2004 Toyota Sienna Complaint Log

MINIVAN DOES NOT ALWAY ACCELERATE PROPERLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SLOWING DOWN, LIKE WHEN COMING TO A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE IF I HAVE NOT ALREADY COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS SEEQUENCE WILL USUALLY REPRODUCE THE FAILURE: 1. TRAVEL AROUND 40MPH. 2. QUICKLY SLOW TO AROUND 10MPH. 3. TRY TO QUICKLY ACCELERATE TO 40MPH AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE AND PAUSE BEFORE STARTING TO ACCELERATE.

OUR POOL IS TWO BLOCKS FROM OUR HOUSE AND WITH THE THIRD ROW SEATS FOLDED DOWN IN OUR TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN, WE OFTEN LET OUR CHILDREN (AGES 5 AND 7) SIT IN THE BACK TO RIDE HOME. WHEN LEAVING THE POOL ON MAY 29, THERE WAS AN ADULT FRIEND IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND FOUR CHILDREN (AGES 5,5,7 AND 8) IN THE BACK. WHEN WE WERE ALMOST HOME, ONE CHILD SAID THAT THE 7 YEAR OLD WAS STUCK. THE ADULT PASSENGER TURNED AND SAW THAT THE SIDE SEAT BELTS FOR THE THIRD ROW WERE WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK AND TIGHT. WHEN WE STOPPED THE VAN AND OPENED THE TAILGATE, WE DISCOVERED THAT HE HAD PULLED BOTH SIDES OUT FAR ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE RACHET MECHANISM, PUT THE BELTS FROM EACH SIDE AROUND HIS NECK AND TIGHTENED THEM TO A POINT HE COULD NOT GET THEM OFF. WHEN WE TRIED TO HELP, WE FOUND OUT WE COULD NOT GET HIM OUT. WITH THE RACHET MECHANISM ACTIVATED, THE BELTS HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY BACK IN BEFORE THEY RELEASE AGAIN. SINCE HE HAD USED ONE FROM EACH SIDE THAT IS FASTENED AT BOTH ENDS, THIS COULD NOT BE DOWN WITHOUT STRANGLING THE CHILD. THE ONLY WAY WE COULD GET HIM OUT WAS TO GO IN THE HOUSE AND GET SCISSORS, THEN CUTTING THE SEAT BELT. LUCKILY WE WERE HOME. *JB

WE HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT THROUGH THE SIDEWALL RECENTLY. WE DRIVE A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA LE FWD WITH DUNLOP SP SPORT 4000 A/S TIRES INSTALLED AS OEM. WE HAD JUST BARELY PASSED 26,000 MILES WHEN WE HAD A SIDE WALL BLOWOUT ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE WHILE TRAVELLING APP. 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. I PAY ATTENTION TO TIRE PRESSURE AND TEADWEAR, SO THE TIRE THAT BLEW SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFLATED PROPERLY, AND IN THIS CASE I HAD ALREADY BEGUN THINKING ABOUT GETTING NEW TIRES BECAUSE THE TREAD WAS APPROACHING THE WEAR BARS. THIS IS A VERY POOR-PERFORMANCE TIRE, AND I'M AMAZED TOYOTA MADE A CORPORATE DECISION TO PUT THESE TIRES ON THEIR SIENNA "FAMILY VANS." DUNLOP SHOULD BE EMBARASSED TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO SELL THEM.

2004 TOYOTA SIENNA ALL WHEEL DRIVE LE-BRIDGESTONE B380 RUN FLAT TIRES ARE RATED FROM THE MANUFACTURER FOR UP TO 50 MILES DISTANCE AFTER GOING FLAT WHILE TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN FOR UP TO 100 MILES AFTER GOING FLAT.

VEHICLE HESTITATES UPON ACCELERATION. *AK

2004 TOYOTA SIENNA ALL WHEEL DRIVES HAVE A SUSPENSION OR DRIVETRAIN ISSUE THAT CAUSES TIRES TO WEAR TO CHORDS ON INSIDE EDGES IN 10 TO 15,000 MILES.VEHICLE CAME WITH RUNFLAT,BRIDGESTONES BR380RUNFLATS AND DEALER REPLACED AT 9,000 MILES DUE TO SEVERE WEAR WITH2256017DUNLOPS,NOW AT 28,000 NO TREAD LEFT INNER,AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AGAIN AFTER 9 MONTHS OF DRIVING OBVIOU SLY PROBLEM IS NOT THE MANUFACTER OF TIRE BUT SOMETHING IN DESEIGN OF TRUCK OR AWD SYSTEM,TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL,THIS ISSUE COST APPROX1400.00 IN TIRES FOR ONE SET AND APPARENTLY WILL ONLY LAST A YEAR,TOYOTA SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS TIRE WEAR ISSUE ISSUE AND EITHER RETRFIT VEHICLE A SUSPENSION DRIVETRAIN FIX THAT WILL NOT WEAR TIRES,IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT I HAVE 2 OF THE SAME VEHICLE WITH EXACT SAME PROBLEM,ON BOTH TOYOTA REPLACED THE 1ST SET OF TIRES AT UNDER 11,000 MILES AND BASICALLY SAID TOO BAD IT'S NOT TOYOTA PROBLEM BY THE TIME 2ND SET WERE WORN 10,00 MIES LATER.

REFERRING TO OUR 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA PURCHASED IN AUG, 2004, THREE TIMES, WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ENGAGING THE "RESUME" FUNCTION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE AND CONTINUED DOING SO PAST THE SET SPEED UNTIL STEPPING ON THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS RESULTED IN THE SPEED INCREASING TO 5 TO 10 MILES OVER THE SET SPEED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH IF ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. *NM

THE TRANSMISSION HAS A DELAY WHEN RUNNING AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN HAVING TO CHANGE GEARS UP OR DOWN UNDER A CHANGE OF LOAD CONDITION; LIKE GOING UPHILL OR PASSING. VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF OF THE GAS FOR A MOMENT, LIKE TURNING INTO A STREET OR DRIVEWAY. THE VAN WILL JUMP INTO A GEAR LIKE IF SOMEONE HAD POPPED THE CLUTCH ON A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VAN. I HAVE TAKEN IT THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY ALWAYS SAY THERE NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES BUT NOTHING CHANGES. I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM UNTIL JUST NOW; AFTER READING ABOUT HOW MANY OTHER HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I WISH TOYOTA WOULD JUST TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT THE VEHICLES THAT THEY MAKE INSTEAD OF JUST ACTING LIKE IT IS ALWAYS THE CUSTOMERS WHO IS AT FAULT. THIS WILL BE MY LAST TOYOTA. I HAVE OWNED THREE IN THE PAST, NO MORE. ESPECIALLY SINCE ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAS HAPPEN WITH THEIR CARS LATELY. *TR

TOYOTA SIENNA RUNFLAT TIRES WEAR TO ROD BY 16,000 MILES... STARTED TO HEAR NOISE IN FRONT END TIRES. A LITTLE PULL TO LEFT .VERY JITTERY AT 55+MPH.. PRESSURE SEEMED OK- SO TOOK TO MECHANIC. HE SAID "RUN-FLAT" TIRES COMPLETELY WORN DOWN TO ROD.. BUT GO TRY DEALER SINCE ONLY 16,900 MILES. CALLED TOYOTA SAID NOT THEIR RESPONSIBLITY- TIRE CO.'S WOULDN'T EVEN HELP LOCATE SPECIALTY TIRE SHOP FOR SPECIAL OEM DUNLOP OEM (RUN-FLAT TIRES). TOYOTA GUY ADMITTED THOUGH (ON THE SIDE) THAT IT MAY BE RUN-FLATS AS GETTING MANY COMPLAINTS. WEB INDICATES MANY OF SAME EXPERIENCES AT @15-20,000 MILES. AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE A FAMILY GETS KILLED. NEEDLESS TO SAY WE ARE REPLACING WITH REGULAR TIRES- NO FUN-FLATS. THIS TECHNOLOGY MAY NOT BE READY FOR PRIME TIME AND EVERY ONE IS MAKING IT OEM ALREADY. THANKS.

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT UNEXPECTED TREAD DEGRADATION ON MY 2004 SIENNA XLE LIMITED AWD. AT 17K MILES THE TIRES NEEDED REPLACING. *NM

WITH OUR 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN, WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE RUN-FLAT TIRES INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THESE DUNLOP RUN-FLAT TIRES ARE STANDARD ON THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE VERSIONS OF THE 2004 AND 2005 SIENNA. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN PRONE TO PUNCTURE (TWO SEMI-DELFATIONS IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS) AND THE TIRES DO NOT WEAR PROPERLY. AS A RESULT, WE ARE FORCED TO REPLACE THEM AT $300 A PIECE WITH ONLY 12,000 MILES ON THEM AND AFTER THEY WERE PROPERLY ROTATED AND MAINTAINED DURING THEIR SHORT LIFE. A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET CONFIRMS THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE RAMPANT ON THE 2004 AND 2005 SIENNAS WITH THESE RUN-FLAT TIRES. THE TOYOTA DEALER HAS ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND HAS OFFERED TO PAY FOR ONLY 2 OF THE 4 NEW TIRES. TO EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM, SIENNAS WITH RUN-FLAT TIRES ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ANY SPARE TIRE BECAUSE THE RUN-FLATS ARE SUPPOSED TO ALLOW YOU TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL YOU CAN HAVE THE FLAT FIXED. TWO PROBLEMS EMERGE FROM THIS -- (1) IF YOUR RUN-FLAT TIRE FAILS COMPLETELY (THERE ARE REPORTS OF THIS ON THE INTERNET), YOU ARE STUCK WITH NO SPARE; AND (2) IF YOU CAN STILL DRIVE ON THE FLAT TIRE, THERE ARE FEW IF ANY REPAIR SHOPS OUTSIDE OF MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS THAT CAN FIX THESE RUN-FLATS.

CONSUMER STATES: THE TIRES CAME BRAND NEW WITH THE VAN. THE TIRE CURRENTLY HAVE 25000 MILES AND THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE TIRES ARE NOT SAFE. THE CONSUMER SPOKE WITH SOMEONE AT THE TIRE STORE WHO INDICATED THAT MOST PEOPLE ONLY GET 18000 MILE OUT OF THE TIRES. THE BELTS ARE CURRENTLY SHOWING THROUGH THE TIRE AND THE TIRES ARE STARTING TO MAKE NOISE. *NM

POWER SLIDING DOORS ARE DANGEROUS. SEVERAL TIMES, WHEN PARKED ON SLIGHT INCLINE, DOOR WILL CLOSE BY ITSELF AND HAS CLOSED ON MYSELF AND FAMILY. THE DOOR IS SUPPOSED TO BE DESIGNED TO POP BACK OPEN WHEN IT FEELS RESISTANCE BUT HAS SQUEEZED ME SEVERAL TIMES. ONCE MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, CLOSED THE DOOR WITH THE BUTTON AND THEN GOT HIS HAND STUCK IN THE DOOR. IT DID NOT OPEN BACK UP, I HAD TO OPEN IT, RESULTING IN A DISLOCATED ELBOW AND A BROKEN WRIST (BOTH BONES). I CONTACTED TOYOTA, THEY SENT ME TO THE DEALER, THE HEAD MECHANIC CHECKED IT ABOUT 100 TIMES AND PUT HIS OWN ARM AND HEAD INTO THE DOOR, WHICH OF COURSE DID NOT LEAD TO ANYTHING. NOT TWO WEEKS LATER THE DOOR CLOSED ON MY BODY, AND SQUEEZED ME VERY HARD BEFORE BOUNCING BACK OPEN. I HAVE CALLED TOYOTA, THEY ARE VERY NICE AND APOLOGETIC. I FEEL THAT BECAUSE HE WASN'T INJURED WORSE OR KILLED THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING. *JB

WE PURCHASED A TOYOTA SIENNA 2004 IN NOVEMBER 2003. I WAS TOLD YESTERDAY THAT THE TIRES ARE SO WORN THEY ARE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON. THE CAR IS ONLY 17 MONTHS OLD WITH 20.000 MILES. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR IN FOR ALL ITS ROUTINE SERVICES. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED 3 TIMES, AIR PRESSURE AND ALIGNMENT IS FINE. CONSUMERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW BEFORE THEY PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT THAT THE TIRE WILL WEAR DOWN QUICKLY AND COST $1300 TO REPLACE THEM. THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER TIRE. BUT MOST IMPORTANT IS THE SAFETY ISSUE. THE CONSUMER IS NOT AWARE THAT THE TIRES CAN WEAR SO QUICKLY AND POSE A HAZARD TO THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY. NEITHER THE TIRE MAKERS(BRIDGESTONE NOR TOYOTA WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. WE ARE HOPING THAT YOU WILL LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *AK

PASSENGER SLIDING POWER DOOR STOPPED WORKING. I MANUALLY TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND IT FELL OFF THE REAR HINGE POINT. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER SPECIALIZING IN PRODUCT TESTING. I WORKED IN THE AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENT INDUSTRY FOR 11 YEARS. I CAN SAY THAT THIS DOOR SYSTEM IS WAY UNDER ENGINEERED. TOYOTA SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX THIS. PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THIS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. I CALLED TOYOTA WHEN JUST THE AUTO OPEN/CLOSE SYSTEM WAS BROKEN. THEY TOLD ME I'M ON MY OWN. THAT SYSTEM FAILS IN TWO WAYS. 1.) IF THE AUTO OPEN/CLOSE SYSTEM FAILS IT SHOULD BREAK WAY FROM THE HINGING SYSTEM SO THE DOOR WILL JUST FUNCTION MANUALLY. INSTEAD IT JAMS THE DOOR IN THE POSITION IT BROKE IN. THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. 2.) THE HINGE SYSTEM IS WAY UNDER ENGINEERED FOR LOAD. I AM A 180LB 46 YR OLD ENGINEER WHO IS SOFT AROUND THE MIDDLE. I'M NOT VERY STRONG. I TOOK THE DOOR OFF THE HINGE! THAT SHOULD NOT ABLE TO HAPPEN WITH SUCH A LOW FORCE RATE. I SEE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL. TOYOTA ENGINEERS SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEM SELVES. THAT VAN COST OVER 40K BRAND NEW. IT'S ONLY 6 YEARS OLD AND HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR. T'S A FAMILY/CHILD CARRIER. IT SHOULD BE DESIGNED LIKE A TANK IN MY OPINION. *TR

HAVE A TOYATA XLE AWD VAN WITH RUN FLATS AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM. THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING DOES NOT WORK. FRONT PASSENGER TIRE HAS A LEAK WHICH COULD NOT BE FOUND 2 WEEKS AGO. THE SYSTEM WAS RESET, ALL TIRES PRESSURED UP BY THE DEALER 2 WEEKS AGO. THERE IS A 20 PSI DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEELS AND THE SYSTEM DOES NOT LIGHT UP IN THE DASH. 3 WEEK AGO, WE WENT ON A 2000 MILE TRIP, BEFORE WHICH I NOTICED THE PROBLEM OF ONE TIRE BEING LOW IN TIRE PRESSURE AND THE SYSTEM NOT WORKING. THE DEALER HAS NO FIX ON THE PROBLEM AND SAID TOYOTA DOES NOT HAVE ANY TSB'S ON IT. NOW DUSE TO THIS DEFECTIVE SYSTEM, THEY HAVE FOUND A LEAK WHICH MAY BE CLOSE TO THE SIDEWALL ON THE TIRE AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED AND IT BEING AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE, I AM BEING ADVISED TO PUT 4 NEW RUNFLATS AT OVER $1200 WITH LESS THAN 16000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE.

LOWER SIDEWALL OF DUNLOP SP 4000 DSST RUN FLAT TIRE (INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE AWD MINIVAN) WAS PUNCTURED BY A NAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE/HANDLE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO A TIRE REPAIR FACILITY DESPITE THE FACT THAT VEHICLE OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN UP TO 100 MILES AT SPEEDS BELOW 50 MILES PER HOUR. BASED ON THIS PRESUMPTION, TOYOTA DOES NOT EQUIP THE VEHICLE WITH A SPARE TIRE. TOYOTA ALSO RECOMMENDS CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE. THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PHILOSOPHY: (I) NOT HAVING A SPARE TIRE IN THE CASE OF A PUNCTURE SUCH AS THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO STRAND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS IN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION; (II) DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND RISK THE SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS; AND (III) SOME TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS (SUCH AS OURS) ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO REPAIR AND/OR REPLACE THESE TIRES. WITH RESPECT TO THE TIRES THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS AS WELL: (I) THE TIRES EXPERIENCE RAPID TREAD WEAR (SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS LISTED AT WWW.TIRERACK.COM) REQUIRING CONSTANT REPLACEMENT; (II) WITHOUT CONSTANT MONITORING OF THE TIRE WEAR, DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECOMES UNSAFE; (III) THE TIRES ARE GENERALLY IN SHORT SUPPLY AND IN CASES SUCH AS OURS, WHERE THE TIRE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST A WEEK TO OBTAIN REPLACEMENTS; (IV) BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR, WHEN DAMAGE SUCH AS OURS OCCURS, IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO REPLACE AT LEAST TWO TIRES; AND (V) THE TIRES ARE OUTRAGEOUSLY EXPENSIVE, AVERAGING BETWEEN $200-$300 PER TIRE. *JB

2004 TOYOTA SIENNA DUNLOP SP RUN FLAT TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE ORIGINAL RUN FLAT TIRES WERE NOTED TO HAVE A FEW BALD SPOTS AT ABOUT 33000 MILES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BUT 4 DAYS LATER ONE OF THE TIRES WENT FLAT WHILE THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE (DUNLOP SP RUN FLAT PO# 35682AND 36003 TOY, P225/60R17). *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO FLAT TIRES. THE FIRST WAS ON APRIL 2005 WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER, THE RIDE WAS DANGEROUSLY ROUGH, AND THE TIRE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. THE FLAT WAS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE CONSUMER THEN REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A SPARE TIRE. THREE WEEKS LATER SECOND TIRE HAD A FLAT. THIS OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, TIRE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE HAVING TROUBLE MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE. THIS TIME IT WAS THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE CONSUMER THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP WHICH DID NOT CARRY THE SIZE OF TIRES FOR HER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT PROVIDED HER WITH A DUNLOP REGULAR TIRE THAT WAS THE RIGHT SIZE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE THE TIRE TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE TIRE BECAUSE TOYOTA WOULD NOT BE LIABLE FOR THE CONTACT DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH A REGULAR TIRE. THE CONSUMER WENT TO A TOYOTA REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SHOWED HER THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY HAD WORE OUT UNEVENLY. THE TIRES WORE OUT SO BADLY THAT THEY WENT BALD. THE CONSUMER FELT UNSAFE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN SPEAKING WITH TOYOTA AND BRIDGESTONE AND HAS YET TO RECEIVE ANY HELP. ON AUGUST 2005, THE CONSUMER PUT ALL REGULAR TIRES ON THE VEHICLE AND FELT SAFER AND BELIEVED THE ODDS WERE LOWER FOR A HAVING A BLOW OUT ON THE FREEWAY. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2005. *NM

I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE THAT INCLUDES A TOWING PACKAGE. THE TRAILER HITCH FOR THIS VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT HITS THE GROUND GOING OVER ANY SMALL BUMP WHEN THERE IS NO TRAILER ATTACHED, AND IT IS ONLY INCHES OFF THE GROUND WHEN A TRAILER IS ATTACHED, CONSTANTLY SCRAPING AND CAUSING SPARKS. THIS CAN BE ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS AT GAS STATIONS WHERE THERE ARE ANY FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES IF IT IS NECESSARY TO GO OVER ANY SMALL BUMPS AND THERE ARE SPARKS.*AK

WITH NORMAL USE SEAT BELT ON 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA LOCKS AND WILL NOT RELEASE WITHOUT THE BELT BEING COMPLETELY RELEASED BACK IN TO HOUSING. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY TIME, NOT JUST WHEN BREAKING OR WHEN TURNING. WE HAVE TAKEN TWICE TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS TO DEALER SPEC.*AK

ALL 4 TIRES (DUNLOP RUN FLAT) ON MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA AWD XLE LIMITED HAVE (ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, MILLER TOYOTA OF MANASSAS) BECOME WORN ON THE OUTSIDES EDGES OF THE TIRES INDICATING (ACCORDING TO THE DEALER) THAT I HAVE BEEN RIDING AROUND WITH UNDER INFLATED TIRES AND IT IS MY FAULT. I INFORMED HIM THAT THE LOW PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT NEVER CAME ON AND THAT I DON'T THINK HE WAS RIGHT. I HAVE ASKED HIM TO ERPLACE THE TIRES UNDER THE WARRANTY FOR FAULTY EQUIPMENT AND HE SAID THAT I NEEDED TO TALK TO THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. I TOLD HIM NO AND THAT HE NEEDS TO TAKE IT UP WITH THE REGIONAL TOYOTA SALES REP. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THIS NOW. THE DEALER (IN TYPICAL LOW FASHION) PRESSURED ME INTO BUYING THE REPLACEMENTS MYSELF AND NOT ATTEMPT ANY WARRANTY CLAIM. I DECLINED AS THE 4 TIRES WOULD COST ME $1350 (!!!!!) TO REPLACE. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE FOR MINIVAN TIRES. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS TIRE WEAR IS NOT A UNIQUE SITUATION AS I HAVE READ MANY OTHER INCIDENTS OF PREMATURE TIRE WEAR FOR THESE RUN FLAT TIRES AND THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY FOR THESE PROBLEMS AND REPLACE THE TIRES WITH SOMETHING BETTER SUITED TO THIS MINIVAN.*AK

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA LE AWD VAN. ON APRIL 2, 2005, MY FAMILY AND I WERE ON A TRIP APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES FROM HOME. DURING THAT TRIP, THE LIGHT TO INFLATE THE TIRES CAME ON. WE INFLATED THE TIRES AND THE LIGHT TURNED OFF. THEN, IT CAME ON VERY SOON AFTER THE INITIAL INFLATION. MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR TO SEVERAL TIRE PLACES, THEN FINALLY A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO TREAT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED US THAT OUR VAN WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND THAT TWO OF OUR TIRES (THEY ARE OF THE "RUN-FLAT" VARIETY) WERE SEVERELY WORN, ONE EVEN PAST THE WEAR BARS. AT THAT TIME, OUR VAN HAD APPROXIMATELY 20,500 MILES ON IT. WE HAD TAKEN IT FOR REGULARLY RECOMMENDED SERVICING AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN OUR HOMETOWN, INCLUDING TWO PRIOR EPISODES OF HAVING THE TIRES ROTATED. THE MOST RECENT TIRE ROTATION OCCURRED AT THE 15,000 MILE CHECK-UP. AT THAT TIME, THE DEALERSHIP NOTED NO EXCESSIVE WEAR ON OUR TIRES. IN FEWER THAN 5,000 MILES, APPARENTLY, THE TIRES HAD WORN DOWN BEYOND WHAT IS SAFE. THE CONSEQUENCE WAS THE NEED TO BUY FOUR NEW TIRES AT THE 20,500 MILE MARK. BOTH TOYOTA MOTOR CO. AND OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO ME TODAY UPON INQUIRY THAT WE CAN EXPECT ONLY APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES FROM THESE TIRES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THESE TIRES CAN WEAR DOWN SO QUICKLY AND FAIL.*AK

2004 TOYOTA SIENNA EXPERIENCING HESITATION WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. *MR THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR WHEN STARTING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE CONSUMERS REMOVED HIS FOOT AND PLACED IT BACK ON THE THROTTLE, SEVERE HESITATION WOULD OCCUR. *SC

PROBLEMS WITH THE DUNLOP RUN FLAT TIRES AND THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA.*MR DURING A 3000 MILE SERVICE THE TECHNICIAN NOTICE THAT ON OR MORE OF THE TIRES WAS BALDING. ALL FOUR TIRE WERE REPLACED. A FEW DAY AFTER THE 3000 MIL MAINTENANCE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO TRANSMISSION FLUID. *NM

ITEM 1-- THIS IS AN AWD MODEL WITH RUN FLATS AND NO SPACE FOR A SPARE TIRE. THE LOW PRESSURE WARNING FOR THE TIRES IS REVOLUTION BASED, AND THEREFORE DOESN'T ACTIVATE DUE TO THE STIFF WALL RUN FLAT TIRES. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE THE TIRES WERE VERY LOW WITH NO WARNING, AND TWO OCCASIONS WHERE THE TIRES HAD ZERO AIR AND WERE RUINED WITH NO WARNING, AND THE FIRST INDICATION WAS A ROAR AND SUDDEN VERY BUMPY RIDE. THESE 2 EVENTS HAPPENED AT CITY SPEEDS, BUT I FEAR THIS EVENT AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS. THE LATER MODELS WERE EQUIPPED WITH PRESSURE SENSING DEVICES (NOT REVOLUTION SENSING). THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 38K MILES, PERFECT CONDITION, AND I JUST RENEWED MY EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 6 MORE YEARS, SO WOULD LIKE A RECALL RETROFIT TO PRESSURE SENSING FOR SAFETY AND PEACE OF MIND. I HAD THOUGHT TOYOTA WOULD DEVELOP A FIX, BUT TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE THIS DOCUMENTED ON TOYOTA SERVICE INVOICES AND THE FACTORY REP HAS REPORTED THERE IS NOTHING TOYOTA CAN DO. ITEM 2--- WHEN PULLING OUT FROM BEHIND A VEHICLE TO PASS AND FLOORING THE ACCELERATOR, THERE IS A FULL SECOND OF HESITATION BEFORE THE DOWN SHIFTING/ACCELERATION BEGINS. THIS HAS CAUSED TWO NEAR MISSES. THIS IS DOCUMENTED WITH TOYOTA, BUT ALL I'VE BEEN TOLD IS THAT IT IS CAUSED BY "DRIVE-BY-WIRE" (?), WHICH I ASSUME IS AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL AS OPPOSED TO A MECHANICAL THROTTLE CABLE, BUT AGAIN, TOYOTA SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO.

THE REAR HATCH IS REVERSING AND COMING BACK DOWN ON ITS OWN WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE REMOTE. THE CONSUMER ANTICIPATES THAT AN INJURY CAN OCCUR BECAUSE IT COMES DOWN WITH GREAT FORCE. *AK *SC *JB

I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE HATCH DOOR ON MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA CLOSING WITHOUT WARNING AND CONTINUING TO CLOSE WHEN IT CAME IN CONTACT WITH MY BACK. I WROTE TO MY DEALER (SLOANE TOYOTA IN GLENSIDE, PA) ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN MARCH 2005 (I HAVE COPIED THE TEXT OF THAT MESSAGE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS COMPLAINT), AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER (PERUZZI TOYOTA IN HATFIELD) AND THEY "FIXED" IT, BY REPLACING A SWITCH, I BELIEVE. I ASKED IF THIS WAS A KNOWN DEFECT AND THEY TOLD ME NO. I RECENTLY SAW AN ARTICLE IN THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER THAT IDENTIFIED THIS AS AN ISSUE THAT HAS INJURED SOME PEOPLE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A THREAT TO CAUSE SERIOUS, POTENTIALLY, FATAL INJURY. TEXT OF MESSAGE FROM MARCH 2005: TO SLOANE TOYOTA SENT VIA E-MAIL ON MARCH 22, 2005 I BOUGHT A 2004 SIENNA FROM MICHAEL LISS AT SLOANE IN MAY 2004. I RECENTLY HAD A PROBLEM OCCUR WITH THE REAR HATCH DOOR CLOSING WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED AND WITHOUT AUDIBLE WARNING. IT CAME DOWN ON MY BACK AND COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED ME. IT DID NOT GO BACK UP WHEN IT CAME IN CONTACT WITH MY BODY, BUT RATHER CONTINUED TO SHUT. WE HAVE SCHEDULED SERVICE WITH LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, BUT I WANTED TO NOTIFY TOYOTA OF THIS ISSUE. I COULD NOT FIND A WAY TO SUBMIT AN E-MAIL NOTE TO TOYOTA CORP., SO I'M SENDING ONE TO YOU. IS THIS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE 2004 SIENNA? HAS THEIR BEEN A RECALL NOTICE ISSUED? THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE PERMANENT INJURY (OR DEATH TO A YOUNG CHILD). *NM

THE SLIDING DOOR ON MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA WAS NOT OPENING PROPERLY, ONLY OPENED ABOUT 3 INCHES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGE AND TO CHECK THE DOOR ON MARCH 14TH. WHENI CALLED 90 MINUTES LATER TO CHECK THE STAUS OF THE WORK, MARCO, THE SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT THE DOOR WAS NOT FIXED BECAUSE IT NEED A RECALL PART, AND THE CAR NEED 2 OTHER RECALL PARTS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED. HE ADVISED THAT I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO HAVE ALL THE WORK DONE AT THE SAME TIME. THE APPOINMENT WAS MADE FOR MARCH 21ST. MARCH 20TH, ONE OF MY CHILDREN WENT TO OPEN THE DOOR, FORGETTING THAT IT WAS NOT WORK, THE DOOR FLEW OPEN. I WENT TO CLOSE THE DOOR, AND IT WAS OFF THE BACK HINGE, THE ONLY THING HOLDING IT TO THE CAR WAS THE TOP WHEEL/RUNNER APPARATUS AT THE TOP OF THE DOOR. THE DOOR HAD TO BE TIED TO THE INSIDE TO GET THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR THE NEXT DAY.*AK

AS I WAS DRIVING ON A DRY ROAD AT ABOUT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (VSC ) INDICATOR LIGHT WENT OFF, FOLLOWED BY A CONTINUOUS BEEPING FROM THE DASHBOARD, BY A VIBRATION OF THE VEHICLE (MORE THE LEFT SIDE) AND BY AN AUTOMATIC INTERMITTENT APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES ON SELECTED TIRES AS IF THE MINIVAN WAS TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL AND PULLING TOWARDS THE LEFT. THE MINIVAN IMMEDIATELY SLOWED ITS SPEED TO LESS THAN 5 MPH AND WHEN TRIED TO REAPPLY FOR ACCELERATION, AS SOON AS EXCEEDED 5 MPH THE BEEPING RESTARTED, THE LIGHT WENT OFF AGAIN AND THE PULLING TO THE LEFT AND THE AUTOMATIC BREAKS WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IS STILL UNDER REPAIR. APPARENTLY THEY INDICATE THERE IS A TSB RELATED TO THIS MATTER. *AK

DRIVING APPROXIMATE 45 MPH ON STRAIGHT, DRY AND CLEAR RESIDENTIAL ROAD WHEN VSC INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND RAPID BEEPING OCCURRED. ABS PROCEEDED TO KICK IN CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH WHILE MOVING. THE BRAKES WILL APPLY THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING AT A PARTICULAR SPEED. WHICH THEN ENALBE YOU FROM DRIVING AT ALL. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THE DEALER COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM ,AND THERE WAS NO ERROR CODE ON THE ONBOARD COMPUTER SO NO FIX COULD BE MADE. THE FINAL TIME WE CITED TSB BR08-04 (AFTER MUCH SEARCHING ON THE WEB) AND THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR.*AK

WHEN THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE FALLS INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS OR BELOW THE GAS FILLED LIFTGATE STRUTS FAILED TO HOLD THE LIFTGATE UP. AS A RESULT THE HATCH CLOSES RAPIDLY. THE HATCH HAS FALLEN TWICE HITTING THE OWNER IN THE HEAD AND BACK. THE PART WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *NM UPDATED 1/27/2006 - *NM

CONCERNS REGARDING THE FAILURE OF RUN FLAT TIRE EQUIPMENT ON THE 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA.*MR THE TIRES BECAME NOISY BETWEEN 15000 16000 MILES AND THE NOISE BECAME WORSE AS TIME WENT ON. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED PER THE MANUFACTURES SPECS. THE VEHICLE WAS ONE MONTH OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN THE DEALER DETERMINED A PROBLEM EXISTED WITH THE TIRES. THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE CONSUMER ELECTED TO HAVE REGULAR, NON RUN FLAT TIRES, INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. *NM

I OWN TOYOTA SIENNA 2004. I WAS DRIVING FROM CONNECTICUT TO WASHINGTON DC. THE FRONT LEFT TYRE OF THE CAR BURSTED IN MARYLAND & IT HIT THE LEFT DIVIDER ON I-95 . THE MILEAGE OF THE CAR AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT WAS 2963. I CALLED UP DEALER SAYING HOW CAN A TYRE BURST WHEN IT IS A NEW CAR ? HE SAID WE CANNOT SAY ANYTHING UNTIL WE SEE THE DAMAGED TYRE. I HAVEN'T SHOWN THE TYRE TO DEALER YET AS I HAVEN'T TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO CONNECTICUT. KINDLY ADVISE HOW TO REPORT THIS KIND OF INCIDENT . I TRIED CONTACTING WWW.NHTSA.GOV USING EMAIL BHAVII_P@HOTMAIL.COM SOMETIMES IN APRIL,2005. THE REPLACED TIRE IS LF TIRE MICH ENERGY LX4 P2156516 96T. I DO NOT RECOLLECT ACTUAL DATE OF PURCHASE NOW BUT I CAN INFORM IT LATER. THANKS. BHAVANA

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA WITH A TRANSMISSION HESITATION PROBLEM. (A PROBLEM TOYTOA DENIES BUT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT TO DEALERS) IT IS DANGEROUS IN SNOWY CONDITIONS AS THE 2 SECOND HESITATION RESULTS IN A SLOWING DOWN BEFORE AN ABRUPT UPSHIFT/POWER SURGE THAT BREAKS THE WHEELS LOOSE IN THE SNOW. THIS THEN CAUSES THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO ENGAGE. I WAS STUCK REPEATEDLY AND IN MANY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET TO A SKI AREA DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA NEEDS TO HAVE SOME PRESSURE PUT ON THEM. *AK

OVERHEATING RADIATOR, I WAS TOLD IT WAS A PRODUCT RECALL FROM TOYOTA,I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED, NOR DO I SEE THE RECALL MENTIONED ANYWHERE,I WAS ALSO TREATED VERY RUDELY AT BOCH TOYOTA IN NORWOOD MA WHEN I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. *NM

VSC ACTIVATES WHILE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING STRAIGHT. THIS CAN AND HAS CAUSED THE VEHISCLE TO SHIFT LANES AND STOP SHORT. IT HAS HAPPENED A DOZEN TIMES AND THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THIS.*AK

LASER CRUISE CONTROL SENSOR LENS IS ROAD LEVEL MOUNTED AND A SMALL STONE CHIPPED THE PLASTIC LENS CAUSING SYSTEM SHUT DOWN IN DAYLIGHT. SYSTEM WIL NOT FUNCTION EXCEPT IN DARKNESS. REPAIR COST IS ESTIMATED TO BE $2000.00. *AK

WITH ABOUT 6000 MILES SHOWING ON THE ODOMETER, AND CHILDREN PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE WE SUFFERED FROM A MANUFACTURING DEFECT; A COMPLETE MECHANICAL FAILURE THAT WAS LIFE THREATENING. I WAS ON AN ON-RAMP PREPARING TO ENTER THE FREEWAY WHEN I FELT THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE SLAM DOWN. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL DISINTEGRATED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE OR BE PUT INTO GEAR. WITH TREMENDOUS EFFORT AND HORRENDOUS NOISES THE VEHICLE COULD STRUGGLE TO MOVE AT ABOUT 5 MPH. ONCE THE DEALER RECEIVED THE VEHICLE THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE. APPEARED WITHIN DAYS TO INSPECT, COLLECT, AND LATER ANALYZE THE FAILED PARTS. THE TRANSFER CASE AND REAR AXEL ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE PICKING THIS VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER DUE TO THE UNEXPLAINED AND DANGEROUS EVENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED.*AK

THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. CONSUMER AND HIS CHILDREN WERE LEFT STRAINED FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE HELP ARRIVED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO D REPLACED THE RADIATOR, WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL. CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL.*AK

BATTERY SAVER FEATURE DISCUSSED IN OWNER'S MANUAL FOR 2004 SIENNA DOES NOT WORK. SLIDING DOOR INADVERTENTLY LEFT OPEN FOR 3 HOURS WHILE VISITING COUNTRY FRIENDS. BATTERY DRAINED TO POINT ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. HAD TO CONNECT BATTERY CHARGER IN COLD RAIN TO CRANK. OWNERS CAMPING OUT WITH THIS VEHICLE MAY FIND THEMSELVES STRANDED AND COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN LOSS OF LIFE. *JB

POWER SLIDING DOOR MALFUNCTIONED THREE TIMES. THE DOOR MALFUNCTIONED, ALMOST CLOSING THE CONSUMER IN IT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW MOTOR. *AK THE POWER LIFTGATE GOOR MALFUNCTIONED ONCE CLOSING ON THE CONSUMER'S WIFE. THE VEHICLE WA TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSTALLED A NEW MOTOR. THE POWER SLIDING DOORS FAILED THREE TIMES AND EACH TIME THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED. *BF *NM

DT: CONTACT STATES: HE HAS PUT TWO NEW SETS OF TIRES ON HIS VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASING IT. THE ALIGNMENT ON THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED. THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 16,463 MILES. THE SECOND SET HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 15,337 MILES. THE TIRE DEALER TOLD HIM THE TREAD WAS WEARING OUT AND EXPERIENCING PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. *JB

(1) 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER PUSHED THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR ON OUR 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. IT CLOSED ON HER HAND. (2) THE DOOR FAILED TO REOPEN AUTOMATICALLY, COMPRESSING IT FOR APPROXIMATELY 30-60 SECONDS UNTIL IT COULD BE OPENED MANUALLY. HER HAND WAS SO SWOLLEN IT WAS UNUSABLE FOR A WEEK. NOTHING WAS BROKEN. (3) CORRECTIVE MEASURE WAS TO DISABLE THE AUTOMATIC DOOR.

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL THEN HESITATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. *NM *NM

01/11/05: VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IN MOTION. TOWED TO LOCAL FACILITY. LATER VEHICLE SUCCESSFULLY STARTED AND INDICATED NO PROBLEMS UPON TEST DRIVE. 01/30/05: DRIVING KIDS TO SNOWBOARDING WHEN VEHICLE STALLED IN MOTION. RESTARTED. DROVE ON SIDE OF ROAD - STALLED AGAIN - RESTATED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS) NOW ACTIVATED. DROVE ON SIDE OF ROAD AS VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 10MPH AND WOULD STALL REPEATEDLY. 01/31/05: I CONTACTED SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT HANDY DODGE TOYOTA (HDT), TO REPORT BREAKDOWN AND ARRANGED FOR SERVICE. 02/04/05: HDT PERFORMED AIR-INTAKE VALVE REPLACEMENT AND SEVERAL OTHER SERVICE CAMPAIGNS. 02/24/05: VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IN MOTION. VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 10MPH. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL WHILE IN MOTION AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATED. STALLED WHILE ON A BLIND HILL/CORNER ON ROUTE 104. I COULD NOT PULL OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD AS THERE WAS NO SHOULDER AND GUARD-RAILS HUGGED IMMEDIATE SIDE OF ROAD. I WAS IN THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WITH MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS FLASHING WHILE CONTINUOUSLY ATTEMPTING TO RESTART VEHICLE. VEHICLE RESTARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A PARKING AREA FOR A TOW. HDT CONTACTED ME TO INFORM THAT FAILURE WAS SAME AS BEFORE AND THROUGH FURTHER RESEARCH AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL THAT THEY LEARNED THAT STALLING IS OCCURRING IN TOYOTA SIENNA AND 4RUNNERS IN THE COLD WEATHER STATES DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE GAS TANK DESIGN AND THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY NO REPAIR AVAILABLE. RECOMMEND RUNNING VEHICLE WITH NO LESS THAN HALF A TANK OF GAS (AT ALL TIMES) AND WERE VERBALLY OPTIMISTIC THAT THE COLD WEATHER WOULD BE ENDING IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO. I INFORMED HDT THAT I DRIVE AN HOUR (EACH WAY) TO AND FROM WORK EVERY DAY (HIGHWAY AND BACK ROADS) AND TO BE EXPECTED TO DO THAT EACH DAY IN A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE (THAT HAS A HISTORY OF STALLING) IS UNSAFE AND UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE SINCE FILED LEMON LAW DEMAND FOR ARBITRATION WHICH CASE IS IN PROGRESS.

I LIVE ON THE US-CANADIAN BORDER IN NORTH DAKOTA. WE HAVE A LOT OF SNOW AND VERY COLD WINTERS. WE HAVE FOUND THAT AS WE DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY SNOW THAT ACCUMULATES ON THE ROOF THAT MELTS DRIPS DOWN INTO THE SLIDING DOORS ON BOTH SIDES. THE RUBBER SEAL CATCHES THE WATER, AS IT SHOULD, AND THEN THE WATER REFREEZES, SOMETIMES IN A MATTER OF SECONDS DUE TO THE EXTREME COLD. THIS CAUSES THE DOORS TO FREEZE SHUT. NO AMOUNT OF PULLING OR PUSHING WILL OPEN THEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCAISIONS. WE HAD HOPED THAT ONCE TEMPS. STAYED BELOW FREEZING AS THEY DO DEC.-FEB. IT WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM, BUT APPARENTLY JUST DRIVING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE SNOW TO MELT THUS CAUSING THE FREEZING DOOR PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE: 1) I CANNOT GET MY 3 CHILDREN INTO THE VEHICLE AND 2) IF WE WERE IN A CRASH AND THE DOORS FROZE SHUT I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET MY CHILDREN OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN A TIMELY MANNER. *AK I HAVE CONTACTED TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERS. NEITHER DEALER HAD HEARD OF THE PROBLEM OR OFFERED ANY SOLUTION. I CONTACTED THE NATIONAL NUMBER FOR TOYOTA AND FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT. THEY TOO, HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM AND DID NOT OFFER ANY SOLUTIONS.

REAR SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK, MAKING IT UNSAFE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM , AND WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER.*AK

THE STEERING SENSOR IS CAUSING THE TRACTION CONTROL TO COME TO A HALT AND SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CHECKUP FOR THE SIXTH TIME AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE STEERING LOCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *NM

ALL FOUR DUNLOP SP SPORT 4000T DSST RUN-FLAT TIRES ON MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE AWD ARE COMPLETELY WORN AFTER 20,000 MILES AND NEED TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY ACCORDING TO THE TOYOTA AND DUNLOP DEALERS. THESE TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THE MINIVAN. DUNLOP INFORMED ME THAT THESE TIRES HAD NO MILEAGE RATING. I HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS TIRE (SEE COMMENTS ON WWW.TIRERACK.COM). I HAVE SPOKEN WITH TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA AND WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT WARRANTY TIRES AND THIS IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW TO PUT THIS PARTICULAR TIRE ON A MINIVAN IN THE FIRST PLACE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DUNLOP AND A TIRE DEALER THAT THIS IS A HIGH PERFORMANCE, SHORT LIFE TIRE. THIS MINIVAN DOES NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE AND THERE IS NO PLACE FOR A SPARE TIRE IN IT, WHICH IS LIKELY WHY TOYOTA CHOSE TO EQUIP IT WITH A RUN-FLAT TIRE. CONSUMERS HAVE VERY LIMITED ALTERNATIVES FOR REPLACING THIS TIRE AND THEY ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. ACCORDINGLY, IN MY VIEW, TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE (I) SELECTED A MORE DURABLE TIRE FOR THIS VEHICLE (II) CLEARLY DISCLOSED THE TIRES EXPECTED USEFUL LIFE TO CONSUMERS OR (III) INCLUDED A SPARE TIRE AND WELL IN THE VEHICLE. I VIEW THIS SITUATION AS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE DRIVERS MAY NOT BE CHECKING THESE TIRES FOR WEAR AT 15,000 MILES AND COULD EASILY HAVE TIRE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *JB