2011 Toyota Sienna Electrical System Problems

Vehicle: 2011 Toyota Sienna XLE VIN: [XXX] Mileage: ~204,800 Incident Date: [XXX] Recent Service: Oil change, tire rotation, brake inspection, and multipoint inspection performed on November 10, 2025 at Fitzgerald Toyota Gaithersburg (Maryland). Description of the Defect: On [XXX] while driving with my child in the vehicle, my 2011 Toyota Sienna experienced a sudden and dangerous failure. A strong burning smell entered the cabin, the ABS warning light illuminated, and then wheels locked up while the vehicle was in motion. At the same time, the steering wheel locked, making the vehicle impossible to steer. The engine immediately lost power and shut down in the middle of the roadway. The vehicle would not restart and had to be towed. This failure occurred four days after dealership service at Fitzgerald Toyota Gaithersburg, which included an oil change, tire rotation, and brake inspection. The dealership initially claimed the failure was due to a “dead battery,” and the following day changed the explanation to a “shorted alternator.” A weak battery or alternator failure does not explain a mechanical wheel lock or steering wheel lock while driving. The dealership has refused to provide diagnostic documentation or photographs of the components involved. This incident presents a significant safety hazard, and if it had occurred at highway speeds, it could have resulted in a severe crash. I am reporting this to request investigation into a potential safety defect involving the steering system, braking/ABS system, electrical system, or related components. Safety Risk: High. Loss of steering control + wheel lock + engine shutdown presents an immediate crash hazard. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The catalyst, the Evap and the EGR/VVT

I have complained about both rear sliding doors acting erratically for almost 3 years. These doors were under a recall, as they sometimes were overloaded and would cause the fuse to blow and the door(s) would/could swing open while moving. It happened to me NUMEROUS times. Once it was so bad, that I couldn’t bring my son yo school because the door wouldn’t stay shut. They beep upon auto open and you have to fight the door open or shut no matter if you switch off the “auto door” button or not. It has been to 3 different dealers in less than 3 years. The first dealer only replaced one junction box, and wiring harness on the passenger door because that it the only door that acted up while they were in possession of sienna. The door less than a 1000 miles later started to have issues - opening, closing, staying closed. I brought it to another dealer closer to my new house - they did not fix it as it didn’t do it for them with 10 tries while parked using auto and manual settings. That seems irresponsible and irrelevant as the ongoing customer complaint is the door swinging open whilst driving (neither dealer drove it, to see if it would swing open). Nonetheless, as the drivers side door never acted up at any dealer visit - they never replaced the recalled parts even knowing it has issues and saw video of it that I took. My vehicle is now sitting at a dealer with a $1600 repair bill for the same latch, as well as the back latch for the “recalled” parts - and they are refusing to acknowledge ANY RECALL WVER on the doors (safety recall G-04) as well as Toyota customer care so far is refusing to provide monetary assistance with this ordeal as my extended warrantee expired. One doors “repair” has made the door seemingly worse, and one door has never been repaired in regards to specific recalled parts as dealer states “no issue was seen with power sliding doors”. My niece lost a lot of $70 Birkenstock’s when my door FLUNG OPEN SO FAST at 50mph with no warning (door open light)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR OPENED UNINTENTIONALLY. THE CONTACT CONTACTED DON JOSEPH TOYOTA (1111 W MAIN ST, KENT, OH 44240; (330) 673-2200) WHO INFORMMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DOOR HINGES AS WELL AS THE DOOR LATCH FOR THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNINGS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH A BEEPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE VOSS TOYOTA (2110 HELLER DR, BEAVERCREEK, OH 45434, (937) 431-2100), WHERE A TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE SAME DEALER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V858000 (STRUCTURE) AND 16V340000 (AIR BAGS) AND PRIOR TO THE REPAIRS THE VEHICLE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.

MY VAN CUT ON FIRE LAST SATURDAR, SEPTEMBER 1ST 2019. FOR NO APPARENTLY REASON. I DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES FROM MY HOUSE TO THE GROCERY STORE, WHEN I NOTICE THE SMOKE, I FIRST THOUGH WAS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. BUT WAS SMOKE COMING FROM MY HOOD. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO STOP AT A STOP SIGH AND I LOOK THE TEMPERATURE GATE AND IT WAS FINE, TURN OF THE CAR AND PEOPLE FROM THE PARKING LOT WAS ALREADY YELLING FOR ME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. MORE THAN 2/3 OF THE VAN WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED IN THE FIRE.

RECENTLY STARTED HAVING THIS ISSUE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN CHANGING LANES MY DOOR OPEN INDICATOR LIGHT AS WELL AS THE EXCLAMATION INSIDE THE TRIANGLE WILL ILLUMINATE ON MY DASH, A BEEPING SOUND STARTS CHIMING AND ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 15 TIMES IN A 20 MINUTE PERIOD. ITS VERY AGGRAVATING AND DISTRACTING. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND DOES IT ON SIDE STREETS AND LOWER SPEEDS AS WELL NOW. I HAVE DONE SOME TROUBLE SHOOTING OF MY OWN AND REALIZE THAT IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I HAVE A WINDOW CRACKED OR DOWN. IF THE WINDOWS ARE UP IT WILL ALSO HAPPEN WITH SHARP TURNS ENDING WITH ABRUPT BRAKING. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER 3 TIMES IN A 4 MONTH PERIOD BECAUSE OF THE LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF. POLICE SEEM TO THINK I'M SENDING SOME TYPE OF CODE FOR THEM TO HELP ME! IT IS RIDICULOUS. ASIDE FROM THIS LIGHTING/ DOOR ISSUE I AM ALSO HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE SLIDING DOORS CLOSING ON ME WHILE TRYING TO REMOVE MY 10 MONTH OLD SON FROM HIS CARSEAT. I BOUGHT THIS VAN USED AT 99,000 MILES. I NOW HAVE AROUND 120,000. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE AN ISSUE REPAIRED BY A TOYOTA RECALL. I HAVE GOOGLED AND FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME YEAR/MAKE/ MODEL AS MYSELF. UPON BROWSING THROUGH THE RECALLS ON THIS SITE I NOTED THESE ID#S THAT SEEM TO BE THE SAME TYPE OF ISSUE #11025347 #10995738 #10986378 CAMPAIGN # 16V858000 (STRUCTURE) #10928386

TOOK IN FOR RECALL. GOT VAN BACK AND DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR NO LONGER OPENS WITH DOOR HANDLE. ALSO LARGE WIRE RAN IN 2ND ROW BEHIND DRIVER SEATS AND JUST LEFT THERE. ALSO JUMPER FUSE RAN UNDER STEERING WHEEL. ELECTRICAL NIGHTMARE. HORRIBLE MAINTENANCE. UNACCEPTABLE. CREATED MORE SAFETY HAZARDS.

TOOK IN FOR RECALL. GOT VAN BACK AND DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR NO LONGER OPENS WITH DOOR HANDLE. ALSO LARGE WIRE RAN IN 2ND ROW BEHIND DRIVER SEATS AND JUST LEFT THERE. ALSO JUMPER FUSE RAN UNDER STEERING WHEEL. ELECTRICAL NIGHTMARE. HORRIBLE MAINTENANCE. UNACCEPTABLE. CREATED MORE SAFETY HAZARDS.

TOOK IN FOR RECALL. GOT VAN BACK AND DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR NO LONGER OPENS WITH DOOR HANDLE. ALSO LARGE WIRE RAN IN 2ND ROW BEHIND DRIVER SEATS AND JUST LEFT THERE. ALSO JUMPER FUSE RAN UNDER STEERING WHEEL. ELECTRICAL NIGHTMARE. HORRIBLE MAINTENANCE. UNACCEPTABLE. CREATED MORE SAFETY HAZARDS.

WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, HAVING BEEN DRIVEN TWO HOURS BEFORE, MY VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT BURNED FOR AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE WE WERE ALERTED. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DISABLED BY THE FIRE CAUSING THE TWO BACK SLIDING DOORS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VAN CAN SEAT 6 PEOPLE IN THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VAN EXCEPT BY GOING THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS. EVEN NOW THAT IT IS AFTER THE FIRE, WE ARE STILL UNABLE TO OPEN THEM, FROM INSIDE, OUTSIDE, OR WITH ANY OF THE BUTTONS.

TAKATA RECALL WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN KATY IN MID FEBRUARY 2018 TO SOLVE THE AIR BAG RECALL AND POWER DOORS. THEY SAID THE DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS; WE HAVE GO BACK TWICE BUT THEY SAY THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE THEM. NOW ALMOST 3 MONTHS LATER THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE HAD NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENT BUT WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE WHEN DRIVING THE CAR.

DOORS WILL NOT OPEN EVEN AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED

TAILGATE SENSOR AND LOCKING MECHANISM ALARM AND LIGHTING GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY INDICATING TAILGATE LATCH INSECURE WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION DISTRACTING DRIVER. TAILGATE DOOR LATCH INSECURE PLACING DRIVER, PASSENGERS AND CONTENTS AT RISK IN THE EVENT OF MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS TO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION.

RECALL ON SLIDING DOORS. WAS STATED THAT THEY MAY "OPEN WHEN DRIVING" WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THEY "LIKELY WOULDN'T GET THE PART BECAUSE WE DON'T LIVE IN SUB ZERO TEMPS SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT" MEANWHILE I DRIVE FOUR CHILDREN IN THIS CAR SO I AM WORRIED ABOUT IT.

THE AIR BAGS SYSTEM AND THE DOOR ELECTRIC

NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: OPENS NEW WINDOW TAKES AWAY FROM VIN LOOKUP SECTION> 16V858 RECALL DATE: NOVEMBER 22, 2016 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: G14 SUMMARY: IN THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT UNDER CERTAIN LIMITED CONDITIONS, IF THE SLIDING DOOR OPENING OPERATION IS IMPEDED, THE SLIDING DOOR MOTOR CIRCUIT COULD BE OVERLOADED, OPENING THE FUSE FOR THE MOTOR. SAFETY RISK: IF THIS OCCURS WHEN THE DOOR LATCH IS IN AN UNLATCHED POSITION, THE DOOR COULD OPEN WHILE DRIVING, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT. REMEDY: TOYOTA IS CURRENTLY PREPARING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CONDITION. UNTIL THEN, TOYOTA WILL SEND AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION INFORMING THE CUSTOMER OF THE CONDITION AND THAT THEY WILL BE NOTIFIED AGAIN WHEN THE REMEDY BECOMES AVAILABLE. RECALL STATUS: RECALL INCOMPLETE. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE MANUFACTURER NOTES: IF THE MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED OR IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY RECALL FOR YOUR VEHICLE IN A TIMELY MANNER, PLEASE CONTACT THE NHTSA VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT: 1-888-327-4236 OR TTY: 1-800-424-9153 OR FILE AN ONLINE COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THIS RECALL DATA LAST REFRESHED: APR 1, 2017

WE RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ON THE POWER SLIDING DOORS. WE TURNED OFF THE POWER TO THE DOORS AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL LETTER. JUST THIS WEEKEND THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE AND ENGAGE. THE DOOR STAYS OPEN AND WILL NOT LATCH. WE TOOK THE RECALL LETTER WITH TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY CLAIM THIS ISSUE IS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. WE DID NOT HAVE IT REPAIRED BUT TOOK IT BACK HOME. WE CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER ON THE RECALL LETTER AND DESCRIBED THE SITUATION. WHILE ADMITTING THE RECALL IS A DOOR MOTOR ISSUE, THEY DENIED THAT OUR PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE RECALL. EVERYTHING THEY DESCRIBED ABOUT THE REASON FOR THE RECALL IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR DOOR. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHERE WE TOOK THE VAN TODAY GAVE US AN ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR OF $1556.31 + TAX.

TAKATA RECALL WE RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE TAKATA PASSENGER AIRBAG IN JUNE 2016. WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE RECALL NOTICE AND HAVE NOT HAD A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. IT HAS BEEN OVER 6 MONTHS AND THERE HAS BEEN NO REPAIR FOR THIS RECALL. JUST YESTERDAY JANUARY 23, 2017 WE RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE FOR THE POWER DOORS AND IT INSTRUCTED TO SHUT THE POWER OFF THE POWER DOORS. AFTER RECEIVING THIS NOTICE THE VAN ITSELF IS ALMOST RENDERED USELESS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TRANSPORTING DRIVER. THIS IS VERY UNPROFESSIONAL FOR TOYOTA TO NOT QUICKLY RESOLVE THESE MATTERS AND PROVIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS REGARDING THEIR MISTAKES. THERE SHOULD BE GREATER PRESSURE ON TOYOTA TO QUICKLY REMEDY THESE RECALLS. *TR

THE REAR SLIDER DOORS WILL CLOSE 2/3 OF THE WAY AND REOPEN. HAVE TO MANUALLY PUSH TO CLOSE WHICH IS DIFFICULT. DEALER CLAIMS THE CHORD IS GETTING STUCK IN MOTOR AND MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $1800.