or others. No warning lights come on when this issue happens. I currently have 36,000 miles on the vehicle. The issue has happened almost weekly since I first bought the vehicle.
- Friendswood, TX, USA
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The brake sometimes does fade. Hard to explain but a sudden feeling like the car isn't stopping when slowing down for a light or someone crossing or needing to brake. This is potentially very dangerous since today I almost ran a red light because the brake let go briefly. This is a wide known issue and a lot of people are complaining about it, but dealers aren't able to replicate it because it happens and goes. My 2021 Sienna was brand new, and I first had it and thought it was supposed to be like that. The issue disappeared for months before coming back again 4 times this week alone. The car is very well maintained and only taken to dealer. This is an article from a forum of many people also experiencing it: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Periodically, when I press on the brake to slow down for a red light or stop sign or to make a right hand turn, my van, instead of slowing down, surges forward as if it is accelerating. It feels as if my vehicle jumps forward. I am able to stop the vehicle by slamming on my brakes. I believe my safety and the safety of others is at risk each time this occurs as I worry it will happen when I need to stop suddenly for a pedestrian or for another vehicle. The problem has not been reproduced. The issue occurs sporadically. It may be weeks before it reoccurs. I went for a ride along with a service manager but was unable to reproduce the issue. It has not been inspected except at the dealership. No warning lamps appeared. This issue has been occurring since June 21, 2021. I have kept a log since then.
Braking system disengages briefly when coming to a stop. Have been told its the transition from EV mode to gas but it poses a safety concern. The problem was replicated by Carmax service and they have sent me to toyota dealership.
went to stop, so I pressed on the brake pedal. as I slowed down, the brakes released and the vehicle surged forward suddenly as if the accelerator pedal had been pressed. i panic stomped the brake pedal and the vehicle started braking again with a sudden hard stop. The pedal had to be lifted and depressed again for the brakes to reactivate. during this short time, the vehicle surged forward and accelerated. No, I was not pressing the accelerator pedal. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection. The vehicle surged forward suddenly while braking. I was not pressing the accelerator pedal. There was no one in front of me, but had there been, I am unsure if the vehicle would have stopped in time, or if the AEB would have even worked, seeing as I was pressing the pedal and the brakes were not working. toyota has said that nothing is wrong, and that I am feeling the "transition" between regen braking and friction braking, except, the vehicle GAINED speed, as if power was being applied to the electric motors instead of regen resistance drag. The brake pedal no longer worked, and the fake "tachometer" went from in the "CHG" section of the tach to the "neutral" position, despite me pressing the brake pedal. I did not have time to see if it went up, as I had to lift up and stomp on the pedal again to get it to actually stop at the stop sign. I have been unable to reproduce this issue on demand, as I cannot quite figure out the conditions that trigger it, as it seems completely at random when it does it. I have some ideas, but toyota has been unwilling to listen or address it. every time a dealer tech sits in the van with me and connects their computer, it won't do it, and they won't leave it connected to the car long enough for me to drive/record a whole day or two to get it triggered. There are no warning lights or messages on the dash.
2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid. The following has been true from the beginning of ownership of new Sienna. When braking for a turn or stop, as speed drops below about 10-15 MPH, there can be a sudden power/speed surge and lurching forward that lasts for 1-2 seconds. This feels as if there are no brakes at all for those 1-2 seconds Dealer says that that's just the way that hybrids are, that once your speed drops below when the EV system had been regenerating electrical energy. But it is scary because, if for example a child jumped in front of the car at that moment, there may not be adequate braking. The dealer says there is no software fix to smooth the transition from regenerative braking to "normal" braking. WHY ISN'T THERE??
While braking and in a slight turn the vehicle lunges forward. I have learned to compensate for this but prior to compensating I was involved in a rear end crash that was the result of this defect. I was stopped behind this person when she pulled forward. I started pulling forward and she slammed on the brakes. I attempted to stop and the vehicle lunged forward striking her vehicle. The person rear ended claimed no injuries as well as uninjured children properly restrained in the vehicle. She was fully ambulating without complaint. She is now claiming injuries and filed a lawsuit.
odd random surge while lightly breaking and slowing down. Very scary and concerning. Braking while coming to a stop sign or light, it surges forward while brakes are applied. It happens several times a week while driving short distances
The braking system will disengage randomly during braking for a stop. Results in the vehicle lunging forward. There is no warning when it happens and no codes. It has happened at least once a week if not more since gettingthe vehicle. I have brought it up to the toyota service center but they won't look at it without charging a fee.
A sudden feeling like the car isn't stopping when slowing down for a light when applying break. Here is more detailed kind of incident - A sudden feeling like the car isn't stopping when slowing down for a light or when braking down hill, but it happens at other times as well. Sometimes a normal traffic light. I'm braking and then all of the sudden the car feels like it isn't slowing down and kind of jumps and then I just make sure I keep my foot on the break to make sure veh stops I noticed it when I first got the vehicle every so often but when I hit about 40,000 miles got worse, but it seems to be getting worse Currently have 67,000 miles on vehicle, but just had service and it is great most of those miles are road miles it was doing it every so often, but now doing it even more often
The vehicle has had rocks get in the suspension 4 times so far which creates loud clunking noises and can cause a noticeable feel in the steering. The most recent time, after the rock entered the front end, the brakes were soft and required excessive pedal force followed by a clunk before the brakes abruptly applied. I like on a paved road with a rock driveway and it seems like the shielding for the front end is inadequate. I have friends with a 2022 sienna that live on a gravel road that have experienced similar issues.
The braking/throttle system malfunctioned. It is available for inspection. On multiple occasions, the vehicle braking system has engaged then disengaged before coming to a stop. When coming to a stop with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle full disengaged braking while the brake pedal was still depressed. Luckily, the vehicle reengaged the brake before we were entered into cross traffic. On multiple occasions the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle proceeded into traffic, but then the throttle control disengaged, causing us to nearly have a collision. Luckily, the vehicle throttle reengaged before we were hit by another vehicle. Our safety feels at risk because we don't know if the vehicle will stop, causing us to be involved in a collision, and we will be at fault for the collision. We have taken it to the dealership multiple times, but they have not been able to reproduce the issue, and we cannot reproduce it ourselves. The conditions for the issue to occur do not seem to be consistent. We have documented dates and time when the issue has occurred, but the dealership was not able to find vehicle logs for those dates. Only the dealership and Toyota mechanics have inspected the vehicle. There were no warning indicators. The first documented occurrence was 9/26/2022 3:30PM CST.
While braking the brake pedal pressure on the brake pedal and the brakes themselves will lose pressure and you have to suddenly press harder on the pedal to keep stopping distance it happens randomly, and without warning I-??ve had it into the dealer. They replaced the brake antilock pump for an unrelated reason as they say, there are no recalls I explained the problem to them. Several times before the brake pump was replaced. They said they know of the problem but don-??t know of a fix, it-??s quite dangerous when it happens
I would like to make formal complaint in regards to a manufacture defect. I purchased my Toyota Sienna XSE brand new in August of 2021 at Cerritos Toyota in California. On December 24th at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Christmas eve, after filling up gas at Sam's club in Fountain Valley, CA. I pull out on to the street heading northbound on Warner approaching intersection as I come to complete stop on red. All of a sudden, my Sienna completely shut itself off and the engine light came on. I put it back on park and restart the car. As I attempt to accelerate forward. The car jerk and the brake didn't work and the engine light came on. Fortunately, I was able to make a U turn and pull into a gas station near by ( Shell) and I thank the lord almighty there was no car right behind me. I could of gotten rear ended. It was the most terrifying moment of my life. My wife and I was in the car at the time of the incident. We waited patiently over an hour for Triple AAA to have it tow the nearest dealership next to my house in Long Beach, CA. My 2021 Toyota Sienna currently has 52,023 miles and sitting at the dealership to be repair at Long Beach West Coast Toyota. I have contacted Toyota of this incident and they refused to fully covered repair instead they offered me 700 payment assistant the rest would come out of my pockets. I believed the car should be part of the campaign recall and nothing should come out my expense. I would like you you guys to investigate the incident and look into this matter as soon as possible because there thousands like my mind that could there have the same issue but was not part the campaign recall. A bulletin was published on April 13, 2022 affecting 2021 -2022 Toyota Sienna. Production Period March 3rd, 2020 through April 7th 2022. Manufacture's Campaign Number: Toyota: 22TB03
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Potomac, MD, USA