2008 Toyota Sienna Powertrain & Transmission Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated at a high rate of speed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact desperately pressed on the brake pedal, but the vehicle would not slow down. The contact shifted the gear lever into neutral and the vehicle slowed down. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road and shutoff the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted and operated normally. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 178,000.

The transmission shift cable broke during parking. Although the transmission shift lever was moved to the park position, the transmission was not placed in park. The first observation was the vehicle started to roll when the driver was loading the purchases at a store. The parking brake was then applied. Then the vehicle engine could not be started, regardless of where the shift lever was positioned. The vehicle was towed to an independent auto service provider. The provider identified the problem as the transmission still in the reverse position and replaced a $10 bushing on the transmission cable with a labor charge of $510.

TRANSMISSION HAS BEGUN SLIDING

ON INCLINES, THE VSC LIGHT WOULD COME ON, CLICKING NOISE NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CAR WOULD LOSE POWER. I HAVE MECHANICS CHECKED OUT. CV JOINT AND BALL BEARING REPLACED. PROBLEM PERSISTS.

I ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY VAN IN PARK TODAY AFTER DRIVING TO A RESTAURANT FOR LUNCH. THE SHIFT LEVER WILL GO TO ANY POSITION BUT THE DASH DISPLAY ONLY RESPONDS TO D OR 4. WHEN I PUT THE LEVER IN PARK AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VAN CONTINUED GOING FORWARD. IT WILL NOT GO TO PARK OR EVEN NEUTRAL. I PUT THE CAR IN A SAFE PARKING SPOT, PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THAT IS WHERE IT STILL IS. I HAVEN'T TRIED TO RESTART IT OR DRIVE IT SINCE.

I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT MY CAR INTO REVERSE FROM PARK WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKES. IT CAUSED MY CAR TO START ROLLING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V429000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. DON MCGILL TOYOTA OF KATY (21555 KATY FWY, KATY, TX 77450, (832) 772-1000) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, THE CHILD OCCUPANT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A RETAINING WALL. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE SHIFT LEVER COULD BE MOVED WITHOUT THE IGNITION KEY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V429000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MANEUVER IN REVERSE, EXPERIENCED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, CAUSING COLLISION WITH GUARDRAIL

SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY MAY ALLOW ROLLAWAY 13V429000 MY SIENNA HAD THE ABOVE RECALL WORK COMPLETED. MY LITTLE DAUGHTER BUMPED THE GEAR SHIFT AND KNOCKED IT OUT PARK AND THE CAR ROLLED AWAY. THE SIENNA WAS IN PARK, THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT TOUCHED. MY CONCERN IS THAT FIX PROVIDED FOR THE RECALL DID NOT ACTUALLY CORRECT PROBLEM COMPLETELY. IF YOU HAVE A SIENNA FOR THE EFFECTED YEARS AND HAVE HAD THE ABOVE RECALL WORK COMPLETED YOUR VEHICLE MAY STILL ROLL AWAY. TO TEST PARK ON A FLAT SURFACE APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE GRASP GEAR SHIFT APPLY PRESSURE TO MOVE IT TOWARD REVERSE WHILE JIGGLING THE GEAR SHIFT UP AND DOWN - DO NOT PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHILE DOING THIS. IF GEAR SHIFT STAYS IN PARK YOU ARE GOOD. IF IT FALLS INTO REVERSE YOUR CAR IS NOW IN NEUTRAL AND CAN ROLL AWAY PUT FOOT ON BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF REVERSE, CAUSING THE KEYS TO BE UNABLE TO EJECT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ADJUSTED THE LEVER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V429000 (POWER TRAIN). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THERE THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 13V429000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE ANOTHER DEALER TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 7/25/14*CN CONSUMERS HANDWRITING IS ILLEGIBLE. UPDATED 08/05/14

T-SB-0047-10 FROM SAFERCAR.GOV "SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2GR-FE/FXE ENGINE. THE RUBBER PORTION OF THE OIL SUPPLY HOSE FOR VVT-I ACTUATOR MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE OIL TO LEAK FROM THE VVT-I OIL HOSE PRODUCING ABNORMAL ENGINE NOISE AND THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE " THIS TSB AFFECTS TOYOTA VEHICLES GOING BACK TO AT LEAST 2008-PRESENT. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE, AND I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE HANDLED AS A RECALL INSTEAD OF A TSB DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE ISSUE IF/WHEN THE PIPE BREAKS. I RECENTLY ELECTED TO HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED ON MY OWN JUST SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS ISSUE HAPPENING TO ME OR MY WIFE, AND THUS BLOWING UP MY SIENNA'S ENGINE CAUSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES. SEEMS PRETTY BAD THAT A RECALL CAN BE ISSUED FOR FLOOR MATS AND ACCELERATOR ISSUES, BUT NO RECALL IS ISSUED FOR THIS ISSUE WHICH CAN DRAIN THE OIL FROM YOUR ENGINE IN A MINUTE, BLOW UP YOUR ENGINE, AND THEN POSSIBLY WRECK YOUR VEHICLE. CONSUMER'S ENGINES ARE NOW BEING DESTROYED, AND THIS IS SHOWING UP IN DIFFERENT ONLINE FORUMS. I FEEL THAT THE NHTSA NEEDS TO FORCE TOYOTA TO REPLACE ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE OIL COOLER PIPES WITH THE NEWER METAL ONES THAT THE TSB ADDRESSES. THEY SHOULD ALSO BE FORCED TO REIMBURSE ALL COSTS TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT EITHER NEEDED TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE, OR DECIDED TO PREVENTATIVELY HAVE THE REPAIR DONE ON THEIR OWN BEFORE THOSE PIPES BURST ON THEIR OWN. TOYOTA HAS TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THEIR LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN CSC-10033553-6074 BUT MY CAR HAS SEEPAGE FROM THE RUBBER PORTION OF THE HOSE THAT WAS DIAGNOSED BY GRAPEVINE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY. VERY SAD SITUATION THAT SUCH A DANGEROUS CONDITION EXISTS IN SO MANY TOYOTA VEHICLES WITH THE V-6 (2GR-FE) ENGINE. PLEASE HELP!!! *TR

I WAS DROPPING MY KIDS OF TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING. I STOP BY AT MY FRIEND'S APT TO PICK HER UP WITH HER BABY. THIS IS MY DAILY ROUTINE. SO ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, I DID THE SAME THING, PARKED MY VAN, GOT OUT, AND WENT TO THE APARTMENT' S EXIT DOOR FROM WHERE MY FRIEND WAS COMING. MY CHILDREN WERE SEATED IN THE CAR AND I WAS PICKING UP THE BABY FROM MY FRIEND WHEN BOTH OF US HEARD MY ELDEST SON AGED 10, SCREAMING THAT "THE CAR IS MOVING MAMA", AND IN PANIC HE OPENED HIS DOOR AND TRIED TO GET OFF HIS SEAT BELT AND WAS TRYING TO JUMP. I SAW THE VAN ROLLING BACK , I PUT THE BABY ON THE GRASS AND RUSHED TO HELP MY KIDS IN THE MOVING VAN THAT WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS DOWNHILL. FIRST I PUSHED MY SON IN AS HIS LEG WAS CAUGHT IN THE SEAT BELT AND HE COULDN'T JUMP FORWARDS AND THEN I MOVED AROUND THE BACK OF THE VAN, HIT MY KNEE ON THE BUMPER AND MY FRIEND CAME FROM THE FRONT , SHE OPENED THE DOOR AND I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE HANDBRAKES ON. BUT IN DOING SO AFTER BUMPING HARD ON MY RIGHT KNEE FROM THE MOVING CAR, AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, I SAT ON THE GROUND AND HIT MY KNEE AGAIN. THE CAR STOPPED AND I TRIED TO CALM MYSELF BECAUSE THERE WERE 4 KIDS INSIDE WHEN THE VAN WAS ROLLING AWAY AND 3 OF THEM WERE SMALL, SO THEY WERE CRYING. MY FRIEND CALMED ME AND WE SET OFF. MY KNEE WAS HEAVILY BRUISED AND ACHING. I CAME HOME AND TOOK PAINKILLERS AND COULDN'T GET ANY XRAYS DONE BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MEDICAL INSURANCE. TO THIS DAY ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK, I USE PAINKILLERS FOR MY KNEE WHICH WAS PERFECT BEFORE. MY KIDS WERE SAFE AND NOTHING MAJOR HAPPENED WHICH COULD HAVE, BUT WE ALL WENT THROUGH A VERY PANICKY AND TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE WHICH I HOPE NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. IF THE VAN WOULDN'T HAVE STOPPED IN TIME, MY CHILDREN COULD HAVE BEEN BADLY INJURED. *TR

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V429000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED BECAUSE THE REMEDY PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. RK

WHILE DRIVING ON INTER-STATE I-10 WEST BOUND CLOSE TO 183 MARKER, AT 65 MPH, THE RPM SHOT TO 7000 AND CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. THE CAR STOPPED WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IT WAS 2200 HOURS WITH MY FAMILY OF 4 KIDS AND WIFE ON BOARD. TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION (USED ONE 90000 MILES) TOYOTA LEGACY CHARGED ME 3500$. ITS A LOT OF MONEY. ADDITIONALLY, YOU CANNOT TRUST TOYOTA BRAND FOR SUCH POOR WORKMANSHIP WHERE POWER TRAIN IS PRONE TO FAILURES ON 5 YEARS OLD VEHICLES. *TR

ON A RAINY SUNDAY AFTERNOON I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE, VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER THE NEXT MORNING (69 ADDITIONAL MILES WERE DRIVEN). WHEN TESTED THE CODE INDICATED TO INSPECT THE VVT-1 SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE ACTUATOR BOLTS AND ALIGNMENT. UPON INSPECTION (REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE PARTIALLY DISASSEMBLED) IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VVTI GEAR WAS COMING APART CAUSING DEBRIS TO SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE CAMSHAFT GEARS AND HOUSING ONLY FOR CAM BANK 1. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS MATERIAL QUALITY DEFECT AND TOYOTA'S ONLY STATEMENT IS "WE DON'T HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS". MY VAN IS 90 DAYS PAST THE 5 YEAR & 17,369 MILES OVER THE 60,000 WARRANTY. (NOTE: OTHER MANUFACTURER'S OFFER A 100,000 POWERTRAIN WARRANTY). THIS VAN HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED BY THIS DEALER. THIS SINGLE REPAIR BILL IS $4,295.00 WITH NO GUARANTEE THE OTHER CAM BANK WON'T DO THE SAME THING, REQUIRING ANOTHER HIGH SERVICE BILL. AFTER 3 DAYS OF WAITING FOR TOYOTA TO INVESTIGATE, THEY ONLY OFFERED A GOODWILL CONTRIBUTION TO THE REPAIRS OF $2,400 ... BUT ONLY AFTER I SUBMIT PAID RECEIPTS AND THEN WAIT 10 WEEKS FOR THEM TO REIMBURSE ME. THEY FLAT OUT REFUSED TO SEND THE PAYMENT TO THE DEALER. THIS IS TOYOTA'S PREMIER FAMILY VEHICLE AND IF THE ENGINE HAS SEIZED WHILE DRIVING COULD HAVE KILLED MY FAMILY OR SOMEONE ELSE. I HAVE DRIVEN TOYOTA'S FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND NEVER HEARD OF THIS KIND OF MATERIALS DEFECT AND THEN TO BE TREATED THIS POORLY OVER A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS A DIRECT RESULT OF POOR QUALITY MATERIALS. I GUESS THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE INTERESTED IF SOMEONE HAD DIED. I THINK EVERYONE WHO OWNS A 2008 SIENNA SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THIS MODEL HAS A VVTI GEAR MATERIAL QUALITY DEFECT THAT CAN BE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE WHILE DRIVING AND KILL SOMEONE. WHO KNOWS IF OTHER 08 MODELS ARE ALSO AFFECTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL AWAY AND ROLLED OVER THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BUSH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD, BACK, AND KNEE INJURIES THAT NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V429000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD ERRONEOUSLY BE SHIFTED INTO ANY GEAR WITHOUT HAVING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD RETURN HIS CALL AT A LATER DATE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

WE HAVE OWNED THE SIENNA FOR 4 YEARS AND 53,000 MILES WITHOUT INCIDENCE. WE HAVE HAD IT SERVICED BY THE TOYOTA DEALER AND HAVE HAD ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. ONE AFTERNOON, AFTER DRIVING THE SIENNA ALL DAY, WE PULLED IT INTO OUR DRIVEWAY (WHICH IS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE) AND PLACED IT INTO PARK. AFTER DOING THIS, INSTEAD OF THE BRAKES BEING APPLIED, THE SIENNA ROLLED BACK AS THOUGH IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. WE BROUGHT THE SIENNA TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHO INSPECTED IT. THEY TOLD US THE PIN THAT ENABLES THE BRAKES UPON PLACING THE SIENNA IN PARK WAS COMPLETELY SHOT AND THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAS NEVER SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE AND THAT THESE PINS DON'T WEAR OUT OVER TIME. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO TOLD US THAT YOU WOULD ONLY SEE DAMAGE TO THE PIN IF YOU WERE DRIVING THE CAR AND THEN SUDDENLY PUT IT INTO PARK WHILE MOVING AT A HIGH SPEED. THE SERVICE MANAGER CONTACTED THE OFFICES OF TOYOTA CORPORATE AND HAD THE CASE REVIEWED. IT WAS DETERMINED BY TOYOTA CORPORATE TO BE RELATED TO THE WARRANTY AND THEY ARE REPLACING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. *TR