2002 Toyota Sienna Tires & Wheels Problems

THE SPARE TIRE IS MOUNTED UNDER THE VEHICLE WITH THE SHREDDER VALVE ORIENTED DOWNWARD FOR EASY ACCESS. THE WHEEL IS STEEL AND IS LOCATED SO THE TIRES KICK UP WATER AND ROAD SAND AND, WITH THIS ORIENTATION, WATER IS TRAPPED, LIKE IN A BOWL, AND SITS ON THE STEEL. THE PAINT HAS LONG BEEN BLASTED AWAY FROM THE SAND EXPOSURE AND NOW THE WHEEL IS RUSTED SO BADLY IT IS EXTREMELY THIN AND CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT RISKING FAILURE OF THE WHEEL, ESPECIALLY ON THE FRONT WHERE LOADS CAN REACH IN EXCESS OF 2500 POUNDS IN A DYNAMIC FATIGUE SITUATION. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THIS SIENNA HAS BEEN RECALLED ONCE ALREADY FOR RUST IN THIS AREA, THANKS TO YOU GUYS, AS RUST WAS DAMAGING THE RETAINING SYSTEM AND THE TIRE WAS FALLING OFF IN TRAFFIC. THEY HAVE SEEN THE RUSTED WHEELS AND THE STRENGTH IS NOW UNPREDICTABLE. ROAD SALT, RAIN, SAND ETC. AMOUNTS. THE SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE ANY TYPE OF COVER. DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD 2 FLAT TIRES AND I THINK WITH MY WIFE & KIDS IN THE CAR IT IS A PROBLEM. IT IS A PROBLEM WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

WEST LAKE TIRE BLEW OUT WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES ON IT. *TR

2002 TOYOTA SIENNA RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL AND HIT A DITCH. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *JB

I PURCHASED COOPER LIFE LINER TOURING TIRES FROM KAUFFMAN TIRE. WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF PURCHASE, ONE OF THE TIRES DEVELOPED A LARGE BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL. KAUFFMAN STAFF TOLD ME THIS TYPE OF BUBBLE WAS A RESULT OF "HITTING A CURB OR OTHER OBJECT." I KNEW I HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SAME BRAND & MODEL. AS TIME WENT BY, I HAD CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I VISITED KAUFFMAN SEVERAL TIMES. THEY ADJUSTED MY ALIGNMENT AND CHECKED MY TIRE PRESSURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, TO NO AVAIL. TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2007, I STOPPED BY KAUFFMAN AND TOLD THEM THERE WAS APPARENTLY AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM THAT CAUSED MY VAN TO PULL SO SEVERELY THAT I HAD TO STRUGGLE TO KEEP IN MY LANE. I REQUESTED THAT THEY DO AN IN-DEPTH CHECK TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THEY FOUND THAT 3 OF THE 4 COOPER LIFE LINER TOURING TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE, ONE HAD A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL. KAUFFMAN EMPLOYEE AGAIN TOLD ME THAT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY STRIKING A CURB OR OTHER OBJECT. AGAIN, I KNEW I HAD NOT HIT THE TIRE ON ANYTHING. KAUFFMAN EMPLOYEES REPLACED THE TIRES WITH 3 NEW COOPER LIFE LINER TOURING TIRES. ON JULY 6, 2007, ONE OF THE NEW TIRES DEVELOPED A HUGE BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF I-20 IN ALABAMA. AN INTERNET SEARCH LED ME TO YOUR WEBSITE, WHERE I FOUND THAT THE TIRES KAUFFMAN PUT ON MY VEHICLE IN 2007 WERE RECALLED IN 2006. I FEAR SOMEONE MAY BE INJURED OR KILLED BY THESE FAILING COOPER TIRES. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE TIRES ON THE 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE TIRE SIZE WAS P21565R15. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE DRIVER WAS UNSURE OF THE VEHICLE'S SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE DRIVER'S FRONT AND REAR TIRES FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BELTS SHEARED OFF IN BOTH TIRES. THE TIRES WERE AVAILABLE. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE BELT AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE TIRES WERE REGULARLY SERVICED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE SEPARATION. UPDATED 12/18/2006 - *NM

TIRE VIBRATION IN STEERING AT SPEEDS USUALLY GREATER THAN 40 MPH AND MOST PREVELANT WHEN COMING OUT OF A TURN. TIRES EVALUATED BY TIRE STORE, SPEED BALANCED AND ROTATED. FOUND THE SIDEWALL DEFECTIVE. MICHELIN X-RADIAL DT P205/70R15. WHEN DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS MOVED TO REAR PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR, MOVED BACK TO THE FRONT PROBLEM CAME BACK.*AK

TOYOTA HAS BEEN PLACING DUNLOP SP40'S ON THEIR SIENNA VAN'S AT LEAST FROM 2000 TO 2003. THEY ARE EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND ARE PRONE TO PREMATURE WEAR (LESS THAN HALF OF THEIR 80,000 KILOMETERS. PLEASE REFER TO 1010TIRES.COM UNDER REVIEWS FOR THAT TIRE (VERY NUMEROUS). MY TIRES WERE WORN OVER 75% AT 33000KMS. EVEN PRIOR TO WEAR THEY ARE EXTREMELY UNRELIABLE ESP. IN THE SNOW AND RAIN---I HAD SPUN OUT ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF SNOW COVERED HIGHWAY SEVERAL TIMES ENTERING ONCOMING TRAFFIC THE WINTER PREVIOUS. THE SIENNA HAS A HIGH SAFETY RATING BUT IT IS IN FACT AN UNSAFE/HAZARDOUS VEHICLE BY VIRTUE OF THE TIRES PLACED UPON IT. I BELIEVE TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT ADMIT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THROUGH MUCH ARGUMENT, GOODYEAR HAS REPLACED THE TIRES WITH NEW ONES GIVING ME 50% OFF (I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN PLACED IN A POSITION OF PURCHASING NEW TIRES WHEN I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FOR THE NEXT 3-4 YEARS). TOYOTA REFUSES TO COMPENSATE ME THE OTHER 50% AND WILL NOT ADMIT TO THIS UNSAFE (BUT NO DOUBT PROFITABLE) RELATIONSHIP THAT IT HAS WITH DUNLOP/GOODYEAR. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THESE TIRES ARE SUBSTANDARD IF NOT DEFECTIVE AND I AM UPSET THAT DUNLOP/GOODYEAR AND TOYOTA HAD PLACED MY FAMILY IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THEIR ARRANGEMENT. I HAD BOUGHT THE VAN BECAUSE MY WIFE AND I HAD A NEW BABY AND HAD TRUSTED THE SAFETY RATING BOASTED BY TOYOTA (UNAWARE THAT THE SAFETY WAS COMPROMISED BY THE TIRES THAT THEY CHOOSE TO UTILIZE ON THE VAN). *JB

TOYO TIRES DO NOT GRIP THE ROAD WHEN IT IS WET. THEY SLIP AND SPIN OUT EASILY ON WET ROADS. IN SAN FRANCISCO 2/19/05, ON A HILL, STARTING THE AUTO MOVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE TIRES WOULD NOT GRIP THE ROAD AND KEPT SPINNING OUT. THE CAR SLIP BACKWARDS. I HAD TO TURN THE WHEELS TO FINALLY GET THEM TO GRIP ENOUGH TO GET THE CAR MOVING FORWARD. ANYTIME, ANYWHERE ROADS ARE WET THE TIRES SPIN OUT AND DO NOT GRIP WELL.*AK

DRIVING SOUTH ON I-15 NORTH OF LAS VEGAS, TIRE TREAD ON PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL SEPARATED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS A HOT DAY (AROUND 110 DEGREES) AND THE HIGHWAY SPEED THERE IS 75 M.P.H. THE TREAD FLEW UP AND SMASHED THE SIDE WINDOW OF THE SIENNA MINIVAN, TORE OFF PART OF THE SIDE FENDER AND DAMAGED THE SLIDING DOOR. THE TIRES HAD BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND HAD BEEN INPECTED WITHIN THE PREVIOUS MONTH AT THE TOYOTA DEALER. NONETHELESS, FIRESTONE HAS REFUSED TO COMPENSATE US FOR THE MONETARY LOSS AND HAS TRIED TO SHIFT THE BLAME TO US, SAYING THERE WAS PROOF THAT THE TIRE HAD BEEN RUN LOW, ETC. (WE HAD TO DRIVE ON THE TIRE AFTER WE LOST THE TREAD AS WE WERE IN A REMOTE AREA. SINCE THERE WAS STILL AIR IN THE TIRE I DROVE SLOWLY TO WHERE WE COULD GET HELP.) THUS I HAVE ARGUED THAT THE WEAR FOUND BY THEIR "ENGINEERS" WAS DUE TO DRIVING ON A TREADLESS TIRE WHICH WAS LOSING AIR. I HAVE REQUESTED FIRESTONE TO SEND US BACK THE DAMAGED TIRE. THE DAMAGE REPAIR BILL WAS $1780, PLUS THE COST OF THE RENTAL CAR ETC.*AK

AFTER A BLOWOUT ON MY LEFT FRONT TIRE ON MY 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE, I DISCOVERED THAT THE LUG NUTS DESIGNED FOR THE ALUMINUM WHEELS DO NOT FIT THE STEEL WHEEL OF THE FULL SIZE SPARE, AND TOYOTA DOES NOT PROVIDE THE "ACORN" TYPE LUG NUTS FOR THE SPARE. THE LUG NUTS FOR THE ALUMINUM WHEELS DO NOT SEAT PROPERLY AGAINST THE STEEL WHEEL SPARE. I BELIEVE THAT NOT PROVIDING THE PROPER LUG NUTS FOR THE SPARE IS A SERIOUS OMISSION ON TOYOTA'S PART AND MAKES DRIVING WITH THE SPARE WITH THE IMPROPER LUG NUTS VERY DANGEROUS. *LA

UNEVEN AND PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS

TIRES FIRESTONE: FR680, P205/70R15 95S, M+S. ON A TOYOTA SIENNA 2002. 2 TIRES WERE COMPLETELY WORN DOWN TO NOTHING. GOT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO DO A WHEEL ALIGNMENT & REPLACE 2 TIRES FOR FREE SINCE I HAD BEEN GOING TO THEM FOR ALL SERVICE & THEY NEVER NOTICED THE WORN TIRES. NOW ONE REAR TIRE HAS A SIDEWALL TEAR. I TOOK IT TO A FIRESTONE DEALER, AND HE SAID IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY -- JUST WEAR AND TEAR -- RIM HAD A SLIGHT DENT SO HE DEDUCTED IT WAS BECAUSE WE HIT A BUMP OR SIDEWALK. BUT THERE IS ALSO A CRACK IN THE SIDEWALL AS WELL.*AK

I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO TOYOTA AND GOT FILE#200208160275 AND TO DUNLOP AND GOT REPORT#568588, NONE OF THE TWO SEEM TO REALLY CARE ABOUT THE PROBLEM, TOYOTA MENTIONED IT WAS A DUNLOP PROBLEM AND THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT WARRANTY THE TIRES, DUNLOP MENTIONS THAT I HAVE TO TAKE THE TIRE TO A DUNLOP DEALER AND THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE THE TIRE BLOWN BUT NOT THE ONE AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR. WE FEEL REALLY UNSAFE WITH THESE TIRES AS THERE WAS NO VISIBLE CASUE TO THE PROBLEM EXCEPT FOR THE HEAT AND THE SPEED, WE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR.*AK

TIRE BURST AT LESS THAN 30MPH. 3+ INCH RIP THROUGH EXTERIOR SIDEWALL ALONG RADIAL LINE OF TIRE. NO IMPACTS OR OTHER ADVERSE INITIATING EVENTS. NO SIGNS OF OTHER PUNCTURE. MY WIFE WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT. WE ARE IN THE DC AREA AND STILL HAVE THE TIRE (AT THE MOMENT) FOR EXAMINATION. THIS IS A BRAND NEW TIRE WITH ABOUT 1000 MILES ON IT. *AK (TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)