2002 Toyota Sienna Complaint Log

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEATBELT RELEASED FROM THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITHOUT WARNING. AFTERWARDS, THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WAS DIFFICULT TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER.

MY 2002 SIENNA WAS DIAGNOSED WITH OIL SLUDGE AT 73,000 MILES. DEALER SAYS IT CANNOT REPLACE ENGINE AT THEIR COST WITHOUT RECEIPTS TO PROVE OIL CHANGES. SINCE WE DID THE CHANGES OURSELVES WE HAVE NO RECEIPTS. *NM

REAR SEAR BELT BUCKLE REFUSES TO LATCH. A CHILD CAR SEAT CANNOT BE INSTALLED IN THIS SEAT. *JB

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

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUSES KEPT BLOWING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEN, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TWICE BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE DASHBOARD MELTED, CAUSING THE FUSES TO BLOW OUT. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

THE STEERING WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. 45 MINUTES PRIOR TO THIS, I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR, THANKFULLY I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT THE TIME, SO NO PERSONAL INJURY OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND. I COULD HAVE VERY EASILY HAVE BEEN KILLED DO TO DEFECTIVE WORKMANSHIP. I PROMPTLY CALLED GREENVILLE TOYOTA AND REPORTED IT AND THEY WERE TO COME TOW THE CAR FROM RALEIGH BACK TO GREENVILLE. GREENVILLE TOYOTA SAYS THE STEERING COLUMN IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WOULD COST ME $328 TO REPLACE IT. IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE COME LOOSE. HERE IS PART OF THE LETTER I'VE SENT TO GREENVILLE TOYOTA: ------------------------------------------------------------ I CRANKED MY 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AND STARTED TO TURN THE WHEEL TO BACK UP. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL POPPED AND THE WHEEL STARTED TO SPIN FREELY. MY BROTHER TOOK A LOOK AT THE SIENNA. HE CHECKED THE FRONT WHEELS AND IT WAS NOT THE TIE RODS. HE THEN CHECKED THE STEERING COLUMN. THE WHEEL SPUN FREELY BECAUSE THE UNIVERSAL JOINT HAD COME LOOSE. THE BOLT THAT GOES FROM THE U JOINT INTO THE STEERING COLUMN NEVER WAS INSTALLED PROPERLY. THE UNIT SHOULD HAVE NEVER, EVER COME APART LIKE THAT. MY BROTHER ATTACHED THE BOLT PROPERLY AND HAD ME ON MY WAY IN A COUPLE OF HOURS. IN HIS MECHANIC'S OPINION THE UNIT WAS NEVER ATTACHED PROPERLY AND WAS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *NM

I HAVE 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CAR WAS PERFECT UNTIL AFTER 30K MILES. WE FIRST NOTICED THE CAR OCCASIONALLY HAD DIFFICULTY OF STARTING DURING WARM WEATHER OR WARM ENGINE CONDITION. THEN THE SITUATION GOT WORST, THE NO STARTING GOT MORE OFTEN. WE EVEN GOT STUCK IN THE FREEWAY AND BUSY STREET BECAUSE WE STOPPED THE CAR AND HAD A LOT OF DIFFICULTY TO GET THE CAR STARTED AGAIN. THE SITUATION COULD BE DANGEROUS IN A TRAFFIC BUSY LOCATION. I HAVE TWO FRIEND WHO HAVE SIENNA AND THEY BOTH HAD THE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SIENNA. THE USUAL SYMPTOM OF THE PROBLEM: THE CAR TAKES MORE CRACKING TO START AND THEN ITS RPM IMMEDIATELY DROPS TO 400-200RPM AND THEN THE ENGINE DIES; SOME TIMES PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR WOULD HELP RAISING THE RPM AND GOT THE CAR REALLY STARTED; AT SOME OTHER TIMES, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AT ALL UNTIL THE ENGINEER COOLS DOWN AND/OR THE WEATHER COOLS DOWN; TODAY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN AN OUTDOOR PARKING LOT. I AM STILL TRYING TO GET IT STARTED. *NM

WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK AT THE SEVEN O'CLOCK POSITION. DURING THE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ALLOWED THE BELT WEBBING TO EXTEND BEYOND 25 MM WITHOUT RESTRAINING THE OCCUPANTS. ALL SEAT BELTED OCCUPANTS STRUCK THE VEHICLE INTERIOR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEIR PROSPECTIVE POSITION. THE FORCE OF ACCELERATION AND SUBSEQUENT SECONDARY IMPACT WAS SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE MODERATE FACIAL LACERATIONS. ELR PERFORMANCE IS BELIEVED TO BE NON-COMPLIANT WITH CFR TITLE 49 PART 571.208 - 571.209 OF THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS. *NM

BRAKE SQUEAL ON 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA. DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL.

OUR 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA WAS TRAVELLING STRAIGHT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AT ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN A 2005 FORD MUSTANG TRAVELLING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION MADE A POOR LEFT TURN AND IMPACTED THE DRIVER'S-SIDE REAR QUARTER OF OUR SIENNA. THE SURPRISE AND IMPACT COMBINED TO PUSH OUR SIENNA OUT OF THE ROADWAY WHERE IT HIT A UTILITY POLE HEAD ON. AIRBAGS ON THE SIENNA DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SIENNA HAS BEEN JUDGED A TOTAL LOSS.

OBSERVED SLIPPING DURING FULL STOPS, ENGINE DIED SEVERAL OCCASIONS BEFORE THE ACTUAL TOTAL FAILURE OF PARTS INVOLVED, LOSS OF FORWARD MOTION OR SPEED PICK-UP, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED (TOYOTA ISSUED AN AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE INVOLVING 1998-2000 SIENNAS BUT APPARENTLY THE COMPANY ALREADY HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM TO OCCUR). *NM

I WAS INVOLVED IN A 1 CAR HIGH SPEED FRONTAL IMPACT COLLISION WITH A TREE IN MY 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA MINI-VAN. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY LEAVIN BOTH MYSELF AND MY PASSENGER WITH SIGNIFICANT FACIAL & UPPER BODY INJURIES.

WHEN DRIVING ON CRUISE CONTROL AND LIGHTLY BRAKING THE CAR SUDDENLY ALARMINGLY ACCELERATES. DEALER CLAIMS VARIOUS ISSUES THAT THEY TRIED BUT NON RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. I AM READY TO SELL AND AFRAID THAT THE BUYER MIGHT NOT REMEMBER TO FOLLOW MY INSTRUCTION TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL BEFORE BRAKING. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS, MOST RECENTLY THIS YEAR 2014. *TR

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

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO A STORE WINDOW. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK *BF *NM

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

I BOUGH A 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA NEW IN 2001. THE WARRANTY RAN OUT TWO MONTHS AGO AND NOW I HAVE A PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THE CAR DOES NOT ACCEPT GAS AT THE GAS STATION. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER (PENN TOYOTA - 516-621-6800 ) FOR ITS ANNUAL INSPECTION. I CALLED TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT AND MENTIONED THE PROBLEM, ALREADY, BEFORE SEEING THE VEHICLE THEY SAID IT WAS THE CHARCOAL CANISTER THAT IS CLOGGED. THEY REPLACED IT AT A COST OF ALMOST 500 DOLLARS. I PAID, LEFT AND WENT STRAIGHT TO A GAS STATION. THE CAR STILL DOES NOT ACCEPT GAS. I RETURNED THE CAR. NOW IT NEEDS TWO MORE PARTS THAT REQUIRE FOUR HOURS OF LABOR AT 85 DOLLARS AN HOUR AND 200 DOLLARS WORTH OF PARTS. I MENTIONED THAT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT GONE AWAY AND THAT THEY REPLACED THE CARBON CANISTER FOR NO REASON. THEY SAID YES IT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED THAT THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM FOUR TO FIVE TIMES A WEEK. NOW WHAT??????? *JB

PURCHASE 2002 SIENNA CE IN JUNE 2002. HAVE LEAK IN TOP RADIATOR HOSE WHERE IT JOINS THE ENGINE. LOOSES COOLANT OVER SEVERAL WEEKS. BROUGHT TO TOYOTA DEALER WHERE PURCHASED AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE HOSE. INSTALLED A NEW CLAMP. NOW 3 MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM IS BACK. I BELIEVE THIS IS A BAD PART THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER IS GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND.*AK

REAR SLIDING DOOR LATCHES FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. AS A RESULT, OCCUPANTS WERE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. DEALER STATED THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW, AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS REPAIRED THE PROBLEM IN THE NEWER MODEL VEHICLES. *AK *TC

THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW TIRES DUE TO FRONT END BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION ABOUT THE PREMATURE TIRE WEAR PROBLEM ON LATE MODEL TOYOTA SIENNA. *BF *SC

TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALER THAT MY THREE YR OLD 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA WITH 47,542 MILES NEEDS A NEW ENGINE DUE TO SLUDGE/GELLING OF ENGINE OIL.*AK

WE HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA THAT WE BOUGHT NEW FROM GROSSINGER TOYOTA ON 12/24/01. HAS A 3 YEAR, 36,000 MILE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY. WE WENT TO REMOVE THE 2 REAR SEATS TO CREATE MORE ROOM TO CARRY ITEMS. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE CAME OUT WITH NO PROBLEM. THE REAR PASENGER SIDE WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. WE BROUGHT IT INTO GROSSINGER TOYOTA TODAY. THREE TECHNICIANS AND A MANAGER LATER, THEY TOLD US WE BROKE IT. WE TOLD THEM THAT WHEN WE COULDN'T REMOVE IT, WE BROUGHT IT IN TO THEM SO WE WOULDN'T CREATE ANY PROBLEMS. IT WAS THEN THAT THE MANAGER SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT TOYOTA TOMORROW TO SEE IF IT WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. WE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AS THIS IS TOYOTA'S PROBLEM. THIS IS ALSO WHEN HE TOLD US THEY HAVE HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. DEALER IS GROSSINGER TOYOTA,6747 N. LINCOLN AVE. LINCOLNWOOD, IL 60645 847.675.7100. MANAGER IS NAMED STEVE. WE ARE NOW WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM GROSSINGER TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN. WE ARE EXTREMELY UNHAPPY WITH GROSSINGER ALL TOGETHER, AS WHENEVER WE BRING IN AN ITEM UNDER WARRANTY, THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, YET THEY FIND A LIST OF ITEMS TO BE SERVICED, ALL WHICH REQUIRE A CHARGE.*AK

THE BUTTON ON THE SLIDING DOORS STICKS WHEN I TRY TO OPEN IT FROM THE INSIDE, AND IT CAUSES THE DOOR TO BE EITHER UNOPENABLE OR UNCLOSEABLE, DEPENDING ON WHAT POSITION IT WAS IN WHEN THE BUTTON GOT STUCK. I HAD IT REPAIRED ONCE , BUT IT STUCK AGAIN. THE DEALER IS CLAIMING THEY CAN'T FIX IT BECAUSE IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN THEY HAD THE CAR THERE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN - WE HAD TO CRAWL OUT THE BACK BECAUSE WE COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR! IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO TRY TO GET THE BUTTON OUT BY GIGGLING THE DOOR AND PRYING THE BUTTON BACK OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. I HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THERE WAS A FIRE OR OTHER EMERGENCY! I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR LOCK MECHANISM. IT WILL NOT ALWAYS UNLOCK THE OTHER DOORS, AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DOORS LOCKING THEMSELVES - IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES THAT THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK, BY THEMSELVES, WITH NO ONE TOUCHING THE LOCKS OR KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED MY BABIES WILL BE LOCKED IN AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS (ESPECIALLY IF THE KEYS HAPPEN TO BE IN THE CAR WHEN IT AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS BY ITSELF). THE DEALER WILL NOT FIX IT BECAUSE THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT HAPPENING TO THEM OR IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT - IT IS NOT. *LA

RIGHT SIDE SLIDING DOOR LOCKED AND COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. APPROXIMATELY. 4 WEEKS LATER DRIVER SIDE SLIDING ALSO LOCKED WITH ADULT PASSENGER IN 2ND SEAT AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE DRIVEN TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE MECHANIC TOOK APPROXIMATELY. 6 MINUTES TO GET DOOR OPEN.OWNER WAS ADVISED THAT BOTH DOOR LOCKS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO REPLACE THEM. WHEN FIRST DOOR LOCKED DEALERSHIP TOLD OWNER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND WOULD NOT INSPECT VEHICLE. *LA

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

ENGINE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF AN ACCUMALATION OF SLUDGE WHICH DEVELOPED IN THE BASE OF THE MOTOR. THEN, ENGINE STALLED. THIS WAS THE THIRD ENGINE REPLACEMENT.*AK

ENGINE OIL SLUDGE FORMING IN CAMSHAFT CARRIER AND UNDER OIL FILLER CAP AFTER ONLY 35K MILES! I BOUGHT THIS SIENNA BRAND NEW FOR $32000 AND PERFORM MAINTENANCE RELIGIOUSLY, CHANGING OIL & FILTER EVERY 4000 - 5000. YET, LAST WEEK ON A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE I NOTICED BLACK GRITTY DEPOSITS CAKED UNDERNEATH THE OIL FILLER CAP! IT WAS ABOUT 2-4 MM THICK; I COULD SCRAPE IT WITH MY FINGERNAILS AND IT FELT LIKE HARDENED SUGAR. I COULD SEE THE BLACK DEPOSITS WELL INTO THE CAM CARRIER. I FOUND OUT THAT MANY OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SLUDGE PROBLEM! THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW IN THE 3.0L V6 ENGINES CAUSING THE OIL TO SLUDGE; TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE ENGINES! *LA

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ABS MALFUNCTIONED. EVEN WHEN DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT THE BRAKING DISTANCE INCREASED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE FAILED TWICE AT INTERSECTIONS, TWICE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP TO PARK AND ONCE WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL. (ALWAYS UNDER 10 MPH) *SC *JB

A 3 YEAR OLD MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CHILD EASILY MOVED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GEAR SHIFT BUTTON. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *LA

I BOUGHT MY 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA, 05/04/2004, 7011 MILES AFTER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. DEALER FIXED IT BY REPLACING EMISSION CONTROL CHARCOAL CANISTER. IN JUNE 2005 & AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1500 MILES LATER, GAS REFUELING VALVE STARTED SHUTTING OFF, EVEN THOUGH GAS WAS NOT FULL. DEALER CHECKED & SAID I NEED A NEW EMISSION CONTROL CHARCOAL CANISTER, BECAUSE MY PREVIOUS CANISTER WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I HAVE TO PAY $495 (PART+ LABOR) TO REPLACE IT. I COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM REPEATING SOON, DEALER COULD NOT GIVE SATISFACTORY ANSWER. IN CONSUMERS WEBSITE I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2002 TOYOTA VEHICLES. IS IT POSSIBLE THIS PART IN THIS YEAR FAILED MORE OFTEN THAN NORMAL? *TR

APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AGO THE CLOCK LOST THE TIME. 4/28/04 MILEAGE 42K DRIVING ON NH HIGHWAY RTE 3 SO. APPROACHING THE BEDFORD TOLL IN THE HIGHSPEED LANE (40-45 MILES PER HOUR) THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER! ENOUGH SPEED LEFT TO PULL INTO THE LEFT BARRIER AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THIRD ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER WAS REGAINED. AUTOFAIR TOYOTA DEALER SHIP INDICATED THAT TOYOTA HAD FORWARDED A CHAMPAIGN. TOYOTA CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE INDICATED THAT THE CHAMPAIGN IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ONLY AND NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH A RECALL. HOWEVER, NO WARNING LIGHT EVER CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. NOT CHECK BATTERY, CHECK ENGINE, NOTHING!

1) HOT SUMMER TEMPERATURES SEEMED TO BE CONNECTED WITH THE FAILURE OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR OF THE TOYOTA 2002 SIENNA MINIVAN. 2)WHEN THE LOCKING MECHANISM GETS STUCK, THE INSIDE BUTTON ALSO IS STUCK INWARDS, THE DOOR IS NOT ABLE TO BE CLOSED AS A RESULT. THE LATCHING MECHANISM WILL NOT ENGAGE WITH THE STRIKE BAR. 3)TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WE HAD TO WIGGLE AND TOGGLE AROUND WITH THE COMBINATION OF OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE, INSIDE BUTTON, AND CHILDLOCK LOCATED IN THE DOOR JAM UNTIL BY LUCK, IT RELEASED. IT TOOK AN HOUR. TO DATE, AN "INSPECTION" BY THE DEALER IS SCHEDULED.

BRAKES SQUEALING AT LOW SPEEDS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR THIS ISSUE TO BE TOLD IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE - ERGO, THEY CANNOT FIX IT. *AK

WHILE STOPPED IN "DRIVE" WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE OCCATIONALLY ATTEMPTS TO SURGE FORWARD.

MY 2002 SIENNA HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS A LOUD ENGINE KNOCKING WHEN ACCELERATING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. IT HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR ABOUT THE LAST 6000 MILES. AT 20,000 MILES, SCOTT CLARKES TOYOTA IN CHARLOTTE TOLD ME TO USE A BETTER GRADE GASOLINE, WITH NO RESULTS. AT 24,000 MILES, THEY TOLD ME I HAVE SPARK KNOCK AND NEED TO DRIVE THE CAR AT HIGHER SPEEDS MORE OFTEN. (I DRIVE MOSTLY IN THE CITY). READING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT SLUDGE, I THINK THIS IS RELATED, SINCE THEY TOLD ME MY OIL WAS SLUDGEY TOO. I THINK THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED. *AK

IN 2003, I WAS TOLD THE ECU UNIT NEEDED REPLACED ON PASSENGER SIDE REAR POWER SLIDING DOOR AS DOOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. HAS CONTINUED WITH INTERMITTENT PROBLEM UNTIL IT FINALLY WOULDN'T OPEN NOR CLOSE. GIVEN THE VERY HIGH VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON ALL YEARS OF THE TOYOTA SIENNA, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE ODI TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GOOGLE "TOYOTA SIENNA POWER SLIDING DOOR PROBLEMS" AND YOU END UP WITH MULTIPLE THOUSANDS OF HITS, WITH MOST BEING CHAT SITES WITH MULTIPLE COMPLAINT THREADS. *TR

THE DOOR LATCHES GOT STUCK INTERMITTENTLY. DOOR IS NOT CLOSED WHILE CAR MOVING. *KB

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

I HAD BOUGHT MY VAN MAY 2,2003 WITH ABOUT 19,000 MILES. ON OCTOBER 7, WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. WHEN I PULLED INTO A PARKING STALL, PASSERBYERS WERE YELLING THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. AN INDEPENDENT ARSON INVESTIGATOR SAID HE FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE ENGINE, AND THAT IT HAD PROBABLY BEEN LEAKING SINCE I PURCHASED MY VAN. *LA

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA MINI VANAND MOSTLY DURING COLD DRY MONTHS I GET A SHOCK EVERY TIME I GO TO CLOSE THE DOOR TO GET OUT OF THE VAN. I TOOK THE VAN TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAID THAT HE RECEIVED OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER VAN OWNERS ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING SHOCKED AS THEY WERE GETTING OUT OF THE VAN. HE LOOKED THE VAN OVER AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS OK AND THAT IF I CONTINUED TO GET SHOCKED TO PUT A FABRIC SOFTENER SHEET IN THE VAN TO SEE IF THAT HELPED , WHICH IT DIDN'T. MY CONCERN IS OTHER THAN BEING SHOCKED EVERY TIME I EXIT THE VAN IF THERE IS THAT MUCH STATIC THAT BUILDS UP IN THE VAN WHILE COMMUTING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I CARRY A GASOLINE CAN IN THE VAN, SHOULD I SUSPECT A FIRE WOULD RESULT? PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

UNEVEN AND PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS

IDLE CONTROL VALVE FAILURE. PREVENTS CAR FROM IDLING CORRECTLY. CAR WILL START AND THEN CUT OFF RIGHT AFTER YOU DRIVE OFF. POTENTIALLY CAUSING YOU TO GET HIT BY OTHER VEHICLES. THIS HAPPENED ON MY 2002 SIENNA AT 40K MILE AND CONTINUOUSLY SINCE. I KNOW OF 4 OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC HAD ABOUT 10 OR THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS IN HIS SHOP AND HE SAID THAT HE REPLACES THESE ALL THE TIME ON ALL THE TOYOTAS. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE FREMONT TOYOTA DEALER AND THE SERVICE REP SAID THE FAILURE RATE WAS SO HIGH THAT THERE WAS A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE FOR THIS PART AND THAT IT WOULD TAKE 2 MONTHS FOR THE PART TO BE AVAILABLE. THE DUBLIN CA, TOYOTA DEALER WAS ALSO WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM OF THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE. IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ALL OPERATORS OF SIENNAS, CAMRYS, AND OTHER TOTOTA VEHICLES WITH THIS IDLE CONTROL VALVE. *NM

THE REAR BRAKES HAVE BEEN SQUEAKING.I HAVE HAD THEM CHECKED BY THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THEY WERE FINE.NOW THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO SQUEAK AND NOW NEED TO BE REPLACED.I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE MANUFACURED BRAKE PADS.*AK

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKE ROTOR DRUM AND PAD. FREQUEST SQUEALING AND PREMATURE PAD WEAR IS EVIDENT SINCE 5,000 MILES. THE DEALER TOLD US TOYOTA RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM AND WILL INVESTIGATE A SOLUTION. THEY ORIGINALLY STATED THEY EXPECTED A REPLY BY TOYOTA BY JULY/AUGUST 2002. WE STILL DO NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION THAT LEADS US TO BELIEVE THIS ISSUE WILL BE RESOPLVED ANYTIME SOON. *AK

OIL SLUDGE: IT TOOK SOME DOING BUT TOYOTA FINALLY DID PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE.

SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE HAD 8 REPAIRS ON SLIDING MANUAL DOORS. THEY END UP GETTING STUCK SO YOU CANT OPEN IT TO GET IN OR OUT. HAD 1 OR 2 REPAIRS 2003 AT MARK JACOBSON TOYOTA,6 REPAIRS(2004,05,06) AT FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA,1 REPAIR TAO AUTO(2010), IN NEED OF REPAIR NOW ALSO. *TR

VEHICLE WAS BLOWING WHITE SMOKE OUT, AND WHEN YOU REMOVED THE OIL REFILL CAP THERE WAS A GEL TYPE SUBSTANCE ON IT, THE MECHANIC CALLED IT OIL GEL. TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY ARE NOT MAINTAINING THEIR AUTO, BUT WITH HER VEHICLE THIS IS NOT TRUE. *TT

MY 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA BRAKES SQUEAK. THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS HAVE CHECKED THEM SEVERAL TIMES AND CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND IS SAID TO BE WORKING ON IT (SOMETHING WITH THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS). THEY CLAIM THAT THE BRAKES ARE SAFE AND WORK PROPERLY. HOW CAN THIS BE WITH SUCH A NOISE GOING ON? I DON'T WISH TO FIND OUT THAT THEY WERE INDEED NOT SAFE AFTER THEY FAIL. *LA

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

BRAKES MAKE A NOISE WHEN THE CAR IS ABOUT TO STOP. THERE IS A SQUEAL AND THUMP THAT CAN BE HEARD. HAVE TAKEN THIS IN SEVERAL TIMES TO BE FIXED. THEY SAY THE BRAKES ARE SAFE. I AM 74 YEARS OLD AND HAVE HAD MANY CARS OVER THE YEARS AND THE ONLY TIMES OTHER CARS HAVE MADE THIS KIND OF NOISE IT WAS TIME TO CHANGE THE BRAKES. IN THIS CASE THE BRAKE PADS SEEM TO HAVE PLENTY OF LIFE LEFT. FUNNY THAT WHEN THE REAR DRUMS ARE REMOVED AND THE BRAKE AND DRUMS ARE THOROUGHLY CLEANED THE NOISE DOES NOT HAPPEN FOR A WHILE. THE FIRST COMPLAINT WAS MADE AT 15,523 MILES AND CONTINUES TOO THIS DAY. AT 31,842 MILES THE REAR DRUMS WERE REPLACED PER TSB BR003-04. TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN AT 125,559 MILES AND WE WERE TOLD WE NEEDED NEW REAR DRUMS. THEY HAD BEEN REPLACED. THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES AND NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.