2004 Toyota Sienna Speed Control & Cruise Problems

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and the speed of the vehicle increased to over 90 MPH. During the failure, the braking system had failed and would not stop the vehicle while pressing the brake pedal. The front passenger was able to view the fuel pedal was stuck to the floor and was able to physically pull the fuel pedal up from the stuck position and the vehicle's speed was reduced. The incident lasted for approximately 10 minutes. During the incident, the police were on the scene. A police report was later filed at the scene and the vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The contact was informed by the dealer that the failure was due to a missing fuel pedal pen. No further information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact expressed experiencing emotional stress and anxiety during and after the incident. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000. The VIN was not available.

I had the control arms replaced, then one of the bolts came out after a few thousand miles. I had that bolt replaced and the problem started happening intermittently after that. Everything will be functioning fine and then the speed of my vehicle is inhibited and it is hard to accelerate. It is very difficult to get from 40 MPH up to 50 MPH. On slight curves, not always, it will beep and the slip indicator light comes on and will apply the brakes on what feels like one side. This has happened at 35-60 MPH. The slip indicator will beep sometimes until I decrease my speed to under 25 MPH. I took it into a reputable tire and front end shop and they replaced a wheel bearing with sensor, and 2 front tires. The problem happened again within 5 miles and the shop said I need to take it to Toyota dealer to have it the steering angle sensors recalibrated. The Toyota dealership said that this is something that the vehicle does itself. They inspected it and took it for a test drive and said nothing is wrong. The problem happened again within a few miles of leaving the dealership. I have read countless forums of people experiencing the same thing in their Toyota Sienna and having the dealership telling them there is not a problem. I have also found that the solution could very well be worn rack and pinion bushings that are creating the play that are triggering the sensors. I don't think they gave it a proper inspection. This is a very dangerous problem, and even more so when the dealership is saying there isn't a problem. I am feeling very lost on what to do with my van right now. I have spent $1100 and 3 days of my time with the same thing happening. I

WHEN DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS THE VEHICLES' VSC WILL ENGAGE. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO OFF, THERE IS A LOUD INTERIOR BEEPING SOUND, THE ABS ENGAGES, THE CAR SLOWS DOWN DRASTICALLY AT ONCE. THE ROADS ARE DRY. AT FIRST THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING NORMAL SPEED EXITING OR ENTERING AN HWY OFF/ON RAMP. THEN HAPPENED YESTERDAY AS I WAS DRIVING ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AT ABOUT 25-30 MPH. I COULD HEAR A RUBBING ON THE BACK TIRES AS IF THE BRAKES WERE ON.

TRACTION CONTROL KICKS IN FOR NO REASON, TRATION BEEPING AND TIRES LOCK,AT FREWAY SPEED TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATES AND CUTS OFF SPEED DRAMATICALLY.VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 13V429, MFR RECALL NUMBER D0R IS LISTED ON THE SAFECAR.GOV WEB SITE FOR MY VIN NUMBER AS BEING AN INCOMPLETE RECALL, BUT THE TOYOTA SERVCO SERVICE CENTER SAYS THEY HAVE ALREADY FIXED THIS RECALL ON MY CAR. I HAD AN INCIDENT RECENTLY THAT WAS TRACED TO THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE BUSHING. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, PUT INTO PARK, IGNITION TURNED OFF, AND THEN STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARD, THE BRAKE DIDN'T WORK TO STOP THE ROLLING SINCE THE IGNITION WAS OFF, LUCKILY THE PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO STOP THE ROLLING BEFORE ANY DAMAGE WAS DONE, IT WAS A VERY GRADUAL SLOPE. I SEE THAT THE LATER 2014 MODEL SIENNA HAS A RECALL FOR THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE, BUT MY YEAR DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM SO I HAD TO PAY ~ $600 TO GET THIS FIXED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT AND NO PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED.

PURCHASED 2004 SIENNA XLE AWD LIMITED 2/18/15. WHILE COMMUTING TO WORK THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM RANDOMLY ACTIVATES IN DRY CONDITIONS (USUALLY ON DOWNHILL ANGLED TURN) CAUSING LOSS OF POWER, ACTIVATION OF FRONT RIGHT BRAKES, AND THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED FROM MY HANDS (RESULTING IN TRANSIENT OVERALL LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE). THIS DEFECT HAS OCCURRED 6 TIMES IN 2 DAYS AND I AM CURRENTLY AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, ESPECIALLY WITH A 3 MONTH OLD. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE REPORTS ON EDMUNDS.COM AND OTHER TOYOTA FORUMS THAT SUPPORT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL/YEAR VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED TO PREVENT INJURY OR FATALITY AND TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH THE TCS. THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN OFF THE TCS MANUALLY AND THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE CURB, AND WAS STOPPED BY A PILE OF SNOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

SUDDEN DECELERATION OF VEHICLE: 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE. THE VSC ENGAGES, WITHOUT WARNING, ON SMOOTH, DRY ROADS AND WHEN CORNERING OR NEGOTIATING A CURVE. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS UNTIL THE FIRST INCIDENT IN LATE OCT. 2014. WE DID NOT TAKE ANY ACTION BECAUSE ALTHOUGH ROAD CONDITIONS GOOD, WE WERE ROUNDING A SHARP BEND IN THE ROAD AND ASSUMED THIS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE INCIDENT. VEHICLE SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED, THE VSC LIGHT CAME ON AND A RAPID BEEPING ALARM SOUNDED. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO ONE SIDE AND STEERING THE VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THE WHOLE INCIDENT, START TO FINISH, LASTED APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS. THE NEXT INCIDENT HAPPENED IN EARLY DECEMBER 2014. AGAIN, ALL THE ABOVE DESCRIBED THINGS HAPPENED, EXCEPT VEHICLE SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH GOING AROUND A GENTLE CURVE IN THE ROAD. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE BUT DO NOT SEE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OR RECALLS OFFICIALLY ISSUED BY TOYOTA. IT APPEARS MOST OF THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TODAY (DECEMBER 26, 2014), THIS SAME ISSUE HAPPENED FIVE TIMES WITHIN 40 MINUTES. MY WIFE MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME AND WE CALLED OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, DESCRIBED THE ISSUE AND THEY INFORMED US THEY HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS CONCERNING RAPID DECELERATION OF THIS MODEL YEAR, BEFORE OUR PHONE CALL. I'VE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR DECEMBER 30, 2014 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT AND HAVE RECALL WORK DONE CONCERNING THE "SHIFT LOCK SOLENOID ASSEMBLY". WILL UPDATE AFTER APPOINTMENT. *TR

THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 32 AND IT WAS CLOSE TO 25 OR SO. WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 40 MPH WITH ENGINE TEMP STILL SLIGHTLY ABOVE COLD(NOT AT OPTIMAL WHICH IS ALMOST HALF WAY) AND SLOWED DOWN BY USING GENTLE BRAKES(NOT HARD BRAKES). JUST BEFORE THE VEHICLE COMES TO A FULL STOP, THERE IS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND I COULD SEE EVEN THE RPM(SCALE) TO SPIKE TEMPORARILY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVERY TIME WHEN OUTSIDE TEMP IS COLD AND VEHICLE IS DRIVEN WITH COLD OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE COLD ENGINE TEMPERATURE. THERE IS A RISK OF HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE OR MEETING ACCIDENT IF MISJUDGE MY BRAKING BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.. PLEASE NOTE : THIS PROBLEM DISAPPEARS WHEN ENGINE TEMPERATE IS AT OPTIMAL AND I HAVE DRIVING A HONDA ACCORD 2008 EXL FOR LAST 7 YEARS(WAS BOUGHT NEW ONE), I NEVER HAD EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN THAT CAR EVEN WHEN DRIVEN WITH COLD ENGINE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VSC ACTIVATES, THE BRAKES ENGAGES, THE CARS SLOWS DOWN AND IT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME MORE THAN 10 TIMES. MIND YOU ITS ON A DRY SURFACE AND NO CURVES. VERY SCARY I DRIVE IT WITH NOBODY INSIDE JUST IN CASE... THANKS *TR

IT STARTED A YEAR OR SO AGO THE WHILE DRIVING ON DRY ROAD ABOVE 50MILES THE VSC LIGHT WOULD LIT WITH A ALARM SOUND, THE VAN WILL AUTOMATICALLY APPLY BRAKES AND SLOW THE SIENNA. SINCE THIS WAS EXTRA VAN AND WE WERE DRIVING MOSTLY SEDANS WE HAD AND DUE TO BUSINESS I COULD NOT SPEND ANY TIME ON IT.. NOW IT HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY AND IT RISK OUR LIFES ON HIGHWAY. UPON SEARCHING INTERNET VARIOUS FORUMS CAME WITH WITH PROBLEMS PERTAINING ONLY TO THIS YEAR AND MODEL, PLEASE SEARCH (SUDDEN VSC ACTIVATION) AND YOU WILL FIND MULTIPLE OWNER ONLY OF 2004 COMPLAINING FOR SAME ISSUE.. IN FACT THERE ARE TO TWO TSB ARTICLES TO POINT TO THIS PROBLEM ( TSB-BR001-04 AND TSB-BR004-03) . I WOULD KINDLY REQUEST TO INVESTIGATE THE SUDDEN VSC ACTIVATION IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. I HAVE SPENT MONEY TO REPLACE TIRES, ALIGMENT BALANCING TO FIND THE ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. ..UPDATED 12/02/14 *BF THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES. UPDATED 01/13/15

STARTING FROM A STOP AND ACCELERATING UP TO APPROX 20 MPH, ABS TRACS VSC LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WITH BEEPING ALERT, AND ACTIVATION OF BRAKES CAUSING A SUDDEN DECELERATION. THE ROAD WAS DRY, LEVEL PAVEMENT, NO ICE, NO GRAVEL, DRIVING STRAIGHT AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT BEING APPLIED. THERE WERE NO CONDITIONS THAT WOULD NECESSITATE THE TRACTION CONTROL. AS THE BRAKES WERE NOT BEING APPLIED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT HAVE ILLUMINATED. THEREFORE, ANY DRIVER BEHIND OUR VEHICLE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALERTED TO THE SUDDEN DECELERATION WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A COLLISION. FORTUNATELY THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THAT THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST WAS IN NOV. 2007 (46000 MILES IN THE VEHICLE). TOYOTA SERVICE WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A FAULT, NO CODES STORED AND NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE AT THAT TIME. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A CORPORATE CONTACT GET IN TOUCH WITH ME. I NEVER HEARD FROM THEM. NOTHING WAS RESOLVED. THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO TSBS RELATED TO THE VSC ISSUE (TSB BR004-03 AND BR008-04). NEITHER WAS IMPLEMENTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT AND TRAC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

DRIVER HAD FOOT ON BRAKE TO COMPLETE PARKING IN DRIVEWAY WHEN CAR HAD SUDDEN SURGE OF ACCELERATION AND 'JUMPED' INTO A WHEELBARROW AND A PILE OF DIRT BEYOND AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. DEALER CHECKED CAR AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. *TR

MY CAR IS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA AWD XLE LIMITED. THE VEHICLE WILL ACTIVATE THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL (VSC) WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON SMOOTH DRY ROADS. THE EFFECT IS FOR THE VEHICLE TO APPLY BRAKES STRONGLY TO SPECIFIC WHEELS PULLING THE CAR STRONGLY TO ONE SIDE. THIS HAPPENS MOST FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING WINDING ROADS AND IN CORNERS. IT HAS BECOME MORE REGULAR IT IT'S OCCURRENCE AND HAS HAPPENED ON RELATIVELY STRAIGHT SECTIONS OF HIGHWAY MOST RECENTLY. A SIMILAR SITUATION OCCURRED APPROX 2 YEARS AGO. AT THAT TIME THE RETAILER REPAIRED IT BY ADJUSTING THE STEERING SENSOR USED BY THE VSC AND STATED THAT THIS SHOULD BE DONE PERIODICALLY DEPENDENT ON ALIGNMENT WORK DONE ON THE VEHICLE. THIS SOLVED THE ISSUE AT THAT TIME. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BOTH TO THE VEHICLE WHICH REQUIRES GREAT EFFORT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND THE VEHICLES FOLLOWING IT WHICH ARE AT RISK OF REAR ENDING THE EFFECTED CAR. THE TOYOTA RETAILER INITIALLY INDICATED THAT A CATALYST FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE (YES THEY SAID THIS). I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAT FAILURE COULD INDUCE OTHER BRAKE AND ENGINE RELATED FAILURES. THE CAT WAS REPLACED AND THE VSC FAILURE HAS RESUMED. AT THIS TIME NO FAILURES OF ANY KIND ARE INDICATED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS TOPIC AND FIND ABOUT A DOZEN IDENTICAL FAILURES ON 2014 TOYOTA SIENNAS DOCUMENTED IN VARIOUS USER FORUMS. AS THERE ARE ONLY A FEW DOCUMENTED ON THE NHTSA SITE I AM CONCERNED THAT THE SITUATION IS UNDER REPORTED. MANY OF THESE USER FORUMS INDICATE THAT THE SYMPTOMS WERE REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. MY MOST RECENT TROUBLE REPORT CASE NUMBER FROM TOYOTA IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WE WILL BE GOING ANYWHERE FROM 35 TO 55 MILES AND OUR VSC LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VAN SLOWS, OTHER TIMES THE SPEED WILL SLOW IT SELF AND THAN WILL SPEED UP ON IT'S OWN. WHEN THAT (VSC) LIGHT AND SOUND COMES ON THE VAN WILL ALSO SKID. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH VSC SYSTEM. THIS VAN IS STILL IN VERY GOOD CONDITION, WE SURE SWISH SOMEONE COULD TELL US WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY SERIOUS MATTER. READING ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS THIS IS NOT RANDOM AND TOYOTA SHOULD GIVE THIS MATTER SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED THROUGH A PARKING LOT AND CRASHED INTO TWO VEHICLES. THE FAILURE WAS THE THIRD OCCURRENCE SINCE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BY THE UNITED STATES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION AND WAS BEING HELD IN STORAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,000. UPDATED 12/13/12 *CN THE CONSUMER THE FIRST OCCURENCE, ON JANUARY 11/2012, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THEN THE VEHICLE ACCLERATED. A LIGHT FIXTURE WAS DAMAGED ON A SIDE WALK. THE NEXT OCCURENCE, ON JANUARY 26, 2012, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE RAN OVER THE CURB AND DAMAGED A DISABILITY SIGN. UPDATED 1/2/2013 *JS

VSC (VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL) IS ACTIVATED IN CURVES AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 25 MPH AND 60 MPH. SURFACE IS DRY AND CURVES ARE GRADUAL WITH APPROPRIATE AND SAFE DRIVING SPEEDS. THE VSC LIGHT GOES ON AND WARNING BUZZER GOES OFF. THE BRAKES SHUDDER AND THE VEHICLE IS DE-THROTTLED. VEHICLE CONTROL IS REDUCED FOR 3 TO 5 SECONDS AND THEN THE VSC DEACTIVATES. CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL BE A PROBLEM WHEN THE ROAD SURFACE IS SLICK. DEALER COULD NOT FIND MALFUNCTION CODES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM SO NO FIX. THIS SITUATION OCCURS ALMOST EVERY DAY AT LEAST ONCE. KEEPING INCIDENT LOG. WEB SITES INDICATE THIS COULD BE STEERING SENSOR CALIBRATION. DEALER CLEANED SENSOR PARTS AND THIS DID NOT RESOLVE PROBLEM. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE DEALER. TSB IS OUT FOR YAW SENSOR FAILURE AND STEERING CALIBRATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE STOPPED IN PARKING SPACE WITH THE GEAR IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A LAMP POST. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME WHILE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT THEN CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.