2006 TOYOTA SIENNA Complaints

RUN FLAT TIRES NEEDING REPLACEMENT ONLY AFTER 2 YEARS OF OWNING THE CAR. 2 BLOWOUTS ON THE FREEWAY DUE TO NO DIRECT TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR TO ALERT US OF THE FLAT TIRE. THE LIGHT ONLY GOES ON AFTER THE TIRE IS BLOWN. THE FIRST BLOW OUT, I DROVE IT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. TOTAL COST OF REPLACEMENT $350 FOR TIRE. I THEN HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE "INDIRECT" TIRE SENSOR LIGHT COMING ON. I CALLED THE DEALER BACK, HE TOLD ME TO IGNORE THE LIGHT BECAUSE THE COLD OUTSIDE WAS CAUSING IT TO GO ON. I DROVE IT BACK ANYWAY, THEY CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE, PUT SOME MORE AIR IN AND SENT ME HOME WITH MY SENSOR LIGHT STILL LIT. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER A FEW WEEKS LATER, THEY SAID IT WAS A LEAKY VALVE. THEY REPLACED THE VALVE, FILLED THE TIRE WITH AIR AND SENT ME HOME. LESS THAN 5 DAYS LATER, ANOTHER BLOWOUT ON THE FREEWAY. I DROVE IT TO THE NEAREST TIRE STORE. THEY COULD NOT DO THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE TIRE WOULD RUIN THEIR MACHINE. "IT'S HARDER TO BREAK DOWN" AND TAKE OFF. I WAS SENT TO ANOTHER TIRE STORE. THEY WERE ABLE TO REMOVE THE TIRE AND REPLACE THEM WITH REGULAR TIRES. NOW, I DON'T HAVE RUN FLATS ANYMORE, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE EXCESSIVE COST TO KEEP REPLACING THESE EXPENSIVE TIRES. THE DEALER TOLD ME AT THE TIME OF THE PURCHASE THAT IT WAS A "DREAM" FOR MOM'S TRANSPORTING KIDS BECAUSE I WOULDN'T HAVE TO CHANGE TO A SPARE IF THE TIRE WENT FLAT. THAT THE CARE WAS SAFER THAN SAFE. THE MANAGER OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ALSO TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY THAT I GOT 40,000 MILES OUT OF THEM. BOTH TIRES BLEW OUT ON THE FREEWAY, I ROLLED THE CAR IN AT 25 MILES PER HOUR, ON THE RIM, WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. I DID IT SAFELY WITH MY DRIVING, NOT BECAUSE OF THE RUN-FLAT TIRES. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR WITH RUN-FLAT TIRES. THEY DIDN'T TELL ME HOW EXPENSIVE THEY WERE TO REPLACE AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THEM SO FREQUENTLY. ALSO THAT THE TIRE SENSOR IS INDIRECT. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHEN THE TIRES WERE JUST GETTING LOW, ONLY WHEN COMPLETELY FLAT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA AND A DOREL SAFETY 1ST ALPHA OMEGA ALL-IN-ONE CHILD SEAT, MODEL 22-152-BVL (NA). THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON FEBRUARY 23, 2007. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO INSERT HER SAFETY SEAT INTO THE VEHICLE USING THE LATCH SYSTEM, THE SEAT WOULD NOT ATTACH PROPERLY. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, SHE NOTICED THAT THE LOWER ANCHORS HAD A BENT HOOK, WHICH PREVENTED PROPER ATTACHMENT. THE CHILD IS 27 MONTHS AND WEIGHS 31.8 LBS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE COMPONENT WAS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM AND SUBJECT TO SPONTANEOUS FAILURE. THE CONTACT STILL HAS POSSESSION OF THE SEAT. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 03-09-09 *BF UPDATED 03/13/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ALL FOUR TIRES BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES, BUT DID NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE INFORMATION WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDATED 01-26-09 *BF

RE: SAFETY PROBLEM WITH 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE, OUR SIENNA IS NOT SAFE. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE WHEELS WERE SPINNING WHEN WE TRIED TO DRIVE AFTER STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGN, AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, OR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION, BECAUSE IT PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM MERGING INTO OR ESCAPING FROM HEAVY TRAFFIC OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA. IT HAPPENED IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER AND ROAD SURFACE CONDITIONS. I AM A VERY CAREFUL DRIVER; I SPEND A LOT OF TIME DRIVING MY THREE YOUNG CHILDREN. I NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT AND I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SPINNING TIRES ON ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE DRIVEN. WE CONTACTED OUR DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA COMPANY. THEIR FIRST RESPONSE WAS THAT IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. AFTER OUR INTERVENTION THE DEALERSHIP AGREED TO DRIVE TEST OUR CAR. THE TEST WAS PERFORMED BY ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES (NOT CLEAR IF HE HAD ANY CAR SAFETY INSPECTION TRAINING). HE TOOK OUR CAR FOR A SHORT DRIVE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ALONE, IN THE PERFECT WEATHER, REPORTING BACK THAT HE DID NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEM. THE TEST DRIVE WAS A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME. WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR USUALLY WHEN THERE IS MORE THAN ONE PERSON IN THE CAR, DURING THE RAIN ETC; IN OTHER WORDS, IN AVERAGE DRIVING CONDITIONS. SINCE THE TEST WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN, MANY TIMES. I BELIEVE WE ARE NOT THE ONLY OWNERS OF SIENNA, WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I OBSERVED IT SEVERAL TIMES ON THE STREET, WITH OTHER SIENNAS. ALSO, MY INFORMAL POLL AMONG OUR FRIENDS GAVE THE SAME RESULTS. *TR

OUR 2006 TOYOTA MINI-VAN LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE JUST HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON, RESET IT SEVERAL TIMES AND VERIFIED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE IS GOOD IN ALL 5 TIRES. WE ARE NOT SURE IF WE SHOULD TRUST IT OR NOT AND FEEL THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. IT HAS 41K MI AND THE TOYOTA DEALER WAS RUDE AND SAID WOULD ONLY SAY BRING IT IN FOR A $95 DIAGNOSTIC. CHECKING THE WEB THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM....LOTS OF FORUMS. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER POWER DOOR HAS FAILED. SOMETIMES IT WILL OPEN WHEN THE BUTTONS ARE PRESSED- AND THEN IT WILL NOT CLOSE. I HAVE TO MANUALLY CLOSE THE DOOR. WAS TOLD WARRANTY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT AT 39K MILES. I FEEL THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

I ALWAYS USE THE KEYFOB TO OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR. FIRST THING THIS MORNING ON MY WAY TO DROP MY SON OFF AT DAYCARE, THE SLIDING DOOR OPENED JUST FINE BUT WAS A LITTLE SLUGGISH IN CLOSING. I HAD TO MAKE A STOP AT CVS TO BUY SOME COLD MEDICATION AND THE SLIDING DOOR JAMMED THE NEXT TIME I TRIED IT. NO AMOUNT OF PUSHING THE KEYFOB OR IN-VEHICLE BUTTONS WOULD CAUSE THE DOOR TO OPEN/ CLOSE FULLY. THE DOOR WAS PERMANENTLY JAMMED WITH AN OPENING ABOUT 4-5 INCHES WIDE. FORTUNATELY, THE CVS IS VERY CLOSE TO THE DAYCARE AND I ASKED FOR HELP MOVING HIS STUFF WHILE I CARRIED HIM IN. I COULD NOT RISK DRIVING AROUND WITH THE DOOR OPEN NO MATTER WHAT THE DISTANCE BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUES. I PROMPTLY DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE 2 MILE DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE DOOR AJAR AND THE ALARM BEEPING THE WHOLE TIME COULDN'T HAVE FELT LONGER. I'VE YET TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM, BUT I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SLIDING DOOR MOTOR HAS FAILED. I AM VERY CONCERNED BY THE FREQUENCY THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. I AM SHOCKED THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL DUE TO THE INHERENT DANGER THIS DEFECT COULD POSE FOR PASSENGERS. *TR

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS SIENNA 2006, I HAVE NOTICED BOTH OF MY BACK DUNLOP TIRES ARE LEAKING AIR FREQUENTLY STARTING ON FEB 2008. THE MILEAGE AS OF TODAY IS ONLY 5400. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BACK TIRE POPPED AND I HAVE TO REPLACED WITH THE MICHELIN. AS FOR THE LEFT SIDE, EVERY WEEK, IT DROPPED TO 20PSI. I HAVE TO PUMP IT BACK UP TO 35-40PSI EVERY WEEK. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, NO HOLES OR ANY PROBLEM FOUND ON THE DUNLOP. THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TIRE. I ASK THEM WHY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN TO THE FRONT TIRE THEN, WHY ONLY THE BACK TIRES? I TOLD THEM IT MUST BE THE MANUFACTURER PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE TO REPLACE. NO COMMENTS FROM THEM AND THEY SAID I HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW ONE TO REPLACE IT. STUPID IDIOT SOLUTION FROM THEM. *TR

IN EARLY 2008, MY 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. I NOTICED THAT THEN I LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL, THE CAR WOULD DRIFT SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. ADDITIONALLY, AT A DEAD STOP AND THE ACCELERATOR WAS APPLIED, THE CAR DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT. MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAS LOOKED AT THE CAR 4 TIMES AND SAID THAT NOTHING MORE CAN BE DONE AND THE CAR IS WITHIN SPECS. WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, WE DROVE MY SIENNA AND THEN DROVE THE DEALERSHIPS COURTESY VAN. AT A DEAD STOP, THE DEALERSHIPS VAN DROVE STRAIGHT AND HAD NO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. WHEN WE DROVE MY VAN, THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE DRIFT TO THE RIGHT AT A DEAD STOP WAS NORMAL IN THE SIENNA AND THAT MY VAN'S DRIFT WAS WITHIN COMPLIANCE OF TOYOTA STANDARDS. I HAVE HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED THREE TIME AND APPEARS TO BE NORMAL, YET THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO DEAL WITH MY CAR AND SENT IT TO ARBITRATION. TO BE RESOLVED. WHAT IS THE DEAL??? *TR

THIS REPORT IS FOR MY MOTHER IN LAW'S 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA XE AWD MINIVAN WITH THE DUNLOP RUNFLAT TIRES. THIS MINIVAN HAS HAD 2 "DEFECTIVE" TIRES ON IT SINCE IT'S PURCHASE AND WITH LESS THAN 8000 MILES ON THE TIRES. BOTH TIRES WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER, BUT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE TIRE/PRESSURE PROBLEMS. I BELIEVE BOTH TIRES WERE RUINED DUE TO THE PRESSURE SENSING SYSTEM NOT DETECTING LOW PRESSURE IN THE TIRES AND CAUSING THE SIDE WALLS TO COLLAPSE AFTER CONTINUED DRIVING. LUCKILY, NOBODY HAS BEEN INJURED, HOWEVER IF DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH THIS SYSTEM A POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR A SEVERE ACCIDENT. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE NATIONAL TOYOTA AND LOCAL DEALER, AND THEY CONTINUE TO NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS STATED IN WRITING THAT THE PRESSURE SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, HOWEVER RUNFLAT TIRES ON THIS SYSTEM DO NOT REGISTER LOW PRESSURE UNTIL MULTIPLE TIRES OR A SINGLE TIRE HAS HARDLY ANY PRESSURE IN IT. THE LOCAL DEALER MANAGER AGREES WITH ME THAT THE RUNFLAT TIRES WITH THE ABS TYPE PRESSURE SENSING SYSTEM IS NOT A SAFE SYSTEM. I HAVE REQUESTED TO HAVE REGULAR TIRES INSTALLED ON THIS VAN SO THE PRESSURE SYSTEM CAN DETECT LOW PRESSURE, HOWEVER TOYOTA WILL NOT CHANGE THEM FOR ME. I FEEL THAT HAVING RUNFLATS AS INSTALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER ON THIS TYPE OF PRESSURE SYSTEM CAN EVENTUALLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT WHEN A LOW TIRE BLOWS OFF THE RIM AT A HIGH SPEED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. WITH THE RUNFLAT TIRES, A DRIVER CANNOT VISUALLY LOOK AT THE TIRE AND DETECT THAT IT IS LOW, DUE TO THE THICK SIDEWALLS THAT ALLOW THEM TO "RUN FLAT". THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS AND CORRECT BEFORE SOMEBODY IS KILLED. I LIVE IN ALASKA AND MY MOTHER IN LAW FREQUENTLY MAKES TRIPS TO ANCHORAGE, WHERE FUEL/SERVICE STATIONS ARE HUNDREDS OF MILES APART AND -50F WEATHER IS COMMON. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME TO DISCUSS FURTHER AS THE LOCAL DEALER AND NATIONAL TOYOTA SEEM TO BE PASSING THIS OFF. THANK YOU. REGARDS, PETER MARVIN *TR