2004 Toyota Sienna Fuel System Problems

WHILE EXITING A PARKING LOT, CAR STALLED. IMMEDIATELY, THERE WAS A SMELL OF GAS AND GAS WAS LEAKING ON THE GROUND. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. WHEN WE GOT IT REPAIRED, THE MECHANIC SAID HE DISCOVERED THE "FUEL LINE QUICK CONNECT" DISCONNECTED. HE ASKED IF WE HAD ANY RECENT WORK DONE ON THE CAR AND I REPLIED NO. *TR

I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE ONTO THE EXPRESSWAY AND AFTER PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL THE VAN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BEYOND MY CONTROL. I EASED OFF THE PEDAL AND THE VAN CONTINUED TO SERGE AHEAD WITH NO WAY FOR ME TO STOP OR SLOW IT DOWN AS THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. I SAW THE RPM REACH LEVEL 6 AND SPEED INCREASE TO 70 IN SECONDS BUT AS IT WAS THE EXPRESSWAY, I WAS ABLE TO KEEP MY DISTANCE FROM CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I SWITCHED THE LEVER TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND THE VAN SLOWED DOWN AND THEN I WENT BACK TO DRIVE AND IT ROARED BACK UP TO 70 MPH WITH THE RPM AGAIN AT 6 AND I TRIED TURNING THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND THEN BRAKING TO SEE IF IT WOULD SHUT DOWN THE GAS BUT NO LUCK. I WENT BACK AND FORTH FROM D TO N FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES AND THEN ON ONE OF THE MOVEMENTS FROM N TO D IT SHUT DOWN BACK TO NORMAL. I DROPPED THE VAN OFF AT MY TOYOTA DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND AM WAITING TO SEE WHAT "HEADQUARTERS " DECIDES. *TR

ON MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN THE REAR HATCHBACK GAS STRUTS HAVE FAILED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COULD EASILY GET A SMALL CHILD KILLED. I ALMOST HAD THIS HAPPEN WHEN MY 5 YEAR OLD WAS HELPING TO GET GROCERIES OUT WHILE I WAS HOLDING THE GATE OPEN IT SLIPPED AND CAME CRASHING DOWN. LUCKILY HE HAD JUST MOVED AND IT MISSED HIM. THESE GAS STRUTS ARE A RECALL ITEM ON THE POWER OPERATED LIFT GATES, WHY AREN'T THEY ON THE MANUAL ONES. AND THE COST OF REPLACEMENTS IS TERRIBLE, $180/EA. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

AFTER OPENING AND CLOSING THE FUEL CAP DOOR ON THE 2004 SIENNA CAUSES THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR TO INTERMITTENTLY JAM AND NOT OPEN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. TO FIX, ONE MUST SQUEEZE HAND INTO DOOR CRACK AND PUSH DOWN THE LEVER THAT IS STOPPING THE DOOR FROM SLIDING. SOMETIMES THIS JAM CAUSES THE DOOR TO NOT CLOSE. *TR

GAS LEAKING. *TR

THE FUEL PIPE FROM THE TANK TO THE ENGINE ON MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA LE DISCONNECTED. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY KIDS AND STOPPED AT THE LIGHT, OUR CAR BEING THE FIRST IN THE RIGHTMOST LANE AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE. I MADE SEVERAL MORE ATTEMPTS BUT IT WAS IN VAIN. THE MESSAGE ON THE SCREEN PANEL APPEARED AS A DISCHARGED BATTERY, WHICH AT THAT MOMENT PUZZLED ME VERY MUCH. I STARTED LOOKING AROUND, MAKING SIGNS TO THE VEHICLES BEHIND MINE TO TRY AND GET INTO THE OTHER LANE AS I CAN'T START MY CAR (THERE WERE FEW ANGRY DRIVERS). ONE STOPPED BY ME WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED RED AGAIN AND THEN SAID HE SMELLS GAS. AT THE SAME TIME A WOMAN AND HER OLDER TEENAGE DAUGHTER WERE RUNNING FROM ACROSS THE STREET WAIVING AND SHOUTING 'GET OUT OF THE CAR!'. SHE HELPED ME AND MY KIDS GET OUT AND TOLD US THAT WHILE DRIVING FROM THE OTHER SIDE SHE SAW WHEN THE GAS GUSHED FROM UNDER MY CAR. WELL THE REST IS KNOWN - 911, POLICE, FIRE TRUCK AND MY FAMILY SCARED AND BLESSED TO HAVE ESCAPED A HORROR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT THE PIPE DISCONNECTED, THEY PUT IT BACK AND THAT THEY'VE NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT A WARRANTY ON THIS OR A FUTURE SIGN TO LOOK FOR, THE ANSWER WAS 'IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN, IT CAN'T'. BUT IT JUST DID, RIGHT? I WANT TO MENTION THAT THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS AND IT'S VERY WELL CARED FOR. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OVER $100 WHICH I'M GUESSING TOYOTA WILL NEVER REFUND. I WILL FOREVER BE THANKFUL TO THAT WOMAN AND HER DAUGHTER WHO QUITE POSSIBLE SAVED OUT LIVES. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WITH EVERY GAS FILL. (GAS CAP IS CLOSED TIGHTLY) IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FUEL. I HAVE TO FIND A PUMP THAT PUMPS VERY SLOWLY OR DO IT BY HAND. *JB UPDATED 01-15-08. *KB UPDATED *JN

2004 SIENNA - MANUFACTURED 03? JULY 14TH DROVE FROM CA TO AZ - 5 KIDS AND MY BROTHER SAT. AFTER DRIVING ~ 2 HOURS STOPPED FOR GAS. FILLED TANK. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER & PROCEEDED TO SLOW DOWN VERY QUICKLY. WE QUICKLY PULLED TO THE SIDE. HE OPENED THE HOOD, LOOKED & CRAWLED UNDER CAR. QUICKLY CRAWLED BACK WITH PARTS OF HIS T-SHIRT, HIS FACE AND ONE ARM COVERED WITH GAS. HE SAID FUEL LINE WAS LOOSE AND LINE WAS CLOSE TO EXHAUST, DANGER OF FIRE OR POSSIBLE EXPLOSION. HAD SOME TOOLS IN THE CAR. MY DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HE DID --> TRIED TO FORCE THE CONNECTION BACK TOGETHER. SERVICE PERSON AT DEALERSHIP HAD NO EXPLANATION WHY THE FUEL LINE WOULD HAVE COME OFF. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS/ ROCKS/ OR UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ONLY FACTS THAT I KNOW OF THAT MAY HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IS - WE HAD BEEN DRIVING IN ~110 WEATHER AND THEN FILLED THE TANK - PRESSURE BUILD FORCED THE CONNECTION LOOSE ? HAD MY BROTHER NOT BEEN THERE, I WOULD HAVE TRIED TO START THE CAR - WITH THE VERY HOT EXHAUST LINE / ? POSSIBLE MAJOR FIRE OR EXPLOSION. REPLACING AN APPARENTLY OK FUEL LINE WITH NEW OF THE SAME MAKE & MODEL CONCERNS ME. TOYOTA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THE ROOT CAUSE AND FIND OUT IF PART WAS FAULTY. THIS PROBLEM CAN COME UP AGAIN AT ANY TIME ANYWHERE ... CAN YOU RECOMMEND A COURSE OF ACTION. DO YOU HAVE ANY POWER OVER TOYOTA SERVICE - CAN THEY FOR EXAMPLE USE ADDITIONAL CLAMPS ETC ... THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE - WE COULD HAVE BEEN DEAD. THIS IS NOT SIMILAR TO A RADIATOR CAP WHERE THE FAULTY PART CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE CAR ... THIS CAN ACTUALLY KILL PEOPLE WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE ASKED THE SERVICE PERSON TO KEEP THE OLD PART - CAN YOU REQUEST THAT TOYOTA OR OTHER UNBIASED AGENCIES INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL REFERENCES ON INTERNET ABOUT SIENNA DAMAGED OR FAULTY FUEL TANK .. THE SITES ARE BLOCKED SO I CAN NOT READ DETAILS. *JB

OUR 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA SUDDENLY STOPPED AND LOST POWER. FUEL STARTED LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND SAID A FUEL HOSE HAD COME UNDONE. I TOOK THE CAR TO SPRINGFIELD TOYOTA AND THEY SAID IT MIGHT BE RELATED TO A PREVIOUS RECALL ON FUEL TANK REPLACEMENT. THEY DID NOT KNOW IF A TSB WAS OUT ON THIS. A VERY UNSAFE POTENTIAL. TOYOTA REPLACE THE FUEL LINE AND REPLACED A CRACKED CLIP. *NM

ATTEMPTED TO START OUR 2004 TOYOTA SIENNE VAN IN THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR HOME. THE VAN DIED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. MY WIFE REMOVED OUR 3 AND 4 YEAR OLDS WHO WERE STRAPPED IN THE THIRD ROW AND USED ANOTHER VEHICLE TO GET THEM TO SCHOOL. RETURNED AN HOUR LATER WITH A FRIEND WHO WAS GOING TO HELP START CAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VAN, A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE WAS SMELLED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THERE WAS A MASSIVE GAS LEAK AND GASOLINE WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE VAN. ATEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE WERE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO WINDWARD TOYOTA IN KANEOHE, HAWAII. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHO INSPECTED THE VAN TOLD MY WIFE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHO DID THE GAS TANK/FUEL LINE DURING THE RECALL WARRANTY SERVICE DID NOT REATTACH THE GAS LINE TO THE TANK PROPERLY PROBABLY SINCE THEY WERE RUSHING TO PERFORM RECALL WARRANTY SERVICE ON MANY VEHICLES. THIS WAS THE SECOND VAN AT THIS DEALERSHIP HE KNEW OF BEING SERVICED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. HIS EXPLANATION WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND WE DECIDED TO REVIEW NHTSA WEBSITE. UPON REVIEWING COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA WEBSITE, WE DISCOVERED THERE WERE 9 OTHER REPORTED INCIDENTS INVOLVING MASSIVE GAS LINE/TANK FAILURE. WE FOUND THIS ALARMING SINCE WE REVIEWED OVER 100 COMLAINTS FILED ON THE 03 SIENNA,AND 04 RAV, SEQUOIA, TUNDRA, AND 4RUNNER. NO OTHER VEHICLE REPORTED ANY FUEL TANL/LINE PROBLEMS. A FUEL LEAKAGE PROBLEM CAN HAVE CATASROPHIC RESULTS ESPECIALLY SINCE YOUNG CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS ARE OFTEN IN THE THIRD ROW. WE NO LONGER FEEL SAFE OWNING AND DRIVING THIS VAN AND WANT TOYOTA TO PURCHASE VAN BACK FROM US.

TWO MONTHS AGO CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE FUEL TANK. DEALERSHIP STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT RECALL REPAIRS. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V291000 CONCERNING FUEL TANK. THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED DUE TO FAULTY CONSTRUCTION. RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, AND THE QUICK DISCONNECT SECTION CAME APART IN THE CONSUMER'S DRIVEWAY. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND SIMPLY RECONNECTED THE QUICK CONNECT SECTION.*AK THE FUEL LINE BECAME DISCONNECTED CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK NEAR THE EXHAUST AND THE ENGINE TO FAIL. *NM

WHILE PARKING CONSUMER NOTICED GASOLINE LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL TANK DUE TO A HOLE INSIDE OF THE TANK. *AK

DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL AREA WHEN ENGINE CUT OFF. COASTED INTO NEARBY PARKING AREA AND NOTICE MAJOR SMELL OF GASOLINE. FUMES VERY STRONG SO EVACUATED THE VAN. NOTICE ALL GASOLINE HAD LEAK (QUITE QUICKLY) FROM TANK. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS ANY SPARK MAY HAVE CAUSED AN EXPLOSION. THIS ALL OCCURRED AFTER RECALL ON FUEL TANK COMPLETED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. CONCERNED ABOUT CONTINUED SAFETY OF VEHICLE. *JB

RECALL NO.#03V291000, FUEL TANK LEAKAGE: THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, BECAUSE HE WANTED TO CHECK TO SEE IF A NEW ONE WAS NEEDED. THE RECALL LETTER CLEARLY STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS SUPPOSE TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK PER RECALL ORDER. *NM *NM

MASSIVE GASOLINE LEAK UNDER DRIVER SIDE. THE ENTIRE CAR WAS FILLED WITH FUME FROM THE GASOLINE. WE AND THE KIDS HAD TO EXIT THE VAN ASAP. VAN HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. WE BOUGHT THIS VAN ON MAY 2003 AND DURING OCTOBER WE BROUGHT THIS VAN BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE GAS TANK REPLACE BECAUSE OF A RECALL BY THE MANUFACTURER. WE HAVE NO ACCIDENT WITH THIS VAN AND WE KEEP THE VAN IN TOP CONDITION. WE ARE REALLY CONCERN ON WHAT HAD HAPPENED. *LA

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START VEHICLE BECAUSE THE FUEL LEAKED OUT OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS OCCURRED AFTER DEALERSHIP PERFORMED RECALL 03V291000 REPAIRS. *AK

RECALL 03V29-000 CONCERNING FUEL TANK FAILURE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS. ROMANIA TOYOTA, 388 GOOD PASTURE ISLAND ROAD, EUGENE, OREGON 97041, SERVICE MANAGER KEVIN. *AK

CONSUMER PURCHASED A TOYOTA, SIENNA, 2004 , AND DISCOVERED RECALL 03V291000 CONCERNING FUEL TANK LEAKAGE: CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THERE WAS NO RECORD THAT INDICATED THAT RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE. ALSO, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT RECALL PAPERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED WITH THE PURCHASING PAPERS. CONSUMER STATED NO SUCH PAPERS WERE FOUND. A FEW DAYS LATER, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE WORK DOCUMENT WAS FOUND. CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW HOW SHE COULD FIND OUT IF THE REPAIRS WERE DONE. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA FUEL TANK EQUIPMENT. *MR THE GASOLINE TANK MAY CATCH FIRE OR EXPLODE FROM A LEAK, IT WAS THE THIRD FUEL TANK THAT HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST CHANGE WAS DUE TO A RECALL. THE THIRD TANK WAS DUE TO A PROFUSE GASOLINE LEAK. *SCC *JB