Page 8 of 9 · complaints 351–400 of 429

2008 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 2008 record →

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Oct 10, 2010CA

2008 TOYOTA SIENNA LE, PURCHASED NEW. AT 5K MILES 1/2 TREAD WAS GONE ON FRONT TIRES PER REPAIR TECH NOTES. AT 15K FRONT TIRES WERE 2MM INSIDE AND BALD ON THE OUTSIDE, AND FRONT BRAKES WERE AT 1MM, ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. WENT BACK TO DEALERSHIP DUE TO NOISE COMING FROM BRAKES TWICE. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 33K AND THE VAN NEEDS NEW FRONT TIRES AND FRONT BRAKES (ROTOR?); ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICING WAS DONE (PER OWNERS MANUAL) AND IS DOCUMENTED. THIS VAN HAS A PERMANENT DEFECT. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Sep 25, 201029,000 milesPA

2008 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN. BRAKES ARE SOFT AND HAVE GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WITH TIME. AT 29000 MILES THE BRAKE PEDAL FADES COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE PADS, THE FRONT BRAKE PADS ARE LOW BUT STILL WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE MECHANIC STATES THAT THE CONDITION IS ACCEPTABLE. THIS CONDITION EXISTS AT ALL TIMES, WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING OR NOT, STANDING STILL OR MOVING. HAVE NOT TRIED A PANIC STOP TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE WILL STOP WITHIN A REASONABLE DISTANCE. *TR

Steering
Filed Sep 17, 20102,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE TIRES WERE PROTRUDING IN DIFFERENT ANGLES INWARD AND OUTWARD. THE ABS SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE INDEPENDENTLY, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS LEAKING INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT WORK BECAUSE THE SEAT WAS ACTUALLY DESIGNED FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE, BUT WAS INSTALLED TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT . THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING GREASE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Aug 29, 201044,000 milesGA

2008 SIENNA DRIVERS DOOR STUCK OPEN, STARTED MAKING A GROANING SOUND, CABLE SNAPPED. NOW TOYOTA WANTS 1700 BUCKS TO FIX IT. MY VAN IS 2 YEARS OLD, MILEAGE HAS IT OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CABLE SNAPPED, YOU CANNOT PURCHASE THE CABLE YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE THE MOTOR ALSO... *TR

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Aug 24, 201028,000 milesMO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE ELECTRONIC SLIDING DOORS WERE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO DUST IN BETWEEN THE DOOR PANELS. THE DOOR PANELS WERE CLEANED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING CLEAN DOOR PANELS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

Structure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Aug 19, 201037,000 milesMD

TAILGATE WILL NOT STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. AS SOON AS THE TAILGATE IS LIFTED, THE GATE SLAMS SHUT. IF SOMEONE WERE UNDERNEATH THE GATE, IT WOULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. THIS IS THE SECOND TOYOTA SIENNA THAT WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Fuel System, Other
Filed Aug 17, 201030,000 milesCA

ALL OF THE SUDDEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (2008 SIENNA LIMITED AWD) LAST TWO WEEK IT SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 75 MPH. WITH NOT PRIOR SIGNS OF MALFUNCTION BEFORE THE INCIDENT. I TRIED TO START IT UP BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. (AUGUST 1, 680 SOUTH BOND AL COSTA BLVD IS WHERE MY CAR BROKE DOWN) SO WE TOWED THE CAR TO THE SUNNYVALE TOYOTA. THEY SAID THEY WOULD GIVE US A REPORT OF WHAT WENT WRONG . TURNS OUT THE FUEL PUMP DOESN'T WORK, AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHY BECAUSE IT IS A INDEPENDENT PART, I CONSULTED A PROFESSIONAL AUTO MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION. HE SAID THAT IT USUALLY DOESN'T HAPPEN UNLESS YOUR CAR IS OVER 10 YEARS OLD. I CALLED THE TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS TO FILE A COMPLAINT BUT THEY SAID IT WASN'T A VERY "BIG" PROBLEM AND DIDN'T FOLLOW UP WITH ME AND SAID I HAVE TO CALL MY OWN DEALER ONLY. AND THAT IT WAS PERFECTLY SAFE FOR ME TO PULL OVER WITH THE LEFT OVER MOMENTUM. I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THEIR ANSWER AND I FOUND IT WEIRD THAT ITS BREAKING DOWN ALREADY. WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES AND 2 YEARS NEW. NOT ONLY THAT WHEN THEY RETURNED THE CAR TO US, THEY DECIDED TO MENTION TO US THAT APPARENTLY NOT ONLY IS THE FUEL PUMP NOT WORKING APPARENTLY THE BATTERY ROTTED TOO. THEY SAID THAT ALL THE LIQUID IN THE BATTERY LEAKED OUT SO THEY HAD TO CHANGE IT ALSO. I AM NOT PLEASED THAT THEY DECIDED TO TELL ME THIS WHEN THEY RETURNED THE CAR TO ME NOT BEFORE WHEN THEY TOLD ME THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT WORKING. I AM NOT PLEASED WITH THE QUALITY OF TOYOTA, AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRI

Power Train
Filed Aug 10, 20101,000 milesTX

2008 TOYOTA SIENNA HESITATION AFTER SLOW SPEED TURN/STOP. AFTER SLOWING DOWN FOR A SPEED BUMP OR FOR A TURN, THERE IS A LAG IN THROTTLE RESPONSE AFTER PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN STEPPING BACK ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE ENGINE REVS BUT THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT IS DELAYED. THIS VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY BEHAVES IN THIS MANNER UNDER THE ABOVE CONDITIONS. THE DEALER STATED THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION FOR DRIVE BY WIRE SYSTEMS. IT DOES NOT SEEM NORMAL TO ME. *TR

Steering
Filed Aug 9, 201083,000 milesDE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE IN THE PASSENGERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSTALLED A RUBBER LINING BUT THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS WERE NOT PROPERLY ALIGNED. THE THROTTLE CONTROL HAS ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT, BUT THAT HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Aug 9, 201060,500 milesMS

PULLING 2008 TOTALLY SIENNA INTO PARKING SPOT. AS I WAS TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE LEFT INTO THE PARKING SPACE, THE VAN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AT A HIGH SPEED AND CRASHED INTO A CAR PARKED ADJACENT TO THE SPACE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE EVENT. AFTER APPROPRIATE REPORTS WERE TAKEN, THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT MY CAR MAKE AND MODEL WERE JUST ENTERED INTO A DATABASE. NOT SURE A MECHANIC EVEN INSPECTED THE ACCELERATOR. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 29, 201025,000 milesCO

1. ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON ALERTING US TO A PROBLEM (CHECK ENGINE, SERVICE ENGINE, ETC.). AFTER ALLEGED REPAIR, SPOUSE DROVE TO FAMILIES HOUSE APPROXIMATE 600 MILES AWAY AND FOUND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OIL HAD LEAKED FROM THE SYSTEM - OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED AS PART OF THE FIX. A SECOND DEALER, AT THE NEW LOCATION, "FIXED" WITH THE SAME HOSE AGAIN, WITH SIMILAR RESULTS, THOUGH MY SPOUSE ONLY DROP 120 MILES. SHE IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE THE TRIP HOME DUE TO THIS ISSUE. 2. AFTER TAKING TO DEALER, WAS TOLD THE VVT OIL LINE WAS A KNOWN FAULTY PART AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. WAS NOT A "FORMAL" RECALL, BUT WAS CONSIDERED AN INTERNAL RECALL TO TOYOTA THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED FOR "FREE". BOTH DEALERSHIPS CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM, THOUGH THE ENGINE IS STILL LEAKING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OIL. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DATA ON THE WEB THAT ADDRESSES THIS OIL LINE AND THE ASSOCIATED ISSUES. 3. PART WAS REPLACED, BUT WITH SAME TYPE (PART NUMBER, COMPOSITION, ETC.). BASICALLY, A "NEW" BAD PART WAS REPLACED. FURTHERMORE, THE FIRST DEALERSHIP INSTALLED VARIOUS GASKETS AND SEALS INCORRECTLY, AND STILL GAVE THE CAR A SAFE RATING FOR A 600 MILE TRIP. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP MERELY REPLACED A BAD OIL LINE WITH ANOTHER BAD OIL LINE. *TR

Power Train › Automatic TransmissionCrash
Filed Jul 26, 201015,000 milesMO

PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HOPPED ONTO CURB AND RAN INTO PILLAR AT A RESTAURANT. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS EATING ON THE SIDEWALK WHERE VAN ENDED UP. PLACED VEHICLE INTO PARK AND REMOVED FOOT FROM BRAKE AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LUNGE FORWARD. IMMEDIATELY HIT BRAKES AGAIN AND A BYSTANDER CAME TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG. TALKING TO BYSTANDER TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF BRAKE AGAIN AND VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD (WHILE STILL IN PARK). DECIDED TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF AND HAVE IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. I AM AWAITING A CALL FROM TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER TO SETUP AN INSPECTION, HOWEVER I WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO PICK UP SOME THINGS OUT OF THE CAR. I INSTRUCTED THE SERVICE AGENT THAT THE VAN WAS NOT TO BE DRIVEN UNTIL THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER INSPECTOR HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE VAN WITH ALL PARTIES. NEXT THING I KNOW THE SERVICE AGENT HAD PULLED THE VAN INTO THE SERVICE BAY FOR ME TO GRAB MY BELONGINGS OUT OF. I HOPE THIS DID NOT RUIN ANY DATA IN THE COMPUTER ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PARKING LOT. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 19, 2010AR

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN PRETTY MUCH THE WHOLE TIME OF OWNERSHIP. (BOUGHT NEW FEB 2008). THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING PWR DOOR STICKS CLOSED. I WOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, AND IT WOULDN'T DO IT, AND THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. THEY JUST KEPT TELLING ME IT WAS BECAUSE I LIVE DOWN A DIRT RD. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES. MY CAR NOW HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT, AND THEY ARE FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGING THERE IS AN ISSUE OTHER THAN MY DIRT ROAD. WHEN YOU TURN THE PWR SWITCH FOR THE DOORS OFF ON THE DASH, A STRONG GROWN MAN CANNOT EVEN GET THE DOOR OPEN, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE OPENS EASILY WITH JUST A FINGER. IT MAKES HORRIBLE SOUNDS WHEN IT DOES OPEN. I HAD 5 KIDS IN MY VAN THE OTHER DAY, AND I WAS AN HOUR FROM HOME. MY DOOR OPENED THAT DAY, AND THEN IT WOULD NOT CLOSE BACK. THAT IS THE FOURTH TIME I HAVE HAD TO DRIVE WITH MY DOOR OPEN! I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SENT ME HOME, SAYING IT WAS THE DIRT ROAD, AND THEY CLEANED THE TRACKS. THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO CLEAN AND GREASE THE TRACKS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK! I WENT UP THE RD AND TRIED IT, AND IT DID NOT WORK. I AM SUPPOSED TO TAKE IT IN TOMORROW, BUT HAVE READ THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS. JUST GOOGLE, "SIENNA POWER SLIDING DOOR PROBLEMS". YOU WILL BE ASTONISHED LIKE I WAS! IT IS AWFUL THAT THEY ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM! I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR THIS, ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP MANY TIMES BEFORE MY WARRANTY WENT OUT. I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Jul 12, 201035,000 milesCA

THIS HAPPENED YESTERDAY JULY 10, 2010 SATURDAY IN THE REGIONAL PARKS PARKING LOT. SINCE IT'S UNPAVED SO THERE WAS ROCKS AND DIRT ON THE GROUND SO I WAS DRIVING EXTREMELY SLOW TO COME TO A STOP AT A SPOT TO PARK ' I WAS DRIVING WAY BELOW 5 MPH AND EVEN SLOWER WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO COME TO STOP ' AS I ALSO KNOW OUTSIDE OF THE WIRE FENCE, BEYOND THE NARROW ROAD, IT WAS A CLIFF WITH A SUBSTANTIAL DROP OF ELEVATION; AND I HAVE MY WHOLE FAMILY IN THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING A TOYOTA SIENNA MINI VAN WHICH I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL CUSTOMER AND A BIG BELIEVER OF THE QUALITY. JUST AROUND THE TIME THE CAR IS ABOUT TO STOP, ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT SPED UP FORWARD IN SUCH A FORCE WE WERE ALL PUSHED BACK AGAINST THE SEAT BACK, I IMMEDIATELY MOVED MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE AND PRESS ALL THE WAY BUT IT WAS NOT RESPONSIVE AND DID NOT SLOW THE CAR. INSTEAD, THE CAR SPED UP AND WENT THROUGH THE WIRE FENCE AT ABOUT 45 DEGREE ANGLE, WHILE I WAS STEERING TOWARDS LEFT TO AVOID IT WITH VERY LITTLE EFFECT, AND DROPPED DOWN THE SLOPE ONTO THE ROAD, ALL THE WHILE KEPT SPEEDING UP, AND THEN GOT ACROSS THE ROAD AND HIT A WOODEN POLE ON THE ROAD SIDE BY THE CLIFF STRAIGHT ON. THEN THE CAR STOPPED AND THE BRAKE SEEMED TO WORK AGAIN AS MY RIGHT FOOT WAS PUSHING ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE BRAKE FOR THE WHOLE TIME ' SO I SHIFTED TO PARK, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND THEN OPEN THE DOOR TO TELL PEOPLE COMING UP THAT WE WERE FINE. SOMEONE CALLED THE HIGH WAY PATROL AND THE OFFICER ARRIVED LATER TO TAKE THE CASE AND LATER TRANSFER THE CAS

Power Train
Filed Jul 10, 201020,000 milesMD

2008 TOYOTA SIENNA AWD LEAKING GEAR OIL ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM FROM AWD TRANSFER CASE. OIL IS BURNING. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 16, 201015,000 milesNY

IN THE SUMMER OF 2009 MY TOYOTA 2008 SIENNA XLE AWD ENGINE SPEED SLOWLY STARTED TO CLIMB WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THAT FOLLOWED BUT I BELIEVE I PLACED IT INTO NEUTRAL, STOPPED, PLACED IT INTO PARK (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF THEN ON AGAIN. AFTER THAT THE ENGINE RESPONDED ONLY TO MY ACTIONS ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT DID OCCUR TO ME THAT THE PEDAL COULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT UNDER THE FLOOR MAT SO I CHECKED ITS POSITION AND IT WAS SOME DISTANCE FROM THE PEDAL AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FROM NEW IN MAY 2008 AND THIS UNDIRECTED ACCELERATION HAS ONLY OCCURRED ONCE. THE CAR HAS JUST COMPLETED 20,000 MILES. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER WHO SERVICED MY CAR FOR THE 20,000 MILE INTERVAL AND VIA TOYOTA'S WEB SITE BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE THAT SIENNA VANS CAN ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 14, 201041,000 milesNH

THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT RESPOND TO GET THE CAR INTO THE FIRST OR LOWEST GEAR WHEN PRESSING ON ACCELERATOR IF YOU DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE FULL STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT PRIOR BRAKING OR SLOWING THE VEHICLE AS YOU COME TO A STOP AFFECTS HOW THE CAR SHIFTS INTO GEARS AND COULD BE WHY IT HESITATES OR HANGS IN NO GEAR WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE THROUGH AN INTERSECTION OR STOP. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT LEAST 90% OF THE TIME. THE RESPONSE FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHILE ACCELERATING IN THESE SITUATIONS WARRANTS A REPLACEMENT OR ADJUSTMENT. *TR

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Jun 13, 201010,000 milesCA

EARLY AM ON 6/1/10 I WAS DRIVING TO MY CABIN IN THE COUNTRY AND HEARD A SOFT POPPING SOUND, STOPPED MY CAR AND SMOKE BEGAN FLOWING OUT ALL OPENING AROUND THE HOOD, WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR I SAW FIRE FALLING TO THE ROAD. I WENT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND OPENED THE DOOR ONLY TO FIND THAT AREA FILLED WITH TOXIC FUMES, SHUTTING THE DOOR I REALIZED ALL WAS HOPELESS EXCEPT TO GET AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. WITHIN SECONDS MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I RAN AS FAST AS I COULD TO GET HELP. HAD I BEEN LESS ALERT, INACTIVE, LESS PROACTIVE I WOULD HAVE PROBABLY DIED. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN NOV, 2008 AND HAD A LITTLE OVER 10,000 MILES. THERE WAS NO SMELL OF FUEL OR ANOTHER STRANGE ODOR. THE CAR WAS BURNED TOTALLY, WITH NOTHING REMAINING EXCEPT THE STEEL FRAME. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 8, 2010VA

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA AWD. SATURDAY AFTERNOON I WAS DRIVING EAST ALONG LEE HIGHWAY IN ARLINGTON, VA (PROBABLY MOVING AT ABOUT 30 TO 35 MPH) WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN, AND I SLOWED AS I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION WITH HARRISON STREET (WHICH IS A RATHER BUSY INTERSECTION). MY TRAFFIC LIGHT WAS RED, SO I NEEDED TO STOP. I APPLIED THE BRAKES FULLY, AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO SLOW, BUT IT DID NOT STOP FULLY. I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND THEN PUSHED IT HARD ALL THE WAY TO THE MAT, BUT THE CAR STILL CONTINUED TO INCH FORWARD. I BECAME FRIGHTENED AND THREW THE CAR INTO PARK AND HIT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CAR SEEMED TO STOP, BUT I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION JUST IN CASE. I WAS A FEW MINUTES FROM HOME, SO I DROVE HOME WITH MY HAZARDS ON AND PARKED THE CAR. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THAT HAS BEEN PRIMARILY SERVICING THE VEHICLE (KOONS ARLINGTON), AND WAS TOLD TO CALL TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS - 800.331.4331. I CALLED THIS NUMBER FOR HEADQUARTERS, BUT AFTER REMAINING ON HOLD FOR OVER 5 MINUTES WITH NO END IN SIGHT AND WITHOUT HEARING A LIVE PERSON, I HUNG UP AND TRIED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH I DID EARLY THIS MORNING. I AM AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I EMAILED THEM FOR A STATUS UPDATE EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON. *TR

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate1 injured
Filed Jun 1, 2010CA

TOYOTA SIENNA 2008 LIFT GATE FELL ON HEAD OF CHILD- THE LIFT GATE IS NOW UNSTEADY ALL THE TIME AND WILL NOT HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE GATE UP. *TR

Structure
Filed Jun 1, 201027,300 milesCA

SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO APPARENT REASON (NO COLLISION, NO BAD ROAD CONDITION). *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 3, 201012,573 milesFL

TL-*THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. AS THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO THEIR DRIVEWAY AT 10 MPH WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED RACING. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OR ACCELERATOR AFTER TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12,573.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 28, 2010MA

2008 TOYOTA SIENNA ACCELERATION HESITATION THIS MINIVAN HESITATES FROM DRIVER ACCELERATION FOR 1-2 SECONDS INTERMITTENTLY AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CAN BE REPRODUCED VERY EASILY BY MAKING A CORNER TURN AT LOW SPEED, AND INCREASING ACCELERATION AFTER THE TURN. THE MINIVAN WILL NOT RESPOND FOR 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE 'JUMPING' INTO THE ACCELERATION. THE BIGGEST SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS IS A LEFT TURN ACROSS AN ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC (SIMILAR TO A CORNER TURN). IF I AM COASTING TO THE INTERSECTION FOR THE TURN, THE MINIVAN DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE DRIVER INPUT FOR ACCELERATION TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THE ONCOMING CAR (UNTIL THROUGH THE INTERSECTION). KNOWING THIS DEFECT, I COMPENSATE FOR IT, BUT AN UNSUSPECTING DRIVER COULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Apr 26, 201051,398 milesTX

ENGINE ACCELERATED WHILE PARKING IN A PARKING SPOT AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. *TR

Tires
Filed Apr 17, 201048,000 milesMI

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN. I HAD ONCE GOTTEN A FLAT TIRE ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO. I TRIED TO UNWIND MY SPARE TIRE FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE UNSCREWING THE BOLT TO LOWER THE SPARE TIRE USING THE WINCH MECHANISM. ONCE THE SPARE WAS LOWERED I COULD NOT PULL THE WIRE BACK UP AGAIN. ONCE THE FLAT WAS REPAIRED I COULD NOT USE THE WINCH AGAIN TO PULL BACK MY SPARE TIRE TO THE ORIGINAL POSITION. I WENT AHEAD AND REPLACED THE WINCH MECHANISM ON MY OWN COST AFTER NOT GETTING ANY SUPPORT FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO HELP FIX IT OR REPEATED CALLS TO TOYOTA THAT REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT. THEY CITIED THAT I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOW COULD DO NOTHING. NOW I AM HEARING THERE IS INDEED A PROBLEM WITH THE MECHANISM AND THERE IS A RECALL ON THE VAN. I PLACED A CALL TO THE DEALERSHIP IN TOWN THERE IS NO RESPONSE. WHILE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS SITUATION THIS WAS AVOIDED I THINK BY PUTTING IN A THIRD PARTY WINCH MECHANISM ON MY OWN COST. I LIKE TOYOTA TO EITHER 1) FIX MY PROBLEM 2) PAY FOR THE COST OF FIXING THE PROBLEM WHICH I TOOK CARE TO FIX IT ON MY OWN COST. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 1, 201022,553 milesIN

VEHICLE TRAVELING 35MPH ON A LEVEL STREET. WARM,DRY,WINDY,CLOUDY AFTERNOON. SUDDEN ACCELERATION! BRIEF (1-2 SECONDS) ENDED BEFORE I COULD DEPRESS THE BRAKE. NO DAMAGE,COLLISION OR INJURY OCCURRED. JUST STARTLED. CHECKED FOR FLOOR MAT OR OTHER VISIBLE OBSTRUCTION/ IMPEDANCE, NONE APPARENT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I WAS SURE OF THE OCCURRENCE. THERE HAVE BEEN A VARIETY OF WHAT APPEAR TO BE ELECTRICAL /ELECTRONIC "GLITCHES" : AC GREEN LIGHT ON BUTTON COMES ON BY ITSELF, SUMMER OR WINTER AND SOMETIMES I CAN NOT GET IT TO TURN OFF. SEATBELT LIGHT SOMETIMES COMES ON WHEN THEY ARE PROPERLY IN USE. (AND NOTHING HEAVY RESTING ON THE SEATS) ALSO AIRBAG LIGHT SOMETIMES. SERVICE LIGHT REMAINS ON SOMETIMES AFTER OIL CHANGE SERVICE. BRAKE HIGHLY SENSITIVE GAS PEDAL VERY TOUCHY, ESPECIALLY FROM STOP,IE AT LIGHT. HARD TO NOT SPIN WHEELS ON STARTING. (ESPECIALLY WHEN PAVEMENT WET, EVEN ON LEVEL ST.). FORTUNATELY, HAVING LIVED IN SNOW TERRITORY, I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF SLOW STARTS AND STOPS WHEN POSSIBLE. I HAVE NOT CHECKED ANY SITES TO SEE IF SIENNA 2008 HAS ANY PROBLEMS LISTED YET. *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 17, 2010IL

LTR FWD FM (IL) INQUIRING WHY HIS 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA IS NOT CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL FOR SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCES, MECHANICALLY, TECHNOLOGICALLY AND ELECTRONICALLY BETWEEN HIS MODEL AND THOSE THAT ARE UNDER RECALL.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 17, 201035,550 milesNJ

DRIVING MY 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA AND IT FELT FUNNY AND I HEARD SOME RATTLING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BUT I KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS DEFINITELY WRONG. I CHECKED THE OIL AND THE DIP STICK WAS COMPLETELY DRY! I PUT IN A FEW QUARTS OF OIL AND IT CAME OUT ALL OVER UNDERNEATH THE CAR AS I WAS DRIVING. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER- THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A FAULTY RUBBER OIL LINE. I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND SEE THAT TOYOTA HAD NOT YET ISSUED A RECALL BUT IS REPLACING IT IN SOME VEHICLES. THE 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA IS NOT MENTIONED - BUT CLEARLY SHOULD BE. THIS IS A VAN THAT I DRIVE MY 2 CHILDREN AROUND - VERY CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE IF I DID NOT RECOGNIZE SOON ENOUGH THAT THE ENGINE HAD NO OIL! *TR

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Mar 13, 201033,500 milesNY

BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. COMING TO A RED LIGHT I APPLIED BRAKES WITH NO RESPONSE, SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND APPLIES BRAKES AGAIN. NO REACTION. :( RESULTED IN REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Mar 13, 201041,950 milesMN

WE BOUGHT A NEW-TO-US 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA WITH A POWER OPERATED PASSENGER DOOR. WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF PURCHASE WE PARKED IN OUR CHURCH PARKING LOT (NOT ON AN OBVIOUS INCLINE) AND PUSHED THE INTERNAL BUTTON FOR THE POWER DOOR. I WENT TO TAKE MY CHILD OUT OF HER CAR SEAT AND THE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSED ON ME. IT TOOK ALL MY FORCE TO KEEP IT OPEN. I LET IT SHUT, THEN REOPENED IT AND IT WOULD NOT LATCH AND KEPT FORCIBLY SHUTTING. I LITERALLY PROPPED THE DOOR OPEN AGAINST ITS WILL TO CLOSE WHILE MY CHILD EXITED. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND DOESN'T BELIEVE IT HAPPENED. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE MOTOR AND STOP IT FROM FORCING ITSELF CLOSED. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Mar 10, 201030,000 milesFL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 5 MPH ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO HIS DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO HIS SCREEN DOOR. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THE CONTACT NOTICED PRIOR THAT HE COULD SMELL BRAKING FLUID COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000.

Power Train › Automatic TransmissionCrash
Filed Mar 9, 201044,000 milesGA

2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. *TR

Unknown or OtherCrash
Filed Mar 5, 201045,289 milesMD

WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. JUST BEFORE 10 A.M. TODAY, I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, JUST LIKE I HAVE EVERY DAY FOR 13 YEARS, TURNED TOWARD THE GARAGE, FOLLOWING THE CURVE OF THE DRIVEWAY. I TOUCHED THE BUTTON TO OPEN THE LEFT GARAGE DOOR, JUST LIKE I ALWAYS DO. I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY, BECAUSE I WAS ABOUT READY TO STOP THE CAR AND PARK IN MY DRIVEWAY. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND I THINK IT SPED UP. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE CAR WAS MOVING FORWARD! IT HAPPENED SO FAST AND I RECALL THINKING, 'OH MY GOSH, I DON'T WANT THE CAR TO GO IN THE GARAGE!!' I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD, AND I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, TRYING TO AVOID THE CAR ACCELERATING INTO THE GARAGE! THE CAR HIT THE CORNER OF THE PART OF THE HOUSE THAT DIVIDES THE TWO GARAGE DOORS. IT DID STOP AND I PUT IT IN REVERSE RIGHT AWAY TO BACK UP. THE FRONT CORNER OF THAT HOUSE SECTION NOW NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED, AND A FLOWER POT (LIGHTWEIGHT STYROFOAM) BROKE WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL THAT DIRECTION. THIS WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE AND IT HAPPENED SO FAST! I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR! I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT IT. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Mar 2, 201015,255 milesMD

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION. THE "ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED IN A FLASHING MOTION ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED AN ENGINE DEFAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE PREVIOUS REPAIR CODE WAS NOT DETECTED IN THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM AND OTHER ERROR CODES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURES WERE 20 DEGREES OR BELOW THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,255.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 1, 201038,000 milesMD

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM IN MY 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN. RATHER THAN THE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALLS, MY VAN SOMETIMES DOES NOT RESPOND APPROPRIATELY, EG. THERE IS EXCESSIVE HESITATION AND LACK OF ACCELERATION WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THERE ARE OTHER TIMES, ESP. GOING DOWNHILL, WHEN THE CAR SEEMS STUCK IN AN UNUSUALLY LOW GEAR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). WHEN I'VE REPORTED MY CONCERNS TO THE DEALER (EACH TIME IT'S BEEN SERVICED FOR 2 YEARS!), THE SERVICE REP SAYS, "YES, MY AVALON DOES THE SAME THING. IT'S BECAUSE THE GAS PEDAL IS NO LONGER MECHANICALLY ATTACHED; INSTEAD IT RELIES ON RADIO WAVES WHICH CAN BE AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY." SO, WHILE THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AS "DANGEROUS" A PROBLEM AS THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATIONS, I CAN IMAGINE A SCENARIO WHEN I WOULD NEED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND, AND I COULD BE REAR-ENDED. I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO "REPORT" THIS APPARENT PROBLEM, AS THE TESTIMONY I SAW FROM TOYOTA OFFICIALS SEEMED TO HEAVILY DISCOUNT THE POSSIBILITY OF THERE BEING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS. BUT SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT! I PREVIOUSLY DROVE A 2000 SIENNA AND DID NOT HAVE ANY OF THE HESITATION I HAVE DESCRIBED ABOVE. (UNFORTUNATELY, THAT ENGINE "DIED" AT 78K, I BELIEVE, DUE TO THE "WHITE SMOKE" PROBLEM THAT HAD BEEN SUBJECT OF AN EARLIER RECALL!) NOTE: STATED DATE IS MOST RECENT DATE VAN HESITATED AND WAS "STUCK IN A LOW GEAR." PROBLEM FIRST NOTED IN NOV. 2007 WITH LES

Tires
Filed Feb 25, 201016,000 milesNY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HIS TIRES AREN'T LASTING LONG. THE TIRES ARE GENERALLY SUPPOSE TO BE GOOD QUALITY TIRES AND SHOULD NOT EXPERIENCE WEAR AND TEAR UNTIL AT LEAST 25,000 MILES. AS OF 16,000 MILES THE TIRES SEEMED AS IF THEY WERE ON THE VEHICLE FOR YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRES WERE CONTACTED AND THEY REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE VEHILCE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CONTACT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. AUTHORIZED DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE DISTRICT MANAGER CAME IN TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST HIM. AS OF NOW THE CONTACT STILL HAS YET TO GET ASSISTANCE WITH THE TIRE FAILURE. THEY ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL ALL THE RECALLS WERE TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE HE WOULD BE ASSISTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21000.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 24, 201012,000 milesMN

MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN CROSSING A RR TRACK BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO NEGOTIATE CURVE, CAR DID NOT DECELERATE RESULTING IN WIDE TURN, STRIKING RR TRACK, SWINGING CAR,AND RUNNING DOWN THE TRACK. REPAIRS ROUGHLY $12,000.. SECOND INCIDENT: NOVEMBER 2009. BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPACE, CAR ACCELERATED IN REVERSE ACROSS LOT, A SIDEWALK AND STREET STOPPING ABOUT 20 FEET FROM GAS PUMPS AT A STATION ACROSS THE STREET. NO CRASH, NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO CAR. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 23, 201039,500 milesCA

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) TOYOTA SIENNA LE 2008 DID NOT STOP WHEN BRAKING. ISSUE WITH ACCELERATION ON TACHOMETER AFTER BRAKING. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA COLLISION CENTER ON 2/1/10 THE FIRST BUSINESS DAY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE COLLISION CENTER HOLD ONTO MY VEHICLE TILL 2/15/10 [XXX] MENTION HE WILL START WORKING ON IT AND EVERY TIME HE ASK ME IF I WILL FILE A CLAIM WHICH HE STATE THE VEHICLE WOULD TAKE LONGER TO REPAIR THEN. AND BE READY THIS WED 2/24/10 WHICH I CALL YESTERDAY AND HE MENTIONED HE WAS NOT SURE. I HAVE TRIED TO FIND A LAWYER (1800LAWYERS) BUT THEY DID NOT WANT TO TAKE CASES RELATING TO TOYOTA. NOW I'M WITHOUT ME VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND I CANNOT DO ANYTHING. I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE WITH TOYOTA CASE[XXX] AND I HAVE GEICO INSURANCE CASE [XXX] (1800654-5896 EXT 5608 [XXX] ). I WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND, SUNNY DAY, CLEAR ROAD WITH MY WIFE AND CHILD. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED, I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES TO STOP, FIRST THE TACHOMETER SPED UP THEN THEIR WAS NOT BRAKING. I WAS TRAVELING 15-20 MILES PER HOURS AT THE TIME ON REGULAR STREET. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR ALMOST ONE MONTH WHICH I NEED THE CAR FOR WORK. *TR

Steering
Filed Feb 22, 20101,000 milesVA

I HAVE 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA LIMITED AWD. I HAVE ABOUT 16500 MILES. MY PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE CAR HAD ABOUT 1000 MILES. ON PARKING WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, SHORTLY AFTER I STARTED TURNING THE WHEEL I COULD HEAR AND FEEL (ON THE WHEEL) A CONSTANT CLICKING NOISE. THIS NOISE SHOWS UP ONLY WHEN YOU TURN TO THE RIGHT. IT DOES NOT SHOW WHEN YOU TURN TO THE LEFT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO TOYOTA OF ALEXANDRIA, VA. THE CAR SPEND DAYS THERE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY DON'T HAVE CLUE WHAT IS THE PROBLEM! THEY OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA AND I HAD A MEETING WITH A TOYOTA FIELD SPECIALIST. I HAD MULTIPLE QUESTIONS - WHY THE PROBLEM DETERIORATED, WHY IT SHOWS UP ONLY WHEN YOU TURN TO THE RIGHT AND NOT TO THE LEFT, ETC. MY QUESTIONS WERE UNANSWERED. THIS PERSON WAS NOT TRYING TO FIX MY PROBLEM. HE REPEATED WORD BY WORD DEALERSHIP FOREMAN'S WORDS. I THOUGHT THEY HAD A PREDEFINED SCRIPT. I BROUGHT IT TO OURISMAN CHANTILLY TOYOTA, VA. THEY REPLACED CV HALF SHAFT ASSEMBLY. THAT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED SOP-SHAFT AND THAT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. I PICKED UP MY CAR AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM IS AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING. I WAS TOLD REPLACING THE CLOCK SPRING WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE ALL OF THEM WILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT'S A COMMON ISSUE ON ALL TOYOTA SIENNA AWD VANS. AGAIN IN THE PARKING START TURNING TO THE RIGHT, BEFORE THE WHEEL LOCKS I CAN FEEL AND HEAR CLICKING NOISE. I BROUGHT IT TO FITZGERLAD TOYOTA, GAITHERSBURG, MD. REPLACED THE LOWER ST

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 17, 20109,000 milesMN

ON APRIL 1, 2008, AT ABOUT 9:30 P.M., MY TWO SONS, 19 AND 16, AND MY YOUNGEST SON'S FRIEND DROVE SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 35 OUT OF DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS UPON CONCLUSION OF A TWINS GAME. ABOUT THREE BLOCKS NORTH OF CROSSTOWN HIGHWAY 62, GOING 60 MPH I PASSED A CAR BY PUTTING THE ACCELERATOR ON THE FLOOR. TRAFFIC IS SOMEWHAT HEAVY OF COURSE. THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING DESPITE THE FACT THAT I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR. I CALMLY TOLD MY 19 YEAR OLD SON SITTING NEXT TO ME THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. HE SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN INTO PARK AND REVERSE WHEN THE SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL DIDN'T SEEM TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HE THEN SHIFTED THE CAR BACK INTO NEUTRAL, MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, AND I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN ON THE 80 DEGREE TURN ONTO THE CROSSTOWN 62 FROM I35. I SLOWED THE CAR DOWN TO ABOUT 45 MPH AND, LUCKILY, WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO MY LOCAL MAINTENANCE SHOP THE NEXT DAY. THE OWNER OF THE SHOP SUGGESTED THAT I ASK THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE MINIVAN FROM, BLOOMINGTON TOYOTA, TO CHECK AT LEAST THE FOLLOWING THREE ITEMS: THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, AND IDLE CONTROL MOTOR. ON MAY 15, 2008, I BROUGHT THE MINIVAN INTO BLOOMINGTON TOYOTA AND TOLD THEM WHAT MY LOCAL SHOP OWNER SUGGESTED. AFTER TESTING THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT IF THE ACCELERATOR HAD MALFUNCTIONED, THEIR COMPUTER TESTING DEVICES WOULD HAVE DETECTED IT AND HAD DETECTED

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 17, 20108,000 milesIL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT HOLD PRESSURE PERMANENTLY WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,774.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 17, 20101,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPF WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REDUCE SPEED WHEN THE SENOR RECOGNIZED ANOTHER VEHICLE APPROACHING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM CHANGED LANES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO THE SET SPEED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE THE LASER SENSOR REMOVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 03/17/10. *LJ

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 15, 201045,000 milesIN

I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION OF CORTZ RD. AND 34 ST. IN BRADENTON, FL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGED FROM RED TO GREEN, THE LINE OF TRAFFIC STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD. I APPLIED ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE AS NEEDED WITH TRAFFIC, THEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY ,I LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR AND PRESSED THE BRAKE AND THEY DID NOT RESPOND AS THEY SHOULD HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS ALL RESULTED IN A 5 CAR CHAIN REACTION CRASH. IT SEEMED AS MY CAR WANTED TO KEEP ON GOING AS IF I HAD NOT DONE ANYTHING TO STOP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH ACCELERATION AND BRAKE CONTROL WITH THIS CAR IN JUST OVER 30 DAYS. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE REPAIR SHOP. I DO NOT HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN THIS CAR TO OPERATE CORRECTLY OR IN SAFE MANNER. TOYOTA HAS DONE NOTHING FOR ME TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT TOYOTA BY PHONE AND COMPUTER WITHOUT SUCCESS. I HAVE BEEN TO A TOYOTA DEALER TWICE AND THEY REFER ME TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE PHONE NO. BECAUSE THE SIENNA MODEL IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER WHEN I GO TO THE NHTSA.DOT.GOV WEB SITE THERE ARE SEVERAL CASES LISTED OF ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH THE SIENNA. PLEASE HELP. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 12, 20104 milesCO

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. SHE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE 5 TO 8 TIMES SINCE SHE OWED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND IMMEDIATELY; YET THEY BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. SHE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,817.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 12, 201044,500 milesIN

I OWN AND DRIVE A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. I PULLED OUT OF CAR WASH AND DROVE OVER TO A CAR VACUUM CENTER AT LESS THAN 5MPH. AS I APPROACHED THE VACUUM AREA I TOUCHED THE BRAKE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FAST, RAN INTO A METAL POST ,METAL FENCE AND OVER A CURB ALMOST HITTING INDIVIDUALS IN THE AREA. THIS OCCURRED IN PALMETTO, FLORIDA. THIS CAR SEEMED TO HAVE A MIND OF ITS OWN. THERE DID NOT SEAM TO BE ANY REASON FOR THE ACCELERATION AT LEAST NOT FROM MY OPERATION. I HAVE TO DRIVE BACK TO FORT WAYNE, IN AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS AUTO FOR ME AND MY WIFE AND ALL OTHER ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

Service Brakes, Electric
Filed Feb 10, 201010,000 milesIL

HI I HAVE A TOYOTA SIENNA 2009.IT HAS ONLY 11,000 MILES ON IT. I DO THE MAINTENANCE ON TIME. TWO MONTHS BACK I DRIVE A 800 MILE TO OTHER STATE. AFTER 200 MILES WE NOTICE THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL THE CAR ON TIME. WE GO THE NEAR BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THEY CHECKED THE BRAKES AND TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE. WHEN WE WENT BACK TO CHICAGO AGAIN WE WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY GIVE THE SAME ANSWER. NOW WE ARE DRIVING THE CAR SLOWLY AND SO CAREFULLY. I THINK MY CAR IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES THE OTHER TOYOTA CARS HAVING. PLS DO THE SOMETHING. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 10, 201067 milesCA

PISTON SLAP ON TOYOTA 3.5 L V6 SINCE NEW. VERY LOUD WHEN COLD IN COOLER TEMPERATURES..CA ARBITRATOR AGREES WITH TOYOTA THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS ENGINE. I CANNOT SELL THIS CAR WITH THIS NOISE BUT TOYOTA DOESN'T CARE. TOYOTA HAS HAD A FEW COMPLAINTS BUT NO FAILURES YET. PISTON SLAP WEARS THE PISTON PREMATURELY AND COULD IN MY OPINION LEAD TO FAILURE. THIS IS MY 2ND COMPLAINT TO YOU PEOPLE FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

Steering
Filed Feb 9, 2010300 milesPA

BELOW STEERING PROBLEMS PERSIST TO THE PRESENT, DESPITE NUMEROUS REPAIR ATTEMPTS BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES AND TOYOTA ENGINEERS. THE APPROXIMATE DATE OF INCIDENT LISTED WITH THIS REPORT REPRESENTS THE DATE OF PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE / TIME FIRST OCCURRED. ALTHOUGH SEVERAL ISSUES ARE PRESENT, I DID TRY TO DESCRIBE THEM INTO 3 DISTINCT PROBLEMS. 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA LE AWD, BEARING STEERING ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE: 1. THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL PHYSICALLY TURNS TO THE RIGHT, WHILE BRAKING. 2. STEERING WHEEL FAILS TO CENTER PROPERLY AT ALL TIMES. 3. STEERING WHEEL HAS TO BE HELD TO LEFT TO KEEP TRACKING STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL PHYSICALLY TURNS TO THE RIGHT, WHILE BRAKING. THE GREATEST EFFECT / TURNING IS OBSERVED AS THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DECREASES. THE GREATEST EFFECT / TURNING IS ALSO OBSERVED AS THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DECREASES AND THE VEHICLE IS TRAVERSING DOWN A STEEP GRADIENT. THIS OCCURS IF I DRIVE IN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD, WITH THE CENTER OF THE ROAD CROWN, CENTERED ON THE VEHICLE AND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE A VEHICLE MUST LAWFULLY TRAVEL. CONVERSELY, IF I DRIVE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD / OR THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD CROWN, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ADVERSELY PULL TO THE LEFT. IT WAS NOTED BY THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS DUE TO ROAD CROWN. THIS ISSUE PROVIDES A FALSE SENSE OF STEERING, ESPECIALLY IN THE SNOW, AS IT IS SOMETIMES BELIEVED THAT THE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TRACK RIGHT, AND OVERCOMPENSATION IS USUALLY APPLIED.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 9, 20101,000 milesNY

I OWN A 2008 SIENNA. THERE IS AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM THAT I CAN REPLICATE. IT OCCURS WHEN STOPPING AT THE BOTTOM OF AN INCLINE. ALTHOUGH SIENNA IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, IT SHOULD BE. IT OCCURS OFTEN, THE MAJORITY OF TIMES WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL. MY CONCERN IS THAT IT WILL OCCUR UNEXPECTEDLY. NO RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA ON THIS COMPLAINT. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 7, 20101 milesCA

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO MY 2/4/2010 REPORT (ODI #10305864) ABOUT MY 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW IN FALL 2008, THERE IS NOTICEABLE MOMENTARY UNINTENDED ACCELERATION BRIEFLY WHENEVER I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AT SPEEDS OF ABOUT 30-40 MPH. THEN THE BRAKE TAKES HOLD. I HAD NOT GIVEN MY VIN #. THIS TIME I WILL DO THAT. (THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA SERVICE SAYS IS NORMAL, DUE TO THE NATURE OF SIENNA'S TRANSMISSION) *TW *TR

Reading these

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 2008 Toyota Sienna → · Every Sienna year → · How the figures are calculated →