2004 TOYOTA SIENNA Complaints

MAJOR TIRE WEAR LIKE THE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS. REPLACED WITHOUT WARRANTY AT 23K MILES. IS THERE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS NECESSARY FOR INVESTIGATION? THESE TIRES OR THE TOYOTA SIENNA HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM! INVESTIGATE IT PLEASE BEFORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED LIKE THE FIRESTONE ISSUE. *JB

5 YEAR OLD SON HAD WRIST BROKEN BY AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR IN MINIVAN. DOOR CLOSED ON HIS WRIST, FRACTURING BOTH ARM BONES. DOOR CLOSED ON HIS ARM AND DID NOT RE-OPEN IMMEDIATELY AS DOOR IS DESIGNED TO DO. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE EVERY TIME IT WAS STARTED. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF ANY ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SALES DEALER THREE TIMES, AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. UPDATE ONH 06/05/2006. *AK

THE REAR DECK LID ON MY 2004 SIENNA XLE LIMITED VAN HAS A REMOTE AUTOMATIC OPEN & CLOSE FEATURE. I USED THE AUTO OPEN AND WHILE PLACING ITEMS IN THE REAR STORAGE AREA, THE DECK LID CLOSED (UNDER POWER) WITHOUT COMMAND, STRIKING ME AND MY SON. THE AUTO-STOP FEATURE DIDN'T ENGAGE UNTIL I PUSHED VERY HARD AGAINST THE LID. AS SOON AS I LET GO, IT CAME DOWN AGAIN. THERE WERE NO PRIOR INCIDENTS OR ANY UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR TO INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH THE OPERATION OF THE DECK LID. THE LID HASN'T WORKED SINCE AND IT WON'T STAY OPEN WITHOUT SOMEONE HOLDING IT. A WEEK AFTER THE INCIDENT I FOUND A TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BO0003-04 THAT STATES "BACK DOOR STAYS FOR 2004 MODEL YEAR SIENNA VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE IMPROVED RESISTANCE TO SEAL DAMAGE AND PREVENT LEAKAGE." I CHECKED MY BACK DOOR STAYS (GAS OR HYDRAULIC FILLED STRUTS) AND THEY WERE BOTH LEAKING. I CHECKED THE INTERNET USER FORUM "SIENNACLUB.ORG" AND FOUND SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM SIENNA OWNERS IN THE U.S. AND CANADA. IN MY OPINION, THE UNCOMMANDED CLOSING OF A REAR DECK LID IN A MINI-VAN CONSTITUTES A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. JUST A GUESS, MOST MINI-VAN OWNERS HAVE OR TRANSPORT CHILDREN. THERE IS NO WAY A CHILD COULD HAVE STOPPED AND REVERSED THE LID THAT CLOSED ON ME AND MY SON. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE, NOT A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT TOYOTA IS NOT REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE AND IN FACT, CAN CHARGE TO REPAIR. *NM

THE RUN-FLAT TIRE ON OUR TOYOTA SIENNA AWD WENT FLAT, REQUIRING A REPLACEMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, OUT OF ALL THE TIRE STORES, ONLY THE TOYOTA DEALER HAD A REPLACEMENT TIRE IN STOCK. EVERY OTHER PLACE REQUIRED A MINIMUM OF 5 DAYS TO GET THE TIRE. WE WERE OUT OF TOWN AT THE TIME. WHAT WAS INTERESTING, WAS THAT WHEN THEY REPLACED THE TIRE, THEY SAID THERE WAS A GASH IN THE SIDEWALL -- IT WASN'T ANYTHING THAT WAS DRIVEN OVER. WHAT I FOUND MORE INTERESTING WAS WHEN I TALKED TO MY BROTHER IN AL WHO HAS THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE, HE SAID THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE A TIRE EARLIER IN THE YEAR, BECAUSE OF A RIP IN THE SIDEWALL. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED EVERY 30,000 MILES. DURING FAILURE, THE STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO TURN. THIS OCCURRED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING SHAFT HAD LEAKED ALL OF THE STEERING FLUID.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE RUN FLAT TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WORE OUT AT 20,000 MILES. TIRES WERE ORDERED THROUGH A TIRE CENTER HOWEVER WHEN THE TIRES ARRIVED THE MECHANIC DID NOT HAVE THE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO CHANGE THE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WITH FOUR REGULAR SAME SIZE TIRES. THE VEHICLE IS AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE. THE RUN FLAT TIRES ARE CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP THEREFORE THE TIRE INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE TIRES ARE DUNLOP. THE TIRE SIZE IS P2560R17. *AK UPDATED 05/02/06. *JB

ON MARCH 19, 2006 WE FOUND THE REAR CARGO AREA OF OUR 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA FILLED WITH ABOUT AN INCH OF RAIN AND MILDEW BEGINNING TO GROW. AFTER INSPECTING OUR VEHICLE THE DEALER FOUND A POOR SEAL UNDER OUR DOOR AND THE REMEDY WAS CAULKING. AND ACCORDING TO THEM THERE WAS NO MOLD IN THE CARPET. SO I HAVE DECIDED TO HIRE A MILDEW SPECIALIST TO TEST MY VEHICLE. SINCE REPORTING MY SITUATION TO THEM (GOING ON 3 WEEKS) THEY HAVE STILL NOT CHANGED MY CARPET AND THEY ARE NOT PERMITTING US TO USE A LOANER SAYING IT IS NOT COVERED IN THE WARRANTY AND ITS STILL DRIVABLE. BUT I HAVE THREE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 10 AND I REFUSE TO DRIVE THEM AROUND IN A CARE THAT COULD HARM THEM. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PROVE IT BUT I THINK THE REASON MY CHILDREN AND I GOT SICK 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO FINDING THE LEAK WAS DUE TO THE MILDEW GROWTH THAT WAS BEGINNING. I VISITED THE DOCTOR WITH DRY MOUTH, HEADACHES, DIZZINESS, VOMITING AND ETC. WITH NO DIAGNOSIS OR ANSWERS AVAILABLE FROM MY DOCTOR, I VISITED THE ER TWICE WITH PNEUMONIA AND SO ON. BUT SINCE WE DECIDED NOT TO USE OUR CAR UNTIL THEY FIX IT, MY CHILDREN AND I HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY CURED. WE NEED TO HAVE BETTER WAYS OF GETTING EFFECTIVE OUTCOMES. THIS INVESTMENT HAS TOTALLY TURNED OUT FOR THE WORST. WHAT A WASTE OF $31,000. *JB

I HAVE 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA WITH DUNLOP RUNFLAT TIRES. AFTER 20,000 MILES I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. AT FIRST I WAS TOLD I DID NOT ROTATE THEM PROPERLY BUT AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS THERE ARE PAGES OF INFORMATION ONLINE DOCUMENTING THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES WEARING OUT TO QUICKLY. WHEN CONTACTING THE DEALER THEY AGREE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND DUNLOP AGREES THEY KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT NEITHER WANT TO TAKE 100 PERCENT OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE INFERIOR TIRES. THE TIRES CAN ONLY BE REPLACED WITH DUNLOP OR BRIDGSTONE RUNFLATS. SINCE THERE ISN'T ROOM IN THE CAR TO STORE A SPARE WE DON'T EVEN HAVE AN OPTION OF REPLACING THE TIRE WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND THAT IS NOT A RUN FLAT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION ONLINE THERE HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR TO EARLY AND I HAVE NOTICED A COUPLE OF LAW SUITS ALREADY PLACED. THESE TIRES COST 250.00 PER TIRE WITH THE ADDITIONAL COST OF MOUNTING, BALANCING AND ALIGNMENT FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $1200.00.. DUNLOP AGREED TO PAY %50 OF THE FEE WHICH STILL WILL COST ME $611.00 OR TOYOTA WILL PAY %500.00 AS A GOOD FAITH CREDIT WHICH STILL LEAVES ME WITH A BILL OF $700.00. THIS IS STILL A LOT OF MONEY ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES AND THE NEW ONES WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO BE REPLACED IN 20,000 MILES. *JB

BATTERY SAVER FEATURE DISCUSSED IN OWNER'S MANUAL FOR 2004 SIENNA DOES NOT WORK. SLIDING DOOR INADVERTENTLY LEFT OPEN FOR 3 HOURS WHILE VISITING COUNTRY FRIENDS. BATTERY DRAINED TO POINT ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. HAD TO CONNECT BATTERY CHARGER IN COLD RAIN TO CRANK. OWNERS CAMPING OUT WITH THIS VEHICLE MAY FIND THEMSELVES STRANDED AND COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN LOSS OF LIFE. *JB