2000 Toyota Sienna Brakes Problems

I had my car's brake lines replaced at McGee Toyota in Hanover MA on June 20, 2023. On July 19, 2023, my wife and I had just exited the interstate, and were stopping at a grocery store on our way home. I tried to brake upon entering the parking lot and the brake pedal sank to the floor. There was no resistance when I tried pumping the brakes. Fortunately, I was traveling at a slow speed and there were no moving cars in the lot, so I was able to safely stop the car without an accident. I had the car towed to McGee for repairs and the next day was told the catastrophic brake failure was due to a defective part. Since this would likely have had much more serious consequences such as serious injuries or worse if the failure occurred on the exit ramp or at the busy state highway intersection in front of the grocery store, I wanted to report it to be sure it doesn't happen to someone else.

I LIKE MY TOYOTA SIENNA VAN (2000) SERVING ME FAITHFULLY. LAST WEEK, IT WAS VERY COLD - WITH ALL THE WINTER STORMS. I WARMED UP THE VAN FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN STARTED TO DRIVE. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, I NEED TO PICK UP ANOTHER CHILD FOR CAR POOLING AND WHEN I TRIED TO MAKE A TURN, I APPLIED BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT WORK AT ALL. I GOT SUDDENLY SCARED AND SOMEHOW MANAGED TO TURN IN THE SAME SPEED. THEN I WAS RUNNING VERY SLOWLY (AND PERIODICALLY CHECKING THE BRAKES) UNTIL I FELT CONFIDENT THAT THE BRAKES STARTED WORKING AGAIN. IT WAS A ONE-TIME EVENT SO FAR AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ONLINE POSTINGS (NOT THIS GOV.'T ONE) TO SEE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A FEW PEOPLE EARLIER FOR 2000 MODEL VANS. INTERESTING! I NEED TO BE CAREFUL WHILE APPLYING BRAKES IN COLD WEATHER. THANKS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN ON DRY PAVEMENT ON A RELATIVELY FLAT STREET. I STARTED BRAKING FOR A STOP LIGHT. THE ABS SYSTEM KICKED IN AND WAS MAKING THAT AWFUL PULSING NOISE THAT IT USUALLY MAKES ON ICY ROADS. THEN SUDDENLY THERE WERE NO BRAKES AT ALL. I THINK THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT BRAKE AND RAN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND THEN THE BRAKES WERE WORKING FINE. ON THE DRIVE TO THE REPAIR PLACE THEY WORKED. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AND EXHIBITING AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS OR DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.

I WAS STOPPING IN MY DRIVEWAY SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL ON LOOSE STONE AND GRASS - 5 MPH. THE ABS ENGAGED, I COULD HEAR IT. MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I CONFIRMED THIS VISUALLY DURING THE INCIDENT. THE CAR DID NOT STOP WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE AND THE ABS DID NOT RELEASE UNTIL THE CAR HAD ROLLED THROUGH BUSHES, ETC. AND STOPPED ON ITS OWN. I BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ABS SAFETY SYSTEM - THE ABS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY, BUT AT NO POINT DID THE ABS LIGHT COME ON TO WARN ME OF A SAFETY HAZARD. CURRENTLY I HAVE DISABLED THE ABS SYSTEM BY PULLING THE FUSE. I HAVE HAD THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES CHECKED OUT BY A LOCAL GARAGE. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA TO GET THE ABS SYSTEM INSPECTED YET. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TIRE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT WHENEVER SHE WOULD BEGIN TO BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY STOP SLIGHTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 121,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BECOME RESISTANT. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,400.

I PURCHASED MY SIENNA IN 2001. IT IS A 2000 TOYOTA SIENNA LS WHICH CURRENTLY HAS 150K MILES. IN 2002 I BEGAN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH MY REAR BRAKES SINCE THIS TIME I HAVE HAD MY BRAKES INSPECTED EVERY YEAR DUE TO GRINDING NOISES AND SQUEAKING. THE FIRST 2 TIMES I'VE TAKEN MY VAN IN THEY HAVE INSPECTED THE REAR BRAKES AND SAID THEY ARE FINE, JUST DUSTY AND THE CLAIMED TO HAVE CLEANED THEM. IN 2008 HOWEVER THEY SOUNDED SO BAD AND SEEMED VERY DANGEROUS AS THEY WERE STILL MAKING GRINDING NOISES. I TOOK MY VAN TO CHRISTIAN BOTHERS AND THEY REDID MY REAR BRAKES... (OH, THE ABS LIGHT AS BEEN ON ALL THIS TIME AS WELL) MAYBE A WEEK WENT BY AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I TOOK MY VAN BACK A MONTH LATER ( MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT THAT SAME WEEK AND THAT'S HOW LONG IT TOOK TO GET MY VAN BACK)!! THEY INSPECTED MY BRAKES AGAIN AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG, THEY WERE FINE AND THEY COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHY THEY WERE MAKING NOISE OR WHY MY ABS LIGHT WAS ON. I JUST CROSS MY FINGERS EVERY YEAR THAT MY VAN WILL PASS INSPECTION! THUS FAR I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS BUT AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR ON A WET ROAD, WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES ON A WET ROAD THEY POP AND THE VAN BARELY STOPS. I'VE HAD THIS ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME, I KNOW TOYOTA IS A GOOD MANUFACTURER OR I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED A TOYOTA.. BUT I CAN SAY FOR SURE, I WILL NOT BY ANOTHER ONE I'M SWITCHING TO HONDA OR BUYING AMERICAN. *TR

MY TOYOTA SIENNA 2000 MIGHT HAS AN ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND CAUSED A MINOR ACCIDENT ON AUG 28 2007 AT 3:30 PM. THE WEATHER ~90C AND SUNNY. I DROVE IN SCHOOL ZONE AT THE TIME THE SCHOOL OVER AND THE STUDENTS PRESENTED ON THE SIDEWALK. I DROVE ~20-25 MPH OR LESS. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN MY VAN AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ~ 2 CARS SPACE. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY BECAUSE OF ONE CAR IN FRONT OF US TURNED LEFT OR MADE A U TURN WITHOUT WARNING. I STEPPED ON MY BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD BUT THE VAN STILL CRUISED LIKE THE BRAKE WAS DOING ANYTHING AND I HIT TO THE REAR END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR HAVE 133,000 MILE ON IT. I HAD MY FRONT BRAKE REPLACED BY DEALER WHEN IT 100,000 MILE, THE SAME TIME THEY REPLACED THE TIMING BELL, THEY TOLD ME THE REAR BRAKE WERE IN GOOD CONDITION AT THAT TIME SO I DIDN'T HAD IT REPLACED. TILL NOW, I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD ANY NOISE FROM MY BRAKE, NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT, AND IT HAS BEEN ALWAYS REACTING CORRECTLY EVERYTIME I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PADDLE UNTIL THE DAY MY CAR INVOLVED INTO THE ACCIDENT. I PLAN AFTER FIXING THE BODY OF MY VAN, I WILL SEND IT TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR A BREAK AND ABS SYSTEM CHECK OR INSPECTION. I HAVE A NEIGHBOR ALSO HAVE A TOYOTA SIENNA 1999 VAN AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE ALSO INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT LAST YEAR AT THE LOW SPEED AND THE ABS SYSTEM DIDN'T WORK ALSO. AND HE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND HIS VAN HAD NOT FAILED AGAIN. I HOPE IF THERE IS PROBLEM OF TOYOTA SIENNA BRAKE OR ABS SYSTEM, YOUR AGENCY WILL INVESTIGATE AND NOTIFY US SO WE CAN AVOID ANY ACCIDENT RELATED IN THE FUTURE. I WILL REPORT THE SAME THING TO THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHEN I BRING MY VAN IN FOR REPAIR. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. SHE PANICKED, SWERVED INTO THE LEFT LANE AND CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, INSPECTED AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED CORROSION FAILURE AROUND THE SPARE TIRE CABLE. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

ABS PUMP MOTOR FAILURE. ALMOST LOST CONTROL ON WET SURFACE. ABS PANEL LIGHT WAS ON SINCE AUG. 20006, TOYOTA DEALER INSPECTION STATED CODE #14,51 (ABS PUMP MOTOR FAILURE) IT IS UNUSUAL BUT NOT COVER BY WARRANTY. *JB

I WAS DRIVING THE 2000 SIENNA XLE MINIVAN AND THE BRAKES FAILED. IT TOOK A LOT OF PRESSURE TO PUSH THE BRAKE IN AND THE BRAKE DID NOT WORK. NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD TO USE BOTH FEET PUSHING DOWN TO GET THE MINIVAN TO STOP. THIS PROBLEM CAME ON ALL OF A SUDDEN. I TOOK IT IN TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. I CALLED TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. TOYOTA SAID THEIR FINAL ANSWER WAS THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AS IT ONLY COVERED THE DRIVE TRAIN. OUR ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY! BUT TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER THIS ADDITIONAL FAILURE -- THE CAR IS A LEMON, CLEARLY. SO I HAD TO PAY $1350 TO HAVE THE BRAKE BOOSTER REPLACED. THEN THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE! THE BRAKES FAILED THE DAY I PICKED IT UP FROM THE SHOP. THE MECHANIC TESTED IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND SAID HE COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE FAILURE. I HAVE TAKEN THE MINIVAN HOME, BUT I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT FOR FEAR OF THEIR SAFETY. HELP!*JB

2000 TOYOTA SIENNA WITH APPROX. 64,000 MILES: ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) COMPUTER FAILED. DEALER SAID REPLACEMENT COST WOULD BE $2000 AND BLAMED FAILURE ON "DIRTY BRAKE FLUID" WHICH SEEMS EXTREMELY UNLIKELY SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE AT 36,000 MILES LESS THAN 2 YEARS PRIOR TO FAILURE. FAILED ABS COMPUTER IS STILL INSTALLED ON VEHICLE SINCE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE IT. *NM

ABS BRAKES FAIL. THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED BY TOYOTA BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2001 AS A USED CAR. IN 2003 THE BRAKE PETAL STARTED TO VIBRATE THE THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. TOYOTA DID REPAIRS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRENTEE. YESTERDAY THE LIGHT CAME ON, I STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED IT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED THE CAR. AS I STARTED TO PROCEED I HEARD THIS LOUD SOUND FROM THE BRAKES AND HAD TO STAND ON THE PETAL TO STOP THE CAR. ONCE THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION I REMOVED THE ABS FUSE AND WILL NOT REPLACE IT FOR FEAR OF A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I HAVE SENT AN E-MAIL TO TOYOTA AS WELL. I AM SENDING THIS MAINLY SO THERE IS A RECORD IN CASE OTHERS HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM. AT THIS POINT I WILL NOT USE THE ABS BRAKES EVEN IF TOYOTA OFFERS TO FIX THEM. THEY HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL TWICE AND I WILL NOT RIDE IN THIS CAR WITH MY GRAND KIDS. TOYOTA SIENNA 2000

I TOOK MY 2000 TOYOTA SIENNA INTO A DEALER BECAUSE THE "ABS" LIGHT WENT ON APPROXIMATELY 2-3 DAYS AGO. ALTHOUGH PHOENIX HAS HAD A WET WINTER, THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT RAIN FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS. THE DEALER SAID THE ABS "ECU" WAS "DRIPPING WET" AND THE ABS COMPUTER WAS "FRIED". THE COST TO REPLACE WITH MATERIALS AND LABOR WAS $1,800. DO THESE UNITS TYPICALLY FAIL? WHY WOULD THE ECU BE SO EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AS TO MAKE IT "DRIPPING WET"? HE DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY DEFECT IN ANY PROTECTIVE COVER (IF THERE IS SUCH A THING).*AK

THE ABS CHECK LIGHT REMAINED ON, WHICH THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE OWNER'S MANUAL THAT BRAKES MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. MANUFACTURER WILL NOTIFIED BY OWNER.*AK

MY VAN'S BRAKES SQUEAL LOUDLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED BY THE DEALER AND OTHER MECHANICS SEVERAL TIMES OVER 3 YEARS AND HAVE ALL REPORTED NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OTHER THAN THEY ARE SQUEALING. TOYOTA HAS NO RESPONSE OTHER THAN WE CAN APPLY LUBE TO TEMPORARILY STOP THE NOISE.

THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. BOTH REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING. AS A RESULT, IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO FRONT BRAKES. ALL THE PARTS WERE REPLACED. *AK

MY 2000 TOYOTA SIENNA (VIN # [XXX]) ANTI-LOCK BRAKES HAVE FAILED.I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO TOYOTA. VAN MILEAGE WAS ONLY 66,706. TOYOTA DEALER SAID ABS PUMP MOTOR FAILED. THERE IS NO RECALL....IF I WANTED THIS FUNCTION I COULD PAY FOR THE PART $1,471.00.....LABOR NOT QUOTED.THIS SAFETY FUNCTION WAS ONLY ACTIVATED AUTOMATICALLY 4 OR 5 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES ANTI-LOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT STARTED TURNING OFF AND ON. EVENTUALLY ABS LIGHT STAYED ON AND THE ABS SYSTEM STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE ABS SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE VERY HIGH COST OF THE ABS ACTUATOR PART. THE LACK OF A FUNCTIONING ABS SYSTEM MAKES THE CAR UNSAFE IN SITUATIONS WHERE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING FEATURE IS NEEDED (SUCH AS WET ROADS). *NM