This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
2005 Toyota Sienna. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle brakes malfunction. The consumer stated while driving down the highway at normal speed, the anti-skid activated on a dry road. The consumer stated the incident happened several more times, each time as the road curved to the right. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic. However, he was unable to find a problem, except for over-inflated tires. The consumer took the vehicle to another mechanic, but to no avail. The ABS continued to activate. After doing some research, it was determined the issue was the steering sensor. It was replaced at a cost of $ 850. As the consumer left the shop, the left rear brake was not working properly, making odd sounds.
I noticed a clunking noise when turning into a parking spot. It also felt like my van was diving into the parking spot. I took my van into Toyota for another reason and was told at the time it was leaking at the rack and needed a new drive shaft and boot to the tune of 1200 dollars. We are still debating what to do and are very disappointed in Toyota. We purchased this vehicle based on Toyota's reputation for quality but have found this vehicle particularly repair prone. We have already replaced the radiator, parking brake and had a very expensive serpentine belt replacement due to the Fusion of dissimilar metals. It seems to me that Toyota's engineers should have understood the consequences of designing a vehicle with dissimilar metals that come into direct contact. We have never owned such a repair prone vehicle.
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Sienna. While driving at 25 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact had to apply force to the steering wheel in order to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 139,350. Updated 11/3/2017
2005 Toyota Sienna: Power steering fails intermittently, resulting in a loss of power steering and sudden increase in steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash. Driver is at risk if sudden steering away from an event is necessary due to the effort and inconsistent nature of the steering. There are many complaints about this that can be found on various forums on the internet. It is a serious problem that should not be ignored and should be addressed before rather than after someone dies as a result of this vehicle fault.
- Lyndeborough, NH, USA
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When backing out of driveway steering wheel locked (wouldn't turn); had to wait about a minute before steering wheel would turn. Took it to the dealer to fix a couple of recalls and they did an inspection at which time they told me the power steering rack & pinion was leaking and it would cost $1800 to fix. Checked online and found a lot of people are experiencing same problem.
During a routine oil change, I noticed the passenger side, power steering rack and pinion boot had a tear and was leaking. I have read that the leaky seal eats into the boot to deteriorate over time. As I searched the internet for this problem, I noticed their were several other causes of this same issue. I think this demands for a recall.
2005 Toyota Sienna's vehicle stability control engaged for no reason while in many different conditions (dry, wet, curve, straight, it didn't matter) making me lose control of the car. The vsc, trac off and check engine lights came on and a beeping sound engaged while the care took over not allowing driver input. I had to put it in neutral until it turned off. I have read many accounts online of other Toyota Sienna drivers experiencing the same dangerous problem. Thank goodness when it has happened, I haven't had a truck or semi next to me. This is my family car in which I need to drive my kids and other people's kids, and I cannot drive it anymore. Toyota has to fix this problem, since it is a manufacturer problem.
Steering problem involving a "freezing" of the wheel and then a gradual ability to resume steering. Problem increasingly happening while making a turn and not just at start up.
Steering problem involving a "freezing" of the wheel and then a gradual ability to resume steering. Today the problem occurred while making a turn and not just at start up.
Vehicle's traction control engages without cause when traveling more than 35 mph on a curve or bend. Road speed limit is somewhere between 55-60 mph. If vehicle is traveling more than 40 mph, car's traction control and brakes engage, slowing car down to 35 mph. Road conditions are normal. Vehicle has been seen by local Toyota dealership over 5 times in the last year. They are unable to diagnose issue or reproduce it. We have been almost been rear ended due to this faulty issue.
On hwy 1 from pacifica to santa cruz, driving approx, 45-50mph around the bends and curves, the van's vsc light would come on along with warning beeping and the car would try to "correct" itself by steering straight when I needed it not to. This happened again approx. 1-2 months later while driving along hwy 50, at approx. 45-50mph up to South lake Tahoe on the same dry, but winding/curvy roads, the car would try to "correct" itself by steering straight. Again, on June 17th, along hwy 50 approx. 45-50mph just taking the exit off of the freeway, steering into the right hand turn lane, the car vsc light, beeping and steering "correction". this is very dangerous!!!! I am surprised that it has not caused an accident yet!. I need the car to turn for a reason!! please feel free to contact me for further information. I took it to the Toyota dealership and they said that the van had no logs from the sensors (steering angle or yaw). We asked them to recalibrate it (set it back to zero), but that obviously hasn't worked. I have ordered a new steering angle sensor and I am having it installed and the system recalibrated, in hopes that will fix the issue.
First, I noticed some oil stains on my drive way, then I drove my minivan to a local Toyota car dealer for check up and routine oil change. Next day, I noticed a bigger oil stain. Anyway, I had an appointment and have to drive my minivan to my dentist office, on the highway, I saw smoke came out of my front hood. Then, I drove it to the same Toyota dealer afterwards. It was quite scary driving and seeing smoke came out of my front hood especially with my young daughter on board today. At one moment, I thought my car will be on fire. On the paper, I was told that my leaking is from rack and pinion steering system. I called Toyota customer service, and the person who assisted me state his surprise of this rack and pinion leaking for such a low mileage car. I would like to file a mechanical damage report toward Toyota defective parts.
I was backing out of space in parking lot. With engine still on and running, the steering column locked and the brakes became inoperative. Fortunately I was able to jam down on emergency brake to keep from backing into other vehicles across the aisle in the lot.
My wife started the car and claimed how hard it was to turn the steering wheel. We drove to a location using the expressway and the problem continued. It made turning under motion very difficult. I took the wheel on our return and confirmed how awkward it was. So we drove to our garage. They called us later and said the input shaft malfunctioned. Cost of part from Toyota $374.19 plus tax and labor. Only one left in stock. Is it possible that Toyota has a problem that needs to be recognized and recalled before there are serious accidents?
Vehicle had been parked. When we backed out I turned the wheel to the left. There was a "clunk" and it felt like I just went over some object with the right front tire. We could find nothing in the parking lot that would contribute to this. I drove the car that day without further incident. The next day we went on a 430 mile trip. Several times that we parked we heard the same "clunk" and felt a slight drop in the right front. I went to the Toyota dealer as soon as I could get an appointment on 2/26/13. Toyota found that the internal power steering rack was failing and had to be replaced for safety. The part number was: 0 44250-08041. I asked Toyota if there were any safety recalls. There were none. Toyota said these failures did occur on trucks in heavy duty use but not in Sienna mini-vans.
Steering very hard and "bumpy" during low speed maneuvering when first driven for the day. Internet search revealed many others have very similar problem that improved after spraying "steering knuckle" with penetrating type oil. Appears steering link is becoming corroded and sticky. Vehicle is always garaged when not being driven. Called Toyota dealer, they are aware of problem but say Toyota hq has not authorized them to do any work without full pay. Appears lots of people are having belts, power steering pumps, etc replaced at great expense at independent and dealer repair shops without solving the problem or the problem even being correctly diagnosed. Lucky I have internet and refer to it in these situations. Guess I can now have mine repaired for $1-2000 or do the temporary oil fix. Lots of money when its a manufacturing design defect and they won't help.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Richmond, VA, USA