2004 TOYOTA SIENNA Complaints

CONSUMER IS ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *TC

THE DVD PLAYER IN THE REAR HAS BEEN ADVERTISED TO BE FOR ALL PASSENGERS IN THE REAR SEATS. IT ALSO CLEARLY HAS TWO POSITIONS TO THE SCREEN AND APPEARS TO HAVE BOTH POSITIONS SO THAT WHEN CHILDREN OF LEGAL SIZE AND AGE ARE SITTING IN THE MIDDLE AREA THEY CAN SEE THE SCREEN VS IT LOOK LIKE A NEGATIVE (PHOTO FILM). THE DVD SCREEN IN OUR NEW SIENNA DOES NOT WANT TO STAY IN THE REAR-MOST POSITION. THE SCREEN CAN NOT BE VIEWED FROM THESE MIDDLE SEATS UNLESS A PERSON IS AS TALL AS THE HEAD RESTS W/OUT THE SCREEN BEING IN THIS REAR-MOST POSITION. HENCE I DRIVE AND CONSTANTLY REMOVE MY HAND FROM THE WHEEL, CHANGE MY STATURE AND FOCUS OF DRIVING TO REPOSITION THE SCREEN BECAUSE WITH EVERY BUMP OR EXPANSION JOINT MY CHILD REQUESTS, "PUT IT BACK PLEASE." "PUT IT BACK PLEASE." "PUT IT BACK PLEASE". TOYOTA TOTES QUALITY BUT THIS IS POOR DESIGN AND IT WILL GET WORSE AS THE CAR LOOSENS FROM WEAR. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS WHAT WAS INTENDED FOR THE DESIGN. THE DEALER STATES THAT IT'S OPERATING NORMALLY. I ASKED FOR A TECHNICAL BULLETIN DESCRIBE THE DESIGN OF THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM. THIS HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED TO DATE. *NM

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT DELAY, DEAD SPOT OR TROUBLE DECIDING WHAT GEAR IT WANTS TO BE IN. PRIMARILY WHEN ACCELERATING IF HESITATION OR A LIFTING OF THE PEDAL TAKES PLACE AND THEN GAS IS APPLIED AGAIN THE CAR LURCHES AFTER HESITATION AND DOWNSHIFTS JERKING THE CAR. THIS CAN'T POSSIBLY BE HEALTHY FOR THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION LONG TERM AS WELL AS OTHER CAR PARTS. I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY DRIVING HABITS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE POOR DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION. I'VE REGISTERED MY COMPLAINT W/THE DEALER AND THEY'VE CHECKED TO SEE IF THE LATEST SOFTWARE WAS ON MY VEHICLE AND IT WAS. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS TYPE. THE MAJOR CONCERN IS LONG TERM AND IF MY TRANSMISSION GOES BAD 3-5-7-10 YEARS FROM NOW, HOW MUCH OF THIS IS ACTUALLY TOYOTA'S FAULT FROM POOR DESIGN BUT THEN I HAVE TO INCUR THE COST. AT A LARGE PRICE TAG INITIALLY THIS IS NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER. *NM

THE STEERING SENSOR IS CAUSING THE TRACTION CONTROL TO COME TO A HALT AND SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CHECKUP FOR THE SIXTH TIME AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE STEERING LOCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *NM

I LIVE ON THE US-CANADIAN BORDER IN NORTH DAKOTA. WE HAVE A LOT OF SNOW AND VERY COLD WINTERS. WE HAVE FOUND THAT AS WE DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY SNOW THAT ACCUMULATES ON THE ROOF THAT MELTS DRIPS DOWN INTO THE SLIDING DOORS ON BOTH SIDES. THE RUBBER SEAL CATCHES THE WATER, AS IT SHOULD, AND THEN THE WATER REFREEZES, SOMETIMES IN A MATTER OF SECONDS DUE TO THE EXTREME COLD. THIS CAUSES THE DOORS TO FREEZE SHUT. NO AMOUNT OF PULLING OR PUSHING WILL OPEN THEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCAISIONS. WE HAD HOPED THAT ONCE TEMPS. STAYED BELOW FREEZING AS THEY DO DEC.-FEB. IT WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM, BUT APPARENTLY JUST DRIVING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE SNOW TO MELT THUS CAUSING THE FREEZING DOOR PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE: 1) I CANNOT GET MY 3 CHILDREN INTO THE VEHICLE AND 2) IF WE WERE IN A CRASH AND THE DOORS FROZE SHUT I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET MY CHILDREN OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN A TIMELY MANNER. *AK I HAVE CONTACTED TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERS. NEITHER DEALER HAD HEARD OF THE PROBLEM OR OFFERED ANY SOLUTION. I CONTACTED THE NATIONAL NUMBER FOR TOYOTA AND FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT. THEY TOO, HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM AND DID NOT OFFER ANY SOLUTIONS.

THIS IS REGARDING THE 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN. IT IS NOT A FAILURE, BUT A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAN BE CORRECTED BY REPLACING A COMPONENT OR ADDING NEW COMPONENTS. WHEN THE AUDIO ON DVDS IS PLAYED THROUGH THE AUX IN-CABIN SPEAKER SYSTEM, THE VOLUME MUST BE SET AT ABOUT 50 TO HEAR IT. THE SOUND SYSTEM DOES NOT INCLUDE A MEMORY RECALL FOR THE VOLUME OF EACH SOURCE. THE RESULT IS THAT WHEN THE DVD IS TURNED OFF, THE SOUND SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO RADIO OR CD, AT A TREMENDOUS VOLUME THAT HURTS THE EARDRUMS AND ALSO PRESENTS SERIOUS DANGER BECAUSE OF THE DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER FROM THE SUDDEN BOOMING VOLUME, AND ITS EFFECT ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS, INCLUDING INFANTS. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THE VAN AND INSTALL NEW COMPONENTS-- MORE SPECIFICALLY, MEMORY COMPONENTS TO CONTROL THE VOLUME OF THE VARIOUS AUDIO SOURCES BEING ROUTED TO SPEAKERS (CD, RADIO, DVD). NOTHING AS BEEN DONE YET BY THE DEALER TO CORRECT THIS, THOUGH AN INQUIRY TO TOYOTA HQ REMAINS OUTSTANDING.*AK

REAR SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK, MAKING IT UNSAFE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM , AND WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING MY TOYOTA VAN (SEINA 2004) AN ELEVEN YEAR OLD CHILD WAS ABLE TO WRAP THE SEAT BELT IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AROUND HIS NECK. THIS WAS DONE WHILE PLAYING IN THE BACKSEAT. HE BEGAN TO CHOCK AND REQUIRED A FIREMAN TO CUT THE BELT TO SAVE HIS LIFE. *JB

TOYOTA SIENNA AWD CAME WITH RUN-FLAT TIRES AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND NO SPARE. HAD A FLAT AND AUTO DEALER CLAIMED TIRE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, TIRE COULD NOT BE REPLACED FOR THREE DAYS, REPLACEMENT COST $280. STRANDED FOR THREE DAYS FAR FROM HOME. I OBJECT TO NOT PRIOR DISCLOSURES FROM AUTO DEALER OR MANUFACTURER CONCERNING LIMITED AVAILABILITY & REPAIRABLE, OR COST OF RUN-FLAT TIRES. *JB

THE REAR DOME LIGHTS ARE WIRED SUCH THAT THEY CAN BE TURNED ON BY PRESSING ON THEM (BY THE PERSON SITTING AT THAT PARTICULAR SEAT POSITION). IF THE LIGHT IS TURNED ON THIS WAY, IT WILL NOT TURN OFF UNTIL 1) THE DRIVER TURNS OFF ALL THE REAR INTERIOR LIGHTS BY USE OF A BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD OR 2) THE BATTERY DIES. THIS IS HAZARDOUS BECAUSE YOU RUN THE RISK OF YOUR BATTERY DYING IF YOU DON'T MANUALLY OVERRIDE AND TURN OFF ALL REAR LIGHTS. IF YOU DO MANUALLY OVERRIDE AND TURN OFF ALL THE REAR LIGHTS, THEN WHEN THE REAR DOORS ARE OPENED, NO LIGHTS TURN ON. AT NIGHTTIME, YOU CANNOT SEE WHERE YOUR FEET ARE GOING, AND IT IS VERY EASY TO TRIP OVER ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE ON THE FLOOR (OR YOUR OWN FEET) (THE MANUAL OVERRIDE NOT ONLY TURNS OFF THE DOME LIGHTS ABOVE THE PASSENGER, BUT ALSO TURNS OFF THE COURTESY LIGHTS WHICH WOULD NORMALLY SHINE ON THE FLOOR OF THE VAN WHEN THE REAR DOORS ARE OPENED. *AK