A KNOCKING SOUND CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
2000 Toyota Sienna complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2000 record →
ENGINE HAS FAILED DUE TO OIL LEAKING AT PISTON RINGS/SLUDGE. TOYOTA CLAIMING IMPROPER MAINTENANCE. HAVE MAINTENANCE RECORDS FOR OIL CHANGES AT INTERVALS BETTER THAN RECOMMENDED. TOYOTA CLAIMS DENIED BECAUSE SERVICE NOT PERFORMED AT TOYOTA. ESTIMATE FROM DEALER FOR REPAIR IS $8,300. THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME OTHER PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE BUT THEY WON'T INVESTIGATE FURTHER DUE TO SLUDGE EVEN THOUGH I CAN PROVE PROPER MAINTENANCE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING RIGHT SIDE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR WILL COME OPEN BY ITSELF. WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO DRIVE DOOR WILL MAKE A NOISE LIKE IT'S NOT SHUT. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK *YH
ENGINE SLUDGE @ 25000, OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000-5000 MILES, TOYOTA NOT HONORING WARRANTY, CONTACTED ATTORNEY.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
OIL LIGHT FAILED TO REPORT MAJOR ENGINE SLUDGE PROBLEM BEFORE THERE WAS SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. THE DAMAGE IS REPORTED BY THE TOYOTA DEALER AS $8900.00 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN A CAR WITH ONLY 20,181 MILES. THE LIGHT FLASHED FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND NEVER TURNED ON AGAIN. THE OIL LIGHT FAILED TO INDICATE LOW OIL PRESSURE IN THE SYSTEM CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE.*AK
ANOTHER SIENNA SLUDGE VICTIM. TOYOTA ANSWERS REHEARSED. DID NOT EVEN QUESTION OWNER ABOUT MAINTENANCE HISTORY; THEREFORE, OBVIOUSLY IRRELEVANT TO THEM. CONTACTING ATTORNEY TO INQUIRE ABOUT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
ENGINE SLUDGED AT 11,105 MILES IN SPITE OF CORRECT OIL CHANGES. TIRES NEED REPLACEMENT AT 13,100 MILES.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATES CONTINOUSLY. OIL TURNS THICK/ SLUDGY LIKE SUBSTANCE, ALSO, BLOWS OUT BLUE BLACK SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CONTINOUSLY ILLUMINATES. OIL TURNS TO THICK SLUDGE LIKE SUBSTANCE, AND BLUE BLACK SMOKE COMES FROM TAIL PIPE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
I BELIEVE ENGINE SLUDGE COMPLAINTS ARE FICTICIOUS.*AK
WHITE SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE TAILPIPE WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED. TOYOTA DEALER SAYS THAT THE RINGS ARE BAD DUE TO SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THEY, AND TOYOTA CORPORATE OFFICE, SAY THAT THE SLUDGE IS DUE TO NEGLIGENT MAINTENANCE. HOWEVER, OIL CHANGES WERE MADE AT THE PROPER INTERVALS ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE DEALER SAYS THAT REPAIRS WILL COST BETWEEN $2300 AND $5700 AND THAT THE WARRANTY IS VOIDED BY THE PRESENCE OF SLUDGE. I TRIED, UNSUCCESSFULLY, TO CONVINCE THEM THAT THIS LEVEL OF SLUDGE BUILD-UP WAS NOT REASONABLE FOR AN ENGINE OF THIS AGE. I'M AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO TO GET TOYOTA TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY. THIS SEEMS LIKE FRAUD TO ME. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT NHTSA CAN DO? GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINT THAT I'VE SEEN ON THIS SITE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, I THINK SOME GOVERNMENTAL PRESSURE WOULD HELP TO GET TOYOTA TO DO THE RIGHT THING.*AK
CONSUMER WAS PULLING UP IN DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE. SHE TOOK IT TO GAS STATION, AND MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT OIL WAS LESS THAN THREE QUARTS LOW. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
NOTICED WHITE SMOKE UPON STARTING CAR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE TRAVELING-STOPPED AND PUT IN 1 QUART OF OIL, LIGHT WENT OUT. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT MORNING, TUESDAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT OUR ENGINE WAS FULL OF SLUDGE DUE TO IMPROPER OR LACK OF MAINTENANCE. THE REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $9K TO REPLACE THE ENGINE OR $5500 TO REBUILD THE ENGINE. WE THEN TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR, AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING, ONLY THIS ESTIMATE WAS $2K TO "CLEAN" THE ENGINE. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED THE TOYOTA REP ON OUR BEHALF AND WAS DENIED ANY HELP THROUGH THE WARRANTY. IN FILING A REPORT WITH TOYOTA WAS TOLD MY NEXT STEP WAS ARBITRATION - "THE PAPERWORK IS IN YOUR WARRANTY BOOK". I HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE CLEANED AT MY OWN EXPENSE.*AK
THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM EXHAUST AT START UP, VEHICLE WAS USING 6-7 QUARTS OF OIL IN A 10 WEEK PERIOD. DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS SLUDGE BUILD UP IN ENGINE, AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *SLC
THE VEHICLE CRANKS BUT DOES NOT START, THE VEHICLE CONSUMES EXCESSIVE OIL DUE TO TO THE ENGINE BEING SLUDGED AND THE RINGS WERE BAD, THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A SHORT BLOCK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED, AND WOULD COULD $6000 BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS CONSIDERED TO BE INVALID DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE.*YH
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TO THE LEFT. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WOULD PULL HARDER TO LEFT. PROBLEM WAS NOT ALIGNMENT OR TIRES. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC COULD NOT DO REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. MANUFACTURER BUYING VEHICLE BACK.*AK
WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WILL JUST OPEN. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER 3 TIMES. DEALER COULDN'T FIND CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
1 WHEEL BOLT SEVERED WHILE TRYING TO REMOVE LUGS: NUTS. 1 WHEEL BOLT SEVERED WHILE TIGHTENING LUG NUT. BOTH BOLTS FAILED ON THE SAME DAY AND WERE BEING WORKED ON BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.*AK
THE ENGINE PRODUCE CLOUDS OF GREY/WHITE SMOKE FOR 5 TO 10 SECONDS AFTER A COLD START UP. UPON CHECKING, FOUND THE ENGINE OIL 1.5 TO 2 QUARTS LOW. ADDED OIL AND DROVE VEHICLE FOR A FEW DAYS WITH SIMILAR SYMPTOMS - SMOKE AFTER COLD START OF AFTER BEING PARKED FOR MORE THAN 2 HOURS. ON 7/3/01 BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER LOOKED UNDER ONLY ONE CAMSHAFT COVER, FOUND EVIDENCE OF SLUDGE AND - EVEN THOUGH I HAD RECEIPTS AND PROOF OF THREE PRIR OIL & FILTER CHANGES AT 5800, 11000, AND 16595 MILES - DECLARED MY ENGINE WARRANTY NULL & VOID AND MADE NO OTHER ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET TOYOATA TO HONOR MY WARRANTY AND TO HAVE ANOTHER DEALER OR MECHANIC DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, RESEARCH ON THE WEB INDICATES THAT TOYOTA IS STONEWALLING MANY CUSTOMER LIKE MYSELF.
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 35 MPH RIGHT FRONTAL COLLISION, TOTALLY DAMAGING FRONT END. ALSO, UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH AND WHEN DEPRESSING ACCLERATOR VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED OR SHIFT INTO REVERSE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERE PULLING TO THE RIGHT SINCE NEW. BOTH FRONT TIRES REPLACED AT 12000 MILES. DEALER DENIES THE EXISTENCE OF PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 55MPH AIR BAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED IN PATH AND CONSUMER REARENDED THE VEHICLE.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN VERY QUICKLY FORM THE HIGH SPEED THAT CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD GIVEN, CONSUMER HAS HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWICE, ALSO THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED.*YD
WHILE DRIVING IN INTERSTATE 15 AT 70 MPH,I SUDDENLY LOST SPEED AND TACHOMETER WENT UP.THE ENGINE RUNNING BUT SPEED GOING DOWN.I JUST USE INERTIA TO PULL INTO THE MEDIAN. DEALER SAID THEY HAVE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION.THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM,PLEASE ACT ASAP. *AK
LOUD POPPING IN FRONT WHEEL AREA. *AK
UPON STARTING UP AND NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE, SMOKE WILL COME FROM EXHAUST. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER AND THROUGHOUT ENGINE, CAUSING SMOKE. FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE VOIDED WARRANTY, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WERE AT HER EXPENSE, APPROXIMATELY $5000.00. *AK *SLC
TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE IS OUR FAULT DESPITE REGULAR OIL CHANGES. WE DON'T HAVE ALL OUR RECEPTS BUT CHANGED THE OIL AT LEAST 4 TIMES SINCE WE OWNED THE CAR. IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE THAT WE WERE NEGLECTFUL, ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM SEEING SO MANY OTHER CASES WITH THE SAME THING HAPPENING. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INVESTIGATION HERE SOON. *AK
REAR SHOULDER AND LAP RESTRAINT TIGHTENED UP ON CONSUMERS 7 YEAR CHILD. CHILD STARTED CRYING IN BACK SEAT AND TRYING TO GET OUT. CHILD PUT SHOULDER BELT BEHIND HIM, AND TRIED TO TWIST OUT, BUT COULD NOT. BELT TWISTED BENEATH CHILD, AND CONSUMER HAD TO CUT CHILD OUT. CHILD HAD ABDOMINAL ABRASIONS FROM SEAT BELT. CONSUMER WAS HAVING DEALER LOOK IN TO IT. PLEASE ADD VIN, AND MILEAGE TO THE FORM. *AK
POWER DOOR WILL NOT RESPOND WHENEVER DOOR IS IN MOTION/CLOSING. UNABLE TO REOPEN DOOR WHILE IN CLOSING MODE. DOOR WILL NOT RESPOND TO DOOR SWITCH UNTIL IT REACHES LOCKING POINT. CHILDS HAND WAS MASHED IN DOOR BEFORE GETTING DOOR TO REOPEN. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *SLC
ENGINE HAD SLUDGE BUILD UP THAT CLOGGED ENGINE AND CAUSED IT TO FAIL. SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF EXHAUST. NOTHING LIT UP ON DASHBOARD, INDICATING A PROBLEM. CONSUEMR WENT ON A 300 MILE TRIP AND HAD TO ADD 21/2 QUARTS OF OIL. DEALER STATED THE ONLY WAY IT COULD HAVE GOTTEN LIKE THAT WAS BY NOT HAVING OIL CHANGES. CONSUMER HAS RECEIPTS FOR OIL ADDED TO VEHICLE. *AK
THERE WAS A SUDDEN DECREASE IN ACCELERATION WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL, AND AN UNUSUAL NOISE.*AK
INTERGRATED CUP HOLDERS DON'T HOLD CUPS PROPERLY, WHEN SHUTTING DOOR EVERYTHING SPILLS RIGHT DOWN INTO DOOR PANEL, AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS DOORS GET STUCK.*AK
VEHICLE DRIFTS FROM SIDE TO SIDE ON ROAD.*AK
OUTSIDE VENT HOSE WON'T STAY CLOSED.*AK
THE TRANSMISSION IS BEING FULLY REPLACED BY TOYOTA WITHOUT CHARGE.
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERE PULLING TO THE LEFT SINCE NEW. BOTH FRONT TIRES REPLACED AT 7,500 MILES. A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AND THE DEALER HAVE DENIED THE EXISTENCE OF PROBLEM.
BRAKES WOULD MAKE NOISE & JERK WHEN APPLIED. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. BRAKES WERE BURNED AND HAD THEM REPLACED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
THE ENGINE SLUDGED AT 23,000 MILES.
THERE WERE TWO GAPS IN TIRES BETWEEN TREAD AND BODY OF TIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH ON A 2000, TOYOTA, SIENNA; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P215/65R15, DOT# W2VFALT229. FIRESTONE NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. *AK CONSUMER HAS TIRE FOR VIEWING. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST POWER AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, POSSIBLE ENGINE OR ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. *JB
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 75 MPH/TACHOMETER WENT TO ZERO, AND ENGINE KEPT RUNNING. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT SHE WAS # 49 ON WAITING LIST FOR A TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS ON BACK ORDER. *AK
I TOOK MY NEW TOYOTA SIENNA TO BE REPAIRED BECAUSE IT WAS SMOKING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAD SLUDGE IN IT AND TOYOTA WAS DENYING ANY WARRANTY CLAIMS. HOW DOES A BRAND NEW ENGINE GET SLUDGE IN IT? THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR INSTANCES REPORTED ON VARIOUS SITES ON THE INTERNET. THE PATTERN IS SIMILAR - LOW MILEAGE TOYOTA VEHCLES (ESPECIALLY SIENNAS) SUDDENLY SMOKING AND HAVING SLUDGE IN THEIR ENGINES, DEPSITE PROPER MAINTENANCE AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THERE CLEARLY IS A COVERUP HERE BY TOYOTA. THEY ARE DECLINING WARRANTY CLAIMS RATHER THAN TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM.*AK
WE ARE VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS VAN AND THE LITTLE SERVICE WE RECEIVE WE WISHED WE NEVER PURCHUSE THIS CAR..... UNSAFE & DEFECTIVE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
COMPLETE AND PERMANENT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND PERMANENTLY LOST ABILITY TO ACCELERATE/TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT 65MPH. BARELY COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD WHILE TRYING TO AVOID TRAFFIC BEARING DOWN ON US (TWO ADULTS AND THREE SMALL CHILDREN). WE HAVE NOW DISCOVERED THAT THIS DEFECT WITH SIENNAS, WAS KNOWN AS EARLY AS JUNE 2000. THIS DEFECT USUALLY CAUSES COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE DURING SUSTAINED HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOYOTA WAS NEGLIGENT IN NOT WARNING OWNERS OF THIS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS DEFECT. OUR VEHICLE IS NOW ABOUT 300 MILES FROM OUR HOME, WITH NO FIX CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM TOYOTA. *AK
HAVE BEEN TOLD I HAVE SLUDGE BUILD UP IN MY ENGINE DUE TO LACK OF MAINTANANCE. I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR 3 OIL CHANGES IN THE FIRST 19000 MILES, BUT THEY THEN TELL ME IT MUST HAVE BEEN INFERIOR OIL. HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE NATION WIDE, AND TOYOTA WILL NOT STAND BEHIND ITS WARRANTY. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN CAUSED SOLELY DUE TO A LACK OF MAINTANANCE TO ALL THE PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA WANTS TO REBUILD THE ENGINE ON A ONE YEAR OLD VAN WITH 19000 MILES FOR $2200, THOUGH IT WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. WILL NOT ACCEPT RECEIPTS FOR SERVICE DONE AS PROOF OF MAINTANANCE. WHAT ELSE ARE WE SUPPOSED TO HAVE TO ENSURE PROOF?*AK
THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY PROVIDED WITH A HOLE IN THE FRAME FOR A TETHER STRAP ON THE LEFT CENTER ISLE SEAT, THE DEALER REFUSES TO DRILL A HOLE IN THE FRAME SO THE HARDWARE CAN BE INSTALLED FOR ANOTHER STRAP FOR HER OTHER CHILD. NLM
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2000 Toyota Sienna → · Every Sienna year → · How the figures are calculated →