2011 TOYOTA SIENNA Complaints

TMS-NTC-13142 I HAVE A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA SE WITH 19" RIMS AND TIRES WHICH FAILED TO MEET THE NHTSA TEST FOR TIRE LOADING AND AS A RESULT TOYOTA SENT OUT A RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE THE TIRES WITH EXTRA LOAD TIRES. HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT HONORING THEIR REQUIREMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE REQUIRING THE TOW HITCH BE A OEM PRODUCT WHICH DOES NOT EXIST. THEY SOLD THESE VANS WITH A TOW PACKAGE BUT NOT WITH A TOW HITCH. TOYOTA DOES NOT SELL OEM TOW HITCHES INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH. AS A RESULT, CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE A AFTER MARKET TOW HITCH. NOW THAT THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE EXCEEDS THE TIRE RATINGS AND THEY ARE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE WHEELS, TOYOTA IS REQUIRING THEIR DEALERSHIPS TO ONLY REPLACE WHEELS IF THE VAN IS EQUIPPED WITH AN OEM TOW HITCH WHICH AGAIN DOES NOT EXIST. IN OTHER WORDS, TOYOTA IS NOT HONORING THEIR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA 4 TIMES AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS 4 TIMES WITH NO AVAIL. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILY'S SAFETY WHEN WE PULL OUR TRAILERS. PLEASE HELP. *TR

EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR TO VEHICLE FRONT TIRES DETECTED AFTER 5,846 MILES. ALIGNMENT CHECKED BY DEALER. NEW FRONT TIRES WERE INSTALLED USING A 65,000 MILE RATED TIRE. AT 22,000 (16,000 MILES FROM TIME OF REPLACEMENT) EXCESSIVE WEAR (TO STEEL CORDS) NOTED TO NEW FRONT TIRES. MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THERE IS NO MECHANICAL/DESIGN DEFECT IN VEHICLE. EXCESSIVE AND PREMATURE TIRE WEAR IS CREATING POTENTIALLY UNSAFE DRIVING/OPERATING CONDITIONS. *TR

BOUGHT OUR 2011 SIENNA NEW OFF THE LOT BACK IN 2011 AND WE ARE NOW ON OUR 2ND SET OF NEW TIRES (3RD IN SOME CASES THAT 2 NEEDED REPLACING). A TOTAL OF 6 NEW TIRES WITH A VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY 30,000 MILES ON IT IS RIDICULOUS. I HAVE CALLED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND NOW OUR VAN SITS IN OUR DRIVEWAY LIKE A DEAD WEIGHT. WE HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT ON US ALREADY A FEW MONTHS AGO IN WHICH WE HAD TO REPLACE IT. THEY GO BALD VERY FAST AND ARE NO GOOD IN BAD WEATHER. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE IN WHICH I HAD TO REPLACE TIRES THIS OFTEN. IT ALMOST CAUSED US A WRECK WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT AND WE CANT KEEP UP WITH THE COSTS OF REPLACING THEM SINCE THEY ARE SO EXPENSIVE. *TR

THIS IS FOR A SIENNA 2011 WITH AWD THAT I PURCHASED NEW IN OCT 2010. AT APPROXIMATELY 27,000 MILES, TOYOTA DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF RUN FLAT TIRES WITH BRIDGESTONE TURANZA RUN FLATS. AT 45,000 MILES, SAME DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF TIRES AGAIN. THEY NOW RECOMMEND A NON RUN FLAT TIRE. THIS WILL BE THIRD SET OF TIRES FOR THIS VEHICLE THAT IS 3 YRS OLD AND HAS BEEN SERVICED BY TOYOTA EVERY 5,000 MILES. THERE APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR OF RUN FLAT TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ISSUE AND REPLACE THESE TIRES. *TR

I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY VAN INSIDE A CAMPSITE, DRIVING AT APPROX 1.2 MPH WHEN MY VAN TOOK OFF LIKE A ROCKET. I COULDN'T STOP THE CAR EVEN BY BRAKING. LUCKILY MY VAN WENT INTO A DITCH, AIRBAGS OPENED UP, VAN WENT DOWN THE DITCH AND CAME UP AT AN ANGLE AND STOPPED. I WAS BADLY HURT AND PASSED OUT FOR FEW MINUTES, TAKEN TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM. THE 16 PAGE REPORT ORDERED BY TOYOTA THRU' A 3RD PARTY CLEARLY SHOWED THAT THE CAR WENT FROM 1.2 MPH TO 31.5 MPH, ENGINE RPM WENT FROM 800 TO 4800 RPM IN 4.2 SECS. I CHECKED WITH A REPUTABLE AUTO MECHANIC. HE COMMENTED THAT NO ONE CAN MANUALLY RAMP THE ENGINE RPM TO 4800 RPM. IT IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE WITH TOYOTA'S ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. TOYOTA HAS DENIED ANY ISSUE WITH THEIR CAR IN A LETTER TO ME.I WANT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMIN TO TAKE MY CASE AGAINST TOYOTA. I WILL BE GLAD TO EMAIL THE REPORT AND TOYOTA LETTER TO YOU. PLEASE REPLY SOON. *TR

MY SIENNA FALLS UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL FOR UNSAFE TIRES FOR SIENNAS USED FOR TOWING, BUT THE DEALER REFUSES TO PROVIDE THE EXTRA LOAD TIRES BECAUSE MY HITCH WAS INSTALLED AFTERMARKET. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH THE TOWING PACKAGE, HOWEVER I WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER TO GET THE HITCH INSTALLED ELSEWHERE TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY. REGARDLESS OF THAT FACT, I FAIL TO SEE HOW WHERE THE HITCH WAS INSTALLED MAKES THE TIRES SAFE VS. UNSAFE. TOYOTA IS CLEARLY HIDING BEHIND AN ARBITRARY POLICY. I USE THE VEHICLE FOR TOWING. ONE TIRE IS BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS OF EARLY FAILURE. TOYOTA NEEDS TO PROVIDE THE EXTRA LOAD TIRES ASAP. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. TOYOTA NEEDS TO COMPLY WITH THE RECALL. *TR

COMING AROUND A TURN AT 10 MPH, THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE BLEW OUT, WITH A TOTAL LOSS OF PRESSURE AND A WHOOSH OF AIR. THE TIRES WERE PROPERLY INFLATED AT THE TIME. THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT LIT. THE TIRES HAVE ONLY 23,547 MILES ON THEM. I DO NOT FEEL A TIRE THAT IS 2 YEARS OLD WITH THIS NUMBER OF MILES SHOULD SUFFER A COMPLETE FAILURE. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THAT OF MY FAMILY. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT, THIS TIME. *TR

ON JULY 1ST 2013 I RECEIVED NOTICE OF A SAFETY RECALL, DUE TO RISK OF TIRE FAILURE AND A CRASH, WHEN TOWING WITH MY TOYOTA SIENNA. THE RECALL INDICATED THAT IF THE VEHICLE HAS A TOW HITCH, THE FACTORY INSTALLED TIRES WOULD BE REPLACED WITH NEW EXTRA LOAD TIRES. I HAD ALREADY REPLACED MY FACTORY INSTALLED RUN FLAT TIRES WITH NEW EXTRA LOAD TIRES AFTER ONE OF THE FACTORY INSTALLED RUN FLATS FAILED. I CONTACTED TOYOTA ON JULY 1ST TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY EXPENSE. ON 9/18/13 TOYOTA INFORMED ME THAT THE DEALER WOULD INSPECT MY CAR TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT QUALIFIES. ON 9/20 DCH TOYOTA INSPECTED THE CAR AND INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR IS NOT ELIGIBLE BECAUSE MY TRAILER HITCH IS NOT A TOYOTA BRAND TRAILER HITCH. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR, TOYOTA DID NOT HAVE TOYOTA HITCHES AVAILABLE AND RECOMMENDED WE GET ONE FROM HITCH, WHICH WE DID. NOW WE ARE TOLD THAT TOYOTA ISN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECALL BECAUSE THE HITCH ISN'T A TOYOTA BRAND. I SPOKE WITH A SUPERVISOR AT THE TOYOTA COMPANY TODAY, WHO VERIFIED THIS. THIS SEEMS IRRESPONSIBLE AND WRONG. THE CAR, WITH THE FACTORY INSTALLED RUN FLAT TIRES, WAS IMPROPERLY RATED FOR TOWING, MAKING MY VEHICLE UNSAFE TO USE FOR TOWING, REGARDLESS OF THE BRAND OF TRAILER HITCH BEING USED. TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE TIRES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS IMPROPERLY RATED FOR TOWING UNLESS THE TIRES ARE REPLACED. TOYOTA INSISTS THAT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION APPROVED THEIR PLAN TO REPLACE THE TIRES AND RENDER THE CAR SAFE FOR TOWING ONLY IF THE CONSUMER IS USING A TOYOTA HITCH. THERE MUST BE SOME MISUNDERSTANDING, AND I AM ASKING THAT YOU REVIEW AND REVISE THE AGREEMENT SO THAT ALL OWNERS OF TOYOTA SIENNAS THAT WERE IMPROPERLY RATED FOR TOWING WILL BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, EVEN IF THEIR TRAILER HITCH IS NOT A TOYOTA-BRAND HITCH. *JS

A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, WE RECEIVED AN URGENT SAFETY RECALL LETTER FROM TOYOTA REGARDING THE TYPE OF TIRES THAT ARE ON OUR 2011 SIENNA. WHEN WE ORDERED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2010, IT WAS WITH FULL UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAD TO HAVE A VEHICLE WITH A HITCH, AS MY HUSBAND HAS A MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR THAT MUST BE PLACED ON A RACK BEHIND OUR VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP IN SIOUX CITY, IOWA (RICK COLLINS) STATED THAT WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE ARRIVED HERE IN SIOUX CITY FROM THE MANUFACTURER, WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS NEW MODEL OF SIENNA DID NOT HAVE A HITCH ON IT YET, AS IT HAD NOT FINISHED BEING DESIGNED, BUT THE DEALERSHIP HAD ONE AND WOULD PUT IT ON BEFORE WE TOOK IT. NOW WE GOT THE RECALL LETTER STATING THAT THE DOOR PLACARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE, PLUS WE EITHER HAD TO TAKE OFF THE HITCH OR THE DEALER MUST CHANGE OUT THE TIRES TO EXTRA LOAD TIRES AT NO CHARGE TO US. SINCE WE CANNOT GO WITHOUT THE HITCH, MY HUSBAND TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY THEN NEEDED TO PUT NEW TIRES ON OUR CAR AT THE DEALERS EXPENSE. THEY REFUSE TO DO THAT STATING THAT THE HITCH IS AFTER MARKET. BUT IT IS NOT AFTER MARKET. RICK COLLINS TOYOTA INSTALLED THE HITCH BEFORE THE CAR WAS EVER IN OUR HANDS. THEY DEFINITELY KNEW THAT WE WOULD NOT AND COULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED A VEHICLE THAT DID NOT HAVE A HITCH. NOW WE ARE AFRAID TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF TOWN KNOWING ABOUT THE SAFETY CONCERNS. WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET THIS RESOLVED? GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP IS DEFINITELY NOT THE ANSWER, AS THEY ARE CLAIMING ALL THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO IS CHANGE OUT THE PLACARD, BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THE LETTER STATES. OBVIOUSLY WE WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA, AS WE HAVE A HASSLE WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT EVERY TIME WE GO IN THERE. AFTER 4 TRIPS THERE TO GET THE REMOTE START FIXED, WE FINALLY DID TAKE THE CAR SOMEWHERE ELSE TO GET THAT ISSUE RESOLVED. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2011 AWD LIMITED SIENNA AND WITHIN 4,000 MILES OF ME OWNING IT (BOUGHT CERTIFIED PREOWNED FROM TOYOTA) I FAILED INSPECTION FOR TIRES. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES (BY TOYOTA) AND THEY PUT RUN FLAT BRIDGESTONE'S ON. AGAIN...ABOUT 15,000 MILES LATER, I AM AGAIN RUNNING ON TIRES THAT ARE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED FOR IRREGULAR WEAR. TOLD MY MECHANIC THAT THE TIRES ARE NOT SAFE. TOYOTA SAID THERE ARE NO ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE (SUSPENSION AND ALIGNMENT ARE PERFECT). SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? I AM DRIVING 3 SMALL CHILDREN IN THIS VEHICLE AND THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN! *JS