1999 TOYOTA SIENNA Complaints

LATCH ON VAN'S BACK HATCH DOOR BROKE DURING OPENING, CAUSING INABILITY TO OPEN BACK HATCH DOOR. NO EXCESSIVE PRESSURE WAS USED DURING OPENING, ONLY THE NORMAL GRIPPING MOTION TO OPEN THE LATCH. WHEN BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP WE PURCHASED VAN FROM, WE WERE QUOTED $350, AS THEY NEEDED TO "TAKE THE WHOLE DOOR APART." WE TOOK THE VAN TO TWO OTHER PLACES FOR AN ESTIMATE, BOTH WHICH THOUGHT THIS WAS A RECALL ISSUE (THOUGH ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE). FINALLY WE BROUGHT THE VAN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO ORDERED THE $45 TOYOTA PART, AND HE WAS ABLE TO PLACE IT IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES WITHOUT TAKING THE DOOR APART. *NM

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN, IN MAY, 1999, I NOTICED A SEVERE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I COULD NOT LET GO OF MY STEERING WHEEL FOR EVEN A SECOND OR THIS VEHICLE WOULD PULL. I TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (NEILL SANDLER IN MURFREESBORO, TN) AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I TOOK IT ANOTHER DEALER AND THE LADY WORKING THERE JUST ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN MY HEAD. LATER I TRIED TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY WOULD NOT DIAGNOSE IT SINCE I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE OTHER DEALERSHIP - WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. RIGHT BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, IN 2002, MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE LADY THERE STILL ACTED LIKE WE WERE CRAZY. LUCKILY, THE SERVICE MANAGER OVERHEARD OUR CONVERSATION AND OFFERED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. AFTER RETURNING FROM HIS DRIVE, HE STATED THAT IT WAS THE WORSE DRIVEN VEHICLE HE HAD EVER BEEN IN. THEY ENDED UP BENDING THE FRAME AS THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE "SOLVED" ANY OTHER WAY AND HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT AFTER BUYING NEW TIRES IT WOULD BE BETTER, AND IT WAS, FOR A WHILE. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH IT, AND HAVE PURCHASED AT LEAST THREE SETS OF FRONT TIRES FOR THE VEHICLE. IT CONTINUES TO PULL AND WE JUST THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE WORTH MENTIONING AFTER SEEING YOUR WEBSITE. *JB

WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE TAILGATE/TRUNK ON MY VAN THE PLASTIC PIECE THAT I WOULD USE TO OPEN THE TRUNK SNAPPED AND BROKE. NOW I CAN NOT OPEN THE LATCH, CHANGE THE LIGHTS THAT ARE A SAFETY CONCERN. THIS PART WAS VERY FLIMSY AND PLASTIC IN NATURE AND WE DID NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY THAN WE USUALLY WOULD DO BUT NOW WE CAN NOT USE THE TRUNK AT ALL. *JB

ON BACK DOOR OF MINIVAN, THE OUTSIDE HANDLE BROKE WHEN WE SQUEEZED IT TO OPEN. THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED. WHY IS THERE NO RELEASE FROM THE INSIDE? THE QUOTE TO FIX IS $275-300. ALSO, ON THE REAR SLIDING DOOR (DRIVER SIDE, NOT AN AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR), THE PUSH-BUTTON LATCH "STICKS" SO THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSING; WE HAVE TO PRY THE PUSH-BUTTON OUT WITH A KEY OR SCREW DRIVER SO THE DOOR WILL LATCH. *JB

1999 TOYOTA SIENNA ENGINE FROZE UP UNEXPECTEDLY. WAS ADVISED IT WAS POSSIBLY A SLUDGE PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED - USED - IN 2002 FROM A LOCAL DEALER WHO WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ESTIMATED $6850.00 ENGINE REPLACEMENT COST, EVEN THOUGH TOYOTA CHANGED THE ENGINE WARRANTY TO 8 YEARS/UNLIMITED MILEAGE.*JB

THIS COMPLIANT IS REGARDING TWO SPECIFIC SAFETY ISSUES WITH A 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA VEHICLE. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE REAR HATCH HANDLE HAS BROKEN. (3 HANDLES SO FAR) THERE IS NO RELEASE MECHANISM FROM THE INSIDE, SO THERE IS NO WAY TO GET OUT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF FIRE OR ACCIDENT DISABLING THE SIDE DOORS. THE PART IN QUESTION IS POORLY DESIGNED AND IS MADE OF PLASTIC. THE PLASTIC HANDLE IS UNDER SPRING TENSION AND ACCUATES A METAL PART TO RELEASE THE DOOR LATCH. THE PLASTIC IS TOO WEAK TO PUSH AGAINST THE METAL PART IN NORMAL USE. THE HANDLE SHOULD ALSO BE MADE OF METAL TO CURE THIS DEFECT. THE LATEST AND SECOND SAFETY DEFECT INVOLVES THE REAR REMOVABLE POD SEATS. THE SEAT TODAY WILL NOT LOCK IN THE NORMAL SEATED POSITION. AN OCCUPANT CAN PULL THE SEAT UP AND OUT OF THE TRACK IF THEY LEAN FORWARD ENOUGH. I WOULD ASSUME IN AN ACCIDENT THE ENTIRE SEAT WOULD FLY FORWARD AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *NM

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE WITH OUR SONS (AGES 3 AND 1) IN THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE DIED. SHE COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE STAYED IN VEHICLE AND KEPT THE BOYS IN THEIR CAR SEATS AS SHE WAS ALONG A MAJOR HIGHWAY. A ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE VEHICLE PULLED UP BEHIND HER WITHIN A MINUTE OR TWO. HE ASKED MY WIFE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. SHE TOLD HIM AND HE ASKED HER TO POP THE HOOD. SHE DID. HE OPENED IT AND FLAMES CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NEITHER HE NOR MY WIFE KNEW OR SUSPECTED A FIRE. NO FLAMES. NO SMOKE. NO SMELL. NO HEAT. HE YELLED TO MY WIFE TO GET HERSELF AND THE KIDS OUT OF THE CAR. SHE DID AND THEY WERE ALL UNHARMED. HE PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. OBVIOUSLY, MY WIFE AND CHILDREN PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD THAT ROAD SIDE ASSISTANT NOT BEEN THERE. FL HIGHWAY PATROL ARRIVED. THE FHP OFFICER FILED INCIDENT REPORT # FHPK05OFF042549. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT, TOYOTA OF ORLANDO (3800 W. COLONIAL DRIVE ORLANDO, FL 32808 407-298-4500) I VIDEO TAPED THE BURNED ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE FROM HEAD TO TOE AND WILL BE HAPPY TO SUBMIT A COPY TO YOU. I WAS CALLED BY A MR. MANNY COLON OF TOYOTA OF ORLANDO. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT SLUDGE BUILD UP WAS FOUND AND SAID THAT WAS PROBABLY THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. I HAVE RECORDS (WITH A DIFFERENT SHOP-GOODYEAR) SHOWING THAT THE OIL WAS CHANGED REGULARLY AND NOT TERRIBLY LONG AGO. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN EXTREMELY WELL DOCUMENTED (AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY TOYOTA) SLUDGE PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA'S - INCLUDING THE 99 SIENNA. I HAVE FOUND MANY ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET AND I AM COLLECTING THEM. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS ISSUE BY ANYONE. IF THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE, WHY ARE THESE VEHICLES BEING ALLOWED ON THE ROAD WITH FAMILIES AND CHILDREN RIDING IN THEM? MY ENTIRE FAMILY ALMOST DIED YESTERDAY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS. I DON'T WANT OTHERS TO DIE IF IT CAN BE AVOIDED. *NM

WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE HORN DID NOT WORK, I WENT TO MY NEAREST TOYOTA SERVICE AGENCY. HOWEVER, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE HORN WAS FUNCTIONAL AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A WEAR IN THE SYSTEM. THIS WORN OUT PART IS SUPPOSEDLY BETWEEN THE ROD OF THE WHEEL AND THE HORN, WHICH NO LONGER MAKES THE PROPER CONNECTION. AND YET, THIS CONNECTION IS SUITABLY RENDERED FROM THIS WORN OUT PART WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS COMPLETELY TURNED TO EITHER SIDE. THEY ESTIMATED A $1000 CHARGE TO FIX THIS MATTER. THEIR CONCLUSION WAS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THIS ISSUE COULD NOT BE SIMPLY REPLACED. THEY MENTIONED THAT THE ONLY REMEDY WAS TO CHANGE THE WHOLE SYSTEM. PERSONALLY, I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT IT''S SO EXPENSIVE TO FIX THIS DEFICIENCY. SOMETHING AS MINISCULE AS A BAD CONNECTOR SHOULD NOT IMPACT THE WHOLE SYSTEM UNLESS IT''S A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. BECAUSE OF THE SIMPLE FACT THAT MY HORN IS ONLY USED RARELY AND THE WAY THE MECHANICS REACTED TO THE PROBLEM, I FIND THAT THIS IS MOSTLY ''A SIENNA PROBLEM''.

98E035000 THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. THE ALARM GOES OFF WITHOUT REASON. THE CAR WILL NOT START ONCE THE ALARM GOES OFF WITHOUT REASON

DT: 99 TOYOTA SIENNA. CONSUMER STARTED HEARING A STRANGE NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. CONSUMER SAYS JUBRALTA TRANSMISSION SAID THAT AT ANY POINT TRANSMISSION COULD DIE. CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANTED $85 TO CHECK. VEHICLE STAYED WITH MECHANIC. AS PART OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE, TRANSMISSION FLUSH WAS BEING PERFORMED AND THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL. CONSUMER THAT FLUSH COULD FINISH OFF TRANSMISSION. *TT