2004 Toyota Sienna Powertrain & Transmission Problems

Shifter not shifting into park even when in park causing it to roll even when you think it’s in park

Was driving on highway at 60-65 mph. The car continued to accelerate. Pressed on brake and wasn't slowing the vehicle. The driver was weaving in and out of cars as the van started to creek up to 92 mph. The driver and passengers thought they were going to crash and possible die. The driver tried the brake multiple times and nothing. The driver said the accelerator pedal wasn't pressed all the way down to the floor. It was half way and driver had to go down and pull up on the pedal while driving. The van then started to slow and driver was able to pull over to have the van evaluated . The throttle body was reached and cleaned of carbon because it said that this may have been part of the issue. Never has this van taken off like this. The throttle body cable wasnt loose or disconnected either. So far we havent been able to recreate but 3 people could have been killed.

TRANSMISSION MADE A NOISE WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN OFF THE HIGHWAY. NOW I LOST REVERSE IN TRANSMISSION

THREE YEAR OLD CHILD WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BREAK PEDAL AND CAR ROLLED AWAY. CAR WAS PARKED IN A FLAT DRIVEWAY, AND WENT ACROSS THE STREET AND HIT A SPEED LIMIT SIGN AND DID DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER. I DO HAVE A PHOTO UNABLE TO UPLOAD OF BUMPER. NOT COVERED UNDER THE 2005 SHIFT LOCK SOLONOID RECALL BY TOYOTA.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS AND FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO MOVE OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

THE SHIFTER LEVER MADE A SOUND AND BEHAVED AS IF PLASTIC WAS BREAKING INSIDE OF IT. THIS HAPPENED WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF "PARK", AND INTO GEAR WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. AFTER THIS, THE SHIFTING LEVER BECAME LOOSE AND DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE THE TENSION TO "SPRING" THE LEVER INTO THE APPROPRIATE POSITION NATURALLY. FOR EXAMPLE, NORMALLY THE SHIFT LEVER WILL HAVE TENSION PUSHING TOWARD THE LEFT SO THAT THE SHIFT LEVER ENGAGES PARK WITHOUT HAVING TO MANUALLY PRESS IT INTO PLACE. NOW IT WILL FLOAT TO THE RIGHT AND MAY NOT ENGAGE INTO "PARK" WITHOUT THE DRIVER SPECIFICALLY CONCENTRATING ON PRESSING IT TO THE LEFT. THIS VEHICLE IS CURRENT WITH ALL OF ITS RECALLS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LATEST SPARE TIRE CARRIER CABLE INSPECTION ISSUED IN 2014. THE SPECIFIC PART THAT HAS BROKEN IS UNKNOWN, BUT I SUSPECT THERE IS PROBABLY A TENSION SPRING ASSOCIATED WITH THE SHIFT LEVER WHICH HELPS KEEP IT IN THE DESIRED LOCATION WHICH HAS BROKEN. THERE ARE THREADS ON THE INTERNET TALKING ABOUT A PART THAT MAY BE RELATED AS DESCRIBED IN THIS THREAD: HTTPS://WWW.SIENNACHAT.COM/FORUM/66-PROBLEMS-MAINTENANCE-REPAIR-GEN-2/679-BROKEN-SHIFTER-05-XLE.HTML THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT ENGAGE OR STAY IN THE DESIRED POSITION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BEHAVE IN UNPREDICTABLE WAYS. FIRST, THE DRIVER MAY BELIEVE THAT THE SHIFTER IS IN "PARK", BUT IT MAY NOT HAVE ENGAGED AND MAY INSTEAD BE IN NEUTRAL CAUSING THE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY. SECOND, WHILE DRIVING, THE SHIFT LEVER COULD MOVE OUT OF POSITION OR SLIP INTO A DIFFERENT GEAR OR "NEUTRAL" CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BEHAVE IN UNEXPECTED WAYS AND CAUSE THE DRIVER TO BECOME DISTRACTED (SUCH AS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE), LEADING TO UNSAFE DRIVING. THIRD, THE VEHICLE MAY CHANGE SPEEDS ABRUPTLY WHICH MAY CONFUSE OTHER DRIVERS WHEN DRIVING BY THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THESE THINGS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.

ON APRIL 18, 2018, I PARKED THE CAR IN GARAGE, SHIFTED TO PARK, TURNED THE KEY OFF, AND REMOVED KEY. WHILE GETTING OUT I NOTICED THAT CAR BEGAN TO ROLL. WHILE IN PARK, LOCKED WITH KEY OUT, I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE ROLLED FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. AFTER INSPECTION I FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE SHIFTER. (SEE FIRST PHOTOS) APPARENTLY, TOYOTA SECURES IT WITH SOME TYPE OF PLASTIC GROMMET WHICH DETERIORATES WITH AGE, DISINTEGRATES, AND CAUSES THE DETACHMENT. (SECOND PHOTOS) EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE LOCKED AND IN PARK, IT IS ACTUALLY IN WHATEVER GEAR IT WAS IN WHEN THE DETACHMENT OCCURRED. OUR DRIVEWAY IS ON AN INCLINE, AND HAD I PARKED ON THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED INSTEAD OF THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ROLLED INTO THE STREET CREATING A SERIOUS RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH. THIS DESIGN DEFECT IN THE TOYOTA SIENNA IS INEXCUSABLE, AND CREATES AN UNREASONABLE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES AND THE PUBLIC, AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THEM AND CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND IN PARK, IT STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, BUT THE ASSOCIATES WERE IN A MEETING. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000.

TRACTION-CONTROL MALFUNCTION DURING SPEEDS OVER 40. VEHICLE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES, AT ANY TIME AND SUDDENLY. ABRUPT BRAKING AND WARNING LIGHT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER CABLE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER MAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 12/23/16*LJ *TR

ON MAY 2, 2016, THE DRIVER SUDDENLY LOST ALL ABILITY TO SHIFT THE 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND THEREFORE OPERATE THE VEHICLE, UPON ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM *D* TO *R*, I.E., DRIVE TO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME, WHILE PREPARING TO PULL INTO A SPACE IN A PARKING LOT. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE EVENT WAS THE VEHICLE'S SHIFT CABLE HAD BROKEN AT THE CABLE'S TERMINATION WITH EITHER THE SHIFT LEVER OR THE TRANSMISSION. REPAIR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE CABLE, TOYOTA PART NUMBER 33820-08020. THE SUDDEN INABILITY TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BE STRANDED, OBSTRUCTING OTHER VEHICLE TRAFFIC. IF THIS EVENT HAD OCCURRED IN TRAFFIC, SUCH AS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK, THE DISABLED VEHICLE WOULD HAVE PRESENTED A COLLISION DANGER TO THE DRIVER AS WELL AS TO OTHER VEHICLES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND. IN ADDITION, WHENEVER SHIFTING INTO THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL A SHORT DISTANCE. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHEN PARKED BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO THE UNINTENDED ROLLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V429000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CAUSED INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V429000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 05V327000 (SEAT BELT) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE TRANSMISSION CABLE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SHIFT CABLE BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE VAN TO ROLL, EVEN THOUGH THE INDICATOR SAID IT WAS IN PARK. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE SHIFT CABLE SOLENOID. *JB

RADIATOR FAILURE RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKAGE IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. I NOTICED MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA HAD SOME BELT NOISE THAT GOT WORSE. THE VAN WAS DUE FOR A WATER PUMP/TIMING BELT CHANGE. LATER THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE READ HIGH AND AFTER CHECKING THE FLUIDS NOTICED THE ANTIFREEZE LEVEL TO BE LOW AND TOPPED IT UP. A WEEK LATER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY STEAM STARTED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. I NOTICED THE PINK FLUID HAD ALSO LEAKED OUT OF A TUBE (LOOKED LIKE A RELIEF TUBE) ON THE DRIVER SIDE. RADIATOR LEVEL WAS LOW. THE TRANSMISSION FUEL LOOKED PINKISH AND READ ABOUT SIX INCHES ABOVE THE MAX LEVEL ON THE DIPSTICK. TRANS FLUID WAS MILKY PINK, THICK, AND HAD GRAINY DEPOSIT. TOOK THE VAN TO THE AUTOLAND DEALER IN SPRINGFIELD, NJ TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND TO HAVE THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT CHANGE AT THE SAME TIME. HAD TO LEAVE THE VAN OVERNIGHT. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE WITH A NEARLY $2000 BILL FOR REPAIRS (BRAKES, TIRE ROTATION, TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP) OTHER THAN CHANGING THE TRANS. FLUID OR TELLING ME WHAT WAS WRONG. DEALER SAID SOMEONE PUT ADDITIVE TO THE FLUID???. NOTE THAT ONLY AUTOLAND HAD BEEN SERVICING THE VEHICLE. THEY REFUSED TO CHANGE THE TRANS FLUID. "I AM NOT TOUCHING THAT." THE DEALER SAID. I NOW KNOW FROM A LOCAL TRANS REPAIR SHOP THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE TRANS FLUID. A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH RADIATORS ON TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT HAD A RECALL. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE RECALL. I NOW HAVE AN ESTIMATED $4,000 PROBLEM TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF AUTOLAND HAD DONE ITS JOB PROPERLY AND NOT REFUSED TO CHANGE THE TRANS. FLUID. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA AND WITH AUTOLAND'S SERVICE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V429000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TOYOTA DEALER (VICTORY TOYOTA OF CANTON , 46352 MICHIGAN AV, CANTON, MI 48188) FAILED TO FIX THE SHIFT LOCK SOLENOID ASSEMBLY THAT A SUBJECT OF A RECALL AND PROMISED TO CALL ONCE THE NEW PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN 2 MONTHS AND THE PART HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN SECOND GEAR EVEN THOUGH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL READ THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 10/09/14*LJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V429000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO START AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE BACKWARDS AND ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURED CABLE LINKAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.