2001 Toyota Sienna Complaint Log

INITIALLY OIL LEAK AFTER OIL CHANGE. WAS TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION PAN WAS LEAKING AND PAID FOR REPLACEMENT. TRANSMISSION FLUID THEN STARTED LEAKING. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER; TRANSMISSION PAN WAS TIGHTENED. NOTICED FLUID STILL LEAKING; RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETECT SOURCE OF FLUID LEAK; PLACED DIE IN OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUIDS; ASKED TO RETURN VEHICLE IN A FEW WEEKS. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP; WAS TOLD THERE WAS A LEAK SURROUNDING ENGINE SEAL AND SEAL WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED.

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR A OIL CHANGE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC DICOVERED A OIL LEAK UNDERNEATH VEHICLE OIL PAN GASKET AND A LEAKING BOLT AND SEAL. ENGINE NEEDS A SEAL REPLACEMENTS. ALSO, THERE IS A TRANSMISSION LEAK. FRONT BRAKES ARE GRINDING METAL TO METAL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS.*AK

AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOORS W/O REVERSING SENORS ARE A SERIOUS INJURY RISK. *AK

AFTER PURCHASING A NEW SIENNA IN MARCH MY DRIVER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR FAILED IN MAY. THE DRIVER SIDE POWER DOOR ECU WAS REPLACED. 10 DAYS LATER THE DOOR FAILED AGAIN, THIS TIME THE DOOR WAS ADJUSTED AND REINITIALIZED. AS I TESTED THE DOOR AT TIME OF PICKUP THE DOOR FAILED AGAIN. THE REAR LATCH PIN SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE DOOR WAS REINITIALIZED. THE DOOR WORKED FINE UNTIL FAILURE JULY 31ST. SOME ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE AND THE DOOR WAS REINITIALIZED, AT TIME OF PICKUP AUGUST 5TH THE DOOR FAILED AGAIN. A FIELD TECH FROM TOYOTA FOUND LOOSE PINS IN THE DOOR AND THE MAIN BATTERY POWER LEVEL WAS LOW. THE PINS WERE FIXED AND THE ALTERNATOR BELT WAS REPLACED WITH A HEAVIER ONE TO INCREASE THE MAIN BATTERY POWER. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM AS I FEAR DOOR MALFUNCTION WITH MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY MY MAIN CONCERN!*AK

TREAD SEPARATED ON FIRESTONE TIRE IN A SIMILAR MANNER TO FORD EXPLORER RECALLED TIRES. TOOK TIRE TO TOYOTA DEALER WHO INITIALLY ADVISED ME TO TAKE TIRE TO A FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER. LATER TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT ASSERTED THAT TREAD SEPARATED BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WHILE TIRE WAS NOT PROPERLY INFLATED. TOYOTA DEALER OFFERED TO REPLACE TIRES HOWEVER. I STILL HAVE SEPARATED TIRE AND I WILL TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS. I INTEND TO KEEP SEPARATED TIRE IN MY POSSESSION. APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES PRIOR TO TREAD SEPARATION, I PUT AIR IN TIRES. I DROVE ON THE INTERSTATE AND ABOUT 2 MILES OFF OF THE INTERSTATE IS WHERE THE TREAD SEPARATED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS PARTICULAR TIRE IN NOT CURRENTLY PART OF THE FIRESTONE RECALL BUT I WOULD LIKE YOUR AGENCY TO NOTE THIS REPORT OF THE PROBLEM THAT I EXPERIENCED WITH THE AFFINITY TIRE. (DOT NUMBER: W2VFAAT050 TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)

THE SLIDING DOORS OF OUR 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE ARE NOT RELIABLE OPERATED. SOMETIMES WORK SOMETIME NOT, SOMETIME STUCK, NO SAFETY SENSOR. ONLY A MAN CAN PUSH THE CLOSING DOOR BACK OPEN. IF A CHILD IN THE PATH OF A CLOSING DOOR, MANUALLY PUSHING BACK THE DOOR IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME. THE PUSH BUTTON AND THE KEY BUTTON SOMETIMES WORK SOMETIMES NOT SINCE THE FIRST YEAR. WE BROUGHT IN ELMORE TOYOTA MANY TIMES. THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. WE COMPLAINED TO COOPERATE TOYOTA, THEY REFERRED US BACK TO ELMORE TOYOTA, WITH THE SAME ANSWER NOTHING WRONG. WE FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN. THIS IS OUR LAST RESORT FOR HELP. WHEN WE HAVE MONEY TO REPLACE THIS CAR, THERE WILL BE NO MORE TOYOTA ON OUR LIST. *TR

THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELTAPPEARS VERY UNSAFE. WHEN LOCKED IN PLACE, MY CHILDREN CAN EASILY LOOSEN THE BELT WITH JUST THE TOUCH OF THEIR FINGERS. THE BELT DOES NOT COME OUT OF THE LOCK, BUT IT MOVES THE TIGHTNESS AND THE KIDS ARE SITTING WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT. THEY ARE ABLE TO GET UP AND MOVE AROUND! I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER (MAROONE TOYOTA 4050 WESTON ROAD-INVOICE #TOCS317153) ON 7/9/01. I WAS TOLD THAT THAT IS JUST HOW IT IS DESIGNED AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. WHEN I ARGUED HOW UNSAFE IT WAS, I WAS TOLD MAYBE I SHOULD NOT PUT YOUNG CHILDREN IN THAT SEAT. HOW CAN THIS BE??? ALL OF MY SEATS NEED TO BE UTILIZED WITH MY LARGE FAMILY AND MY KIDS FRIENDS. PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU HAVE GOTTEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS. THANKS.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SLIDING SIDE DOOR REMAINED LATCHED AND ONCE THE DOOR BECOMES LATCHED IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REOPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITH A REMOTE LOCKING DEVICE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S PUSH BUTTON NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED DUE TO COST.*AK

2001 TOYOTA SIENNA LE, MANUFACTURED IN OCTOBER 2000, BOTH BACK SLIDING DOOR HANDLE BUTTONS STICK DURING HOT WEATHER PREVENTING OPENING OR CLOSING OF THE DOOR. IF THE DOOR IS OPEN WHEN THE BUTTON STICKS THEN YOU CANNOT SHUT THE DOOR. IF THE DOOR IS CLOSED WHEN THE BUTTON STICKS THEN YOU CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE USING THE OUTSIDE HANDLE. THE DOORS STAY STUCK UNTIL THE BUTTON POPS BACK OUT USUALLY WHEN THE INSIDE OF THE CAR TEMPERATURE COOLS DOWN. MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT BY GOING THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS OF THE VAN BUT AN ELDERLY PERSON MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS AND WOULD BE TRAPPED IN THE BACK WITH BOTH DOORS STUCK SHUT. THERE IS A SERVICE ADVISORY FOR THIS PROBLEM DATED OCT. 27, 2000 FOR YEARS 1998-2000 BUT THERE IS NOTHING FOR 2001. THE TOYOTA EXTRA CARE PLATINUM EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS SUPPOSEDLY A BUTTON PROBLEM AND NOT A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH WATER LEAKING IN THE TRUNK. WE HAVE NOT FIGURED OUT WERE IT IS COMING FROM YET. *NLM

SUNROOF RIPPED OFF DRIVERS SIDE OF CAR AFTER IT WAS OPENED ON HIGHWAY. SUNROOF REMAINED ATTACHED ON PASSENGER SIDE CAUSING BROKEN GLASS TO SHOWER INTO CAR AND PROVIDING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS AT 75MPH. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT EVEN WHEN ONE OF THEIR DEALERS HAS EVIDENCE THAT SUNROOF GLASS WAS NEVER PROPERLY ADHERED TO SUNROOF MOUNTING BRACKETS.

CAR ROLLED UPHILL WHILE IN NEUTRAL INTO THE GARAGE FROM THE DRIVEWAY. I INJURED MY L KNEE AS I WAS TRYING TO GET BACK IN THE CAR TO STOP IT BY BEING PINNED BY THE DRIVERS DOOR AS IT HIT A STEEL SUPPORT POST IN THE GARAGE.

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE IN 2001. THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR HAS GIVEN US PROBLEM SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. WE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME POWER DOOR ISSUE AT LEAST 11 TIMES. THEY NOW WANT TO CHARGE ME. THE NTSB SHOULD FORCE A RECALL TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE AND NOW IT WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL EITHER BY REMOTE OR MANUALLY. *KB

SUNVISOR SWINGS LEFT TO RIGHT UPON TURNS. HITS DRIVER IN THE HEAD. WHEN POSITIONED TO THE SIDE WINDOW, IT SWINGS TO THE RIGHT. WHEN POSITIONED AT FRONT MUST BE HOOKED OR HITS DRIVER IN HEAD. WHEN DRIVING TOWARD SUN MUST HOLD VISOR IN POSITION, SIDE WINDOW OR WINDSHIELD. CAUSES DRIVER DISTRACTION AND SAFETY PROBLEMS. *AK

RIGHT HAND SIDE OF WINDSHIELD IS DISTORTED. THIS CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY. *AK WINDSHIELD WAS DEFORMED BUT THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO REPLACE IT. *YH

COMPLAINT REGARDING THE 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CONTINUOUSLY OPENS AND CLOSES.*MR THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE DOOR WAS TO DISENGAGE THE POWER AND CLOSE IT MANUALLY. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR THAT OPERATES THE POWER DOOR AND THE ECU NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1939. THE MANUFACTURER HAS AGREED TO ASSIST WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER'S PORTION IS STILL QUIT COSTLY. *NM

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 2-2 1/2 HRS. MY TIRE UNEXPECTEDLY WENT IMMEDIATELY FLAT. MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 60 MPH, AND I HAD 262 MILES ON MY BRAND NEW CAR. AFTER SPEAKING TO BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND FIRESTONE, FIRESTONE DEEMED IT WAS "ROADSIDE HAZARD" AND NOT REPAIRABLE. THERE WAS A GASH IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. AFTER ALL OF THE NOTICES ON THESE TIRES AND MY EXPERIENCE WITH THEM, I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN MY NEW CAR. *AK (TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/65R15 )

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 2-2 1/2 HRS. MY TIRE UNEXPECTEDLY WENT IMMEDIATELY FLAT. MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 60 MPH, AND I HAD 262 MILES ON MY BRAND NEW CAR. AFTER SPEAKING TO BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND FIRESTONE, FIRESTONE DEEMED IT WAS "ROADSIDE HAZZARD" AND NOT REPAIRABLE. THERE WAS A GASH IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. AFTER ALL OF THE NOTICES ON THESE TIRES AND MY EXPERIENCE WITH THEM, I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN MY NEW CAR. *AK (TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/65R15 )

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 2-2 1/2 HRS. MY TIRE UNEXPECTEDLY WENT IMMEDIATELY FLAT. MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 60 MPH, AND I HAD 262 MILES ON MY BRAND NEW CAR. AFTER SPEAKING TO BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND FIRESTONE, FIRESTONE DEEMED IT WAS "ROADSIDE HAZARD" AND NOT REPAIRABLE. THERE WAS A GASH IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. AFTER ALL OF THE NOTICES ON THESE TIRES AND MY EXPERIENCE WITH THEM, I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN MY NEW CAR.*AK (TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/65R15 )

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 2-2 1/2 HRS. MY TIRE UNEXPECTEDLY WENT IMMEDIATELY FLAT. MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 60 MPH, AND I HAD 262 MILES ON MY BRAND NEW CAR. AFTER SPEAKING TO BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND FIRESTONE, FIRESTONE DEEMED IT WAS "ROADSIDE HAZARD" AND NOT REPAIRABLE. THERE WAS A GASH IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. AFTER ALL OF THE NOTICES ON THESE TIRES AND MY EXPERIENCE WITH THEM, I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN MY NEW CAR.*AK (TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/65R15 )

IT TAKES CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT TO HAVE REBOUND FEATURE FOR POWER SLIDING DOOR TO OPERATE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS FEATURE IS USELESS AS A SAFETY FEATURE.*AK *SLC

THE POWER SLIDING DOOR SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS WITH SMALL CHILDREN. THE DOOR TAKES INCREDIBLE RESISTENCE BEFORE THE REVERSING SYSTEM WILL KICK IN AND STOP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING. THE SYSTEM APPEARS TO BE DESIGNED MAINLY TO PROTECT THE DOOR MOTORS FROM DAMAGE, NOT TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM INJURY. INFACT, THE OWNER'S MANUAL SPECIFICALLY SAYS TO TURN THE POWER DOOR SYSTEM OFF WHEN SMALL CHILDREN ARE PRESENT, YET THIS VEHICLE AND THESE FEATURES ARE MARKETED TO FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN. ALSO THE CHILD LOCK-PROTECTION SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE POWER DOOR SYSTEM IS TURNED ON. THE RESISTANCE REQUIRED TO STOP THE POWER DOOR IS VERY SUBSTANTIAL. ANY BODY PART, EVEN AN ARM OR LEG OF AN ADULT THAT GOT CAUGHT IN THE DOOR COULD SUFFER SERIOUS INJURY. THE DOORS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND CLOSE WHEN THE POWER SYSTEM IS TURNED OFF. THE DEALER AND SALES PERSON KNEW I HAD TWO SMALL CHILDREN. THEY SHOWED ME HOW WONDERFUL THE POWER DOOR SYSTEM WAS WHEN YOU HAD YOUR HANDS FULL CARRYING A CHILD. THEY TOLD ME IT HAD A SAFETY SYSTEM SO THAT PEOPLE WOULDN'T GET HURT IF THEY WERE IN THE PATH OF THE CLOSING DOOR. UNFORTUNATELY, I DID NOT GET TO FULLY TEST THE POWER DOORS AND READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL IN DETAIL WITHIN THE FIRST 3 DAYS AFTER ACCEPTING DELIVERY. WHEN I TRIED TO GET THEM TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE AFTER TWO WEEKS AND LESS THAN 1000 MILES, EVEN AT A PRICE LESS THAN MY PURCHASE PRICE, THEY REFUSED TO EVEN CONSIDER IT. THESE DOORS ARE DANGEROUS. THE POWER DOORS OF OTHER MINIVAN MANUFACTURERS REQUIRE VERY LITTLE RESISTANCE TO INVOKE THE PROTECTION SYSTEM, AND SEVERAL INCLUDE OTHER SAFETY FEATURES LIKE OPTICAL EYES. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REDESIGN AND THEN RECALL/REPLACE THIS POWER DOOR SYSTEM.*AK

SIDE POWER WINDOW HAS A AUTOMATIC FEATURE WHICH ALLOWS THE WINDOW TO GO UP OR DOWN WITH A SINGLE TOUCH OF THE BUTTON ON THE DOOR. A CHILD CAN INADVERTENLY HIT THE BUTTON AND COULD BECOME TRAPPED BY THE WINDOW GOINT UP. THE FORCE OF THE WINDOW CAN SUFFICIENTLY CRUSH A CHILD.

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING SYSTEM AS DID THE PRIOR VEHICLE (1998 TOYOTA SIENNA) THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT VEHICLES WITH SKID CONTROL DO NOT HAVE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING SYSTEMS, PRIOR TO SPEAKING WITH THE DEALER THE CONSUMER TRIED TO SET THE SYSTEM AND READ THE OWNERS MANUAL WHICH NEVER INDICATED WHAT THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER. NLM

WHILE TRAVEL NOTICE INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHED DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND DEALER REPLACED VEHICLE WITH NEW MODEL. NEW VEHICLE HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WE WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE LACK OF LOWER ANCHOR TETHERS AND BACK TETHERS FOR CHILDREN'S CARSEATS IN THE SECOND ROW PASSENGER SEAT IN OUR NEW 2002 TOYOTA MINIVAN. IT WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WERE REQUIRED ON 2002 MODELS. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA TO COMPLAIN, THEY STATED THEIR REASON FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH THE REGULATION WAS THAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO INTERFERE WITH EGRESS FROM THE THIRD ROW. I POINTED OUT TO THEM THAT EGRESS WOULD BE PROHIBITED SINCE THE SEATBELTS WOULD BE BLOCKING THE EGRESS. THE DEALER DID GIVE US THE OPTION TO RETURN THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND A HONDA ODYSSEY AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. SO WE ARE STUCK WITH 1990 TECHNOLOGY ON A 2002 VEHICLE. WE FEEL THIS VIOLATES THE SPIRIT OF THE REGULATION, AND WE ARE FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE TOYOTA CONSIDER CHILDREN'S SAFETY IN ALL SEATS IN THEIR VEHICLES.

CONSUMER STATES THAT AN INDICATOR ILLUMINATED STATING THAT THERE WAS AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION WITH TRANSMISSION AND STATED CONSUMER NEEDED TO STOP DRIVING IMMEDIATELY, DEALER REPLACED THE VEHICLE WITH A NEW ONE. *SLC

DEFECTIVE ENGINE DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *AK

THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO AN OIL SLUDGE BUILD-UP. *JB

THE BRAKES MAKE A VERY LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER TO RIDE THE BRAKES FOR A WHILE UNTIL THE RUST CAME OFF. NEW BRAKE PADS WERE PUT ON THE VEHICLE ON 6/5/2003. THE NOISE STILL OCCURS. *AK

LEFT PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DISCONNECTED THE MOTOR TO THE SLIDING DOOR. *AK