1998 TOYOTA SIENNA Recalls, Complaints & Safety

steering component that breaks, causing a driver to lose control.

GEAR SHIFTER MOUNT UNIT ON THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE APART, STRANDING THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONT END COLLISION. WE WERE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 65MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, WRECKED, AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN OUR LANE AND FACING US. MY HUSBAND BRAKED HARD BUT WE COULD NOT AVOID THE VEHICLE. WE TRULY HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST WE WERE GOING AT IMPACT BUT I WOULD GUESS 30-40 MPH. IT HAD JUST STARTED RAINING LIGHTLY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. SEAT BELTS AND GOD SAVED US. NO MAJOR INJURIES.

Crash 1 injured

STARTED TO GET CLUNKING/RATTLING NOISES ON HIGHWAY THAT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM FRONT LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE. REDUCED SPEED TO 50 MPH. ABOUT 5 MILES FROM HOME BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OVER AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING AROUND FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE (ABOUT 9PM). SLOWLY DROVE TO MECHANIC ABOUT 2 MILES AWAY AND LEFT CAR OVERNIGHT. RETURNED NEXT MORNING AND EXAMINED BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. FOUND VERY LITTLE FLUID IN RESERVOIR - DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE ENTIRE BOTTOM. MECHANIC REPORTED THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTING FAILED (APPARENTLY A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS). AFTER FAILING THE STRUT PUNCTURED THE BOTTOM OF THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR (ABOUT 3/8" HOLE) AT ONE OF THE CORNERS (SEE PHOTO) ALLOWING THE FLUID TO DRAIN. SHOULD I HAVE LOST ALMOST ALL FLUID WITH A 2 CIRCUIT BRAKING SYSTEM? DOES THE RESERVOIR HAVE AN INTERNAL BAFFLE TO PREVENT ALMOST TOTAL LOSE OF FLUID? I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE ALL MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DID NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED HIGH TEMPERATURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR FUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V278000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

HORN WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW NOT AT ALL.

CAR STARTED MAKING CLUNKING NOISES WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TEST DROVE IT AND EXAMINED THE STEERING. HE VALIDATED THE CLUNKING NOISE AND SAID HE FOUND THE STEERING RACK WAS BROKEN AT THE MOUNT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY.

SINCE I BOUGHT MY 1998 USED TOYOTA SIENNA WITH 190XXX MILES, WHEN PRESS A LITTE BIT THE GAS PEDAL ON A UPHILL IT START TO ACCELERATE LIKE CRAZY, I CAN BARELY STOP IT, I MUST TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL TO STOP THE VAN, TODAY I WAS ON A VERY PRONUNTIATED UPHILL AND ALMOST CRASH BECAUSE IT ACCELERATES ITSELF WHEN PRESS A LITTLE THE GAS PEDAL. I''M SCARED TO USE THE VAN AGAIN BUT I DON'T HAVE OTHER CHOISE AND AT THE SAME TIME I'M SCARED TO SELL THE VAN TO SOMEONE ELSE. *TR

THE CAR IS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND IT ACCELERATES SUDDENLY WITHOUT ME PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. PRESSING THE BRAKES DO NOT STOP THE CAR, THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS BY SHIFTING INTO PARK OR NEUTRAL. *TR

IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA HAS CREATED ARTIFICIAL OBSTACLES TO PREVENT MY OBTAINMENT OF AN ELIGIBLE REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL (SAFETY RECALL A9E - TIRE CARRIER CABLE) REPAIRS. IN RESPONSE TO THE RECALL NOTICE I HAD THE CABLE INSPECTED THEN CONTACTED TOYOTA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECALL LETTER BUT I WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT. ON OCTOBER 2, 2013 I WROTE TO TOYOTA FOLLOWING THE INSPECTION AND ATTACHED THE ORIGINAL WORK ORDER FROM A TOYOTA DEALER FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF PART NUMBER "51900-08010" AS REQUIRED. I RECEIVED AN OCTOBER 17TH RESPONSE SAYING I NEEDED TO PROVIDE ANSWERS TO THREE QUESTIONS:REASON THE VEHICLE BROUGHT INTO THE REPAIR FACILITY; THE REPAIR FACILITY DIAGNOSES, AND THE REPAIR PERFORMED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE CONCERN. AFTER SEVERAL TELEPHONE CALLS TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AGAIN HAVING THE CURRENT CABLE REINSPECTED, OBTAINING AND FORWARDING COPIES OF THE REPAIR ORDER, PROOF OF PAYMENT, AND OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR WORK PERFORMED BY A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP USING AN IDENTICAL PART NUMBER FOR REIMBURSEMENT ELIGIBILITY, I WAS DIRECTED TO CONTACT THE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP AND OBTAIN WRITTEN INFORMATION ON THE CAUSE OF THE BREAKAGE THAT OCCURRED NEARLY TEN YEARS EARLIER AND THAT I NEEDED TO CONTACT HIM BECAUSE HE WAS NOT RESPONDING TO THE CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICE. I SENT A LETTER, DATED JANUARY 20, 2014, TO HIM BUT NEVER EVEN RECEIVED AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. ALTHOUGH I'VE DONE EVERYTHING REQUIRED, SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONCE, HAD REPAIRS COMPLETED USING THE PROPER PART NUMBER, AS SHOWN ON THE REPAIR WORKSHEET ISSUED BY A TOYOTA DEALER, I'VE BEEN DENIED REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO TOYOTA'S OWN DEALERSHIP REPAIR MANAGER'S LACK OF COOPERATION. IF THE REPAIRS WERE NOT DUE TO THE CABLE BREAKAGE AND IF THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS NOT NEEDED, WHY DID THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DO THE REPAIR AND CHARGE ME FOR IT? COPIES - LETTERS AND RECEIPTS WILL BE PROVIDED, IF NEEDED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V160000(STRUCTURE) AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE DEALER INDICATED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.

I CAME HOME AND TURNED MY IGNITION SWITCH OFF BUT MY 1998 TOYOTA VAN KEPT RUNNING.TURNING THE KEY ON AND OFF DID NOT TURN IT OFF. I TRIED SHUTTING IT DOWN WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. I TRIED TURNING IT OFF AGAIN WHILE MOVING THE GEAR SELECTOR LEVER BUT TO NO AVAIL. I BEGIN TO SMELL BURNING RUBBER. I LIFTED THE HOOD AND REALIZED THE ENGINE WAS BEING TURNED OVER BY THE STARTER WHICH WAS NOT DISENGAGING AND STARTING TO SMOKE. THEN TONS OF SMOKE BEGAN BOILING OFF THE STARTER. I DISCONNECTED THE POSITIVE BATTERY CONNECTION AND THE ENGAGED STARTER STOPPED CRANKING THE ENGINE. HEAVY SMOKE CONTINUED BOILING FROM THE STARTER FOR ABOUT A MINUTE LONGER. I WAS VERY GLAD I WAS NOT INSIDE THE GARAGE BECAUSE I THINK THE STARTER COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE OR THE SMOKE WOULD HAVE SMOTHERED ME. *TR

TIRE SEEMED OUT OF BALANCE AT NARROW RANGE OF SPEEDS (60-65MPH), BUT SMOOTH AT 68MPH FOR MONTHS; RECENTLY NOTICED VEHICLE ROCKING WHEN COLD AND AT LOW SPEEDS; TODAY SAW AN OUTWARD BULGE IN REAR TIRE TREAD (DIRECTIONALLY OUTWARD FROM AXLE). AM SEEKING A REPLACEMENT TIRE BEFORE TREAD SEPARATION. *TR

DRIVER IN WRONG LANE HIT MY VAN, WITH MOST OF IMPACT ON RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF VAN. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALLED IN COLLISION. RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT INITIALLY HELD, BUT RELEASED DURING COLLISION AND PASSENGER ENDED UP ON DRIVER'S ARMREST. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *TT

Crash 2 injured

DRIVER IN WRONG LANE HIT MY VAN, WITH MOST OF IMPACT ON RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF VAN. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALLED IN COLLISION. RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT INITIALLY HELD, BUT RELEASED DURING COLLISION AND PASSENGER ENDED UP ON DRIVER'S ARMREST. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *TT

Crash 2 injured

I HAVE A 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA RECENTLY THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL ARE NOT WORKING I WONDER IF THIS CAN BE A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE OR DO I JUST HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

THE PUSH-BUTTON ON THE INSIDE OF THE SLIDING SIDE-DOORS FAILS TO RELEASE. IN THE CASE THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED, THIS PREVENTS TO DOOR FROM CLOSING. IF THE DOOR IS LOCKED, THE BUTTON DOES NOT RELEASE, KEEPING THE DOOR FROM BEING UNLOCKED AND THUS THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED. *TR

1998 TOYOTA SIENNA CANNOT LOCK AND UNLOCK BOTH REAR SLIDING DOORS ELECTRONICALLY FROM THE LOCK-AND-UNLOCK BUTTONS OF THE FRONT DRIVE AND PASSENGER CAR DOORS. *TR

ON AUGUST 25, 2010, I WAS TAKING MY GRANDCHILDREN TO RAINBOW STATION DAYCARE IN OUR TOYOTA SPORTS VAN SIENNA XLE, 1998. WARRENTON TOYOTA DEALER IN VIRGINIA PERFORMED A FULL 100,000-MILE SERVICE ON VAN ON JULY 10, 2010. I TURNED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF THE DAY CARE AT A SPEED OF 5 MPH WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. WHILE I WAS ABOUT TO PARK THE CAR, THERE WAS UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE CAR AND CAR WENT FROM PARKING LOT TO SIDEWALK AND BEGAN GOING TOWARDS THE OFFICE OF THE DAYCARE. I TURNED THE STEERING TO THE RIGHT AS FAR AS I COULD IN ORDER TO GET AWAY FROM THE ENTRANCE OF THE DAYCARE AND THE LOBBY (BOTH HAVE A GLASS WALL) AND WAS TRYING TO GET BACK TO THE PARKING LOT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I TRIED TO PUSH THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP INSTEAD IT LEFT CAR TIRE TRACK MARKS ON THE SIDEWALK AND THE FRONT LAWN OF THE DAYCARE. THE CAR FINALLY HIT THE BRICK WALL AND STOPPED. FORTUNATELY THE GRANDCHILDREN WERE SAFE. MY RIGHT HAND WRIST BONE (RADIUS) WAS BROKEN. I HAD TO UNDERGO SURGERY. OUR CAR WAS TOTALED AND IS BEYOND REPAIR. TOYOTA IS TRYING TO FIND OUT HE CAUSE OF ACCIDENT. *TR

Crash

ON AUGUST 25, 2010, I WAS TAKING MY GRANDCHILDREN TO RAINBOW STATION DAYCARE IN OUR TOYOTA SPORTS VAN SIENNA XLE, 1998. WARRENTON TOYOTA DEALER IN VIRGINIA PERFORMED A FULL 100,000-MILE SERVICE ON VAN ON JULY 10, 2010. I TURNED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF THE DAY CARE AT A SPEED OF 5 MPH WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. WHILE I WAS ABOUT TO PARK THE CAR, THERE WAS UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE CAR AND CAR WENT FROM PARKING LOT TO SIDEWALK AND BEGAN GOING TOWARDS THE OFFICE OF THE DAYCARE. I TURNED THE STEERING TO THE RIGHT AS FAR AS I COULD IN ORDER TO GET AWAY FROM THE ENTRANCE OF THE DAYCARE AND THE LOBBY (BOTH HAVE A GLASS WALL) AND WAS TRYING TO GET BACK TO THE PARKING LOT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I TRIED TO PUSH THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP INSTEAD IT LEFT CAR TIRE TRACK MARKS ON THE SIDEWALK AND THE FRONT LAWN OF THE DAYCARE. THE CAR FINALLY HIT THE BRICK WALL AND STOPPED. FORTUNATELY THE GRANDCHILDREN WERE SAFE. MY RIGHT HAND WRIST BONE (RADIUS) WAS BROKEN. I HAD TO UNDERGO SURGERY. OUR CAR WAS TOTALED AND IS BEYOND REPAIR. TOYOTA IS TRYING TO FIND OUT HE CAUSE OF ACCIDENT. *TR

Crash

THE PUSH-BUTTON ON THE INSIDE OF THE SLIDING SIDE-DOORS FAILS TO RELEASE. IN THE CASE THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED, THIS PREVENTS TO DOOR FROM CLOSING. IF THE DOOR IS LOCKED, THE BUTTON DOES NOT RELEASE, KEEPING THE DOOR FROM BEING UNLOCKED AND THUS THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED. THIS CAN BE REMEDIED BY SLIDING A FLAT BLADE UNDER THE BUTTON TO RELEASE IT. THIS AFFECTS THE 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA. *TR

WIRING PROBLEM--ELECTRIC GOING ON UNUSUAL PATHS--PUSHING THE BRAKE TURNS ON THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH--I WONDER IF PUSHING THE BRAKE COULD CAUSE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, THE ENGINE WOULD REV HIGH EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR WAS IN PARK. THE CONSUMER STATED HE THEN REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE RUNNING. UPDATED 06/22/10. *JB

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PRIUS IN CALIFORNIA THE SAME DID HAPPEN TO US BACK IN 1999 WITH OUR TOYOTA SIENNA VAN. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON I-5 IN OREGON. SHE PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO OVERTAKE A CAR AND THEN WHEN SHE PRESSED THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK. SHE DROVE INTO THE HWY MEDIAN FENCE TO STOP THE CAR. WHEN WE CONTACTED TOYOTA, THEY DIDN'T ADMIT ANY FAULT WITH THEIR CAR (THE SAME WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW) AND TOLD US IT WAS OUR FAULT THAT WE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO USE THEIR BRAKES. WE HAVE SEVERAL CARS BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OTHER CARS. I DIDN'T BUY A TOYOTA AFTER THAT CRASH BUT I AM ALSO WORRIED WHO ELSE THE PART SUPPLIER HAS BEEN SUPPLYING PARTS TO. I CAN BE REACHED AT [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Crash

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING A TOYOTA SIENNA, SUPERVISED BY MY WIFE. AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VAN ACCELERATED ONTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC CAUSING A HEAD-ON COLLISION. THE VAN WAS TOTALLED AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO ONE WAS HURT BUT THE ONCOMING CAR WAS ALSO A TOYOTA, SPEEDING THROUGH THE TRAFFIC. I ASKED THAT BOTH VEHICLES BE INSPECTED FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION. HOWEVER, THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND POLICE FOUND IT EASIER TO BLAME THE ACCIDENT ON MY DAUGHTER THAN INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLES.

Crash

I BOUGHT A TOYOTA SIENNA MY '98 BRAND NEW IN MAY 1998 AND STILL OWN IT. THIS CAR ALSO HAS DEMONSTRATED A SIMILAR PROBLEM EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR ' VEERING TO RIGHT. THE DRIVER HAS TO CONSTANTLY CORRECT THE STEERING IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CAR MOVING STRAIGHT. EVEN AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS IN '98, '99, AND 2000, RESPECTIVELY, WERE MADE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BY A TOYOTA DEALER (COPY OF THE PAPERWORK CAN BE FURNISHED UPON REQUEST), THE PROBLEM HAS YET BEEN CORRECTED SUCCESSFULLY AS OF TODAY. THIS PROBLEM INCREASES DRIVING FATIGUE ESPECIALLY LONG TRIPS AND IN TURN MAY INCREASE THE CHANCE OF AUTO ACCIDENTS. *TR

I HAVE A 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA LE. ALL OF THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT BACK INTO THE PANELS WITHOUT HELP FROM THE PASSENGERS. IF YOU LEAN FORWARD THEY STAY WHERE THEY ARE EXTENDED TO. I HAVE HAD THEM LOOKED AT AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID THE RETURN SPRINGS HAVE ALL RELAXED. THIS IS THE 4TH TOYOTA AUTOMOBILE I HAVE OWNED AND ALL OF THEM HAVE DONE THIS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS CAN BE SAFE? *TR

MY 98 SIENNA XLE HAS HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE (MANUAL) SLIDING DOORS NOT OPENING WITHOUT AND ADULT PULLING OUTSIDE. THEN MYSTERIOUSLY THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. TODAY MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE ABOUT TOWN AND COULDN'T GET THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR TO CLOSE. THE LOCKING MECHANISM IS LOCKED IN THE CLOSED POSITION. SHE HAD TO DRIVE HOME IN TRAFFIC HOLDING A BUNGEE CORD TO KEEP THE DOOR MOSTLY CLOSED WHILE THE KIDS WERE IN THE VERY BACK SEAT. I WORKED ON IT FOR A WHILE WHEN I GOT HOME BUT THERE ISN'T A WAY TO GET THE MECHANISM TO OPEN. IT WILL ROTATE FURTHER BACK (DOWNWARD, AWAY FROM THE LATCH LOOP), BUT NOTHING MORE. *TR

1998 TOYOTA SIENNA MINI VAN. INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT WHERE THE MINI VAN RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE ACTUAL COLLISION OCCURRED AFTER THE BRAKES WERE FULLY APPLIED WHEN IT HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE SIENNA, SO MUCH SO THAT THE RADIATOR WAS DAMAGED AND LEAKING. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT NEITHER THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND ALL MECHANICAL WORK HAD BEEN DONE BY THE DEALER OR OTHER CERTIFIED MECHANIC. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE AND DID WORK PROPERLY. A CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS IN USE IN THE SECOND ROW SEAT AND IT ALSO WORKED PROPERLY. *TR

Crash

BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BROKE, IN ADDITION TO BOTH OUTDOOR HANDLES FOR THE SLIDING DOORS (TOTAL OF THREE TIMES), AND THE HANDLE FOR THE TRUNK BROKE. FIRST ONE (EXTERIOR SLIDING DOOR) BROKE FOUR YEARS AGO. THEY CONTINUE TO SNAP TO THIS DAY. *TR

1998 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN - REAR PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DOOR (THE DOOR STUCK). THIS IS THE SECOND HANDLE THAT HAS BROKEN ON THIS VAN. THE REAR DOOR HATCH HANDLE BROKE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW AND IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS POSTED ON BULLETIN BOARDS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS CONCERN THROUGH A GENERAL RECALL AND APPEARS TO BE BLAMING THE OWNERS. I HAVE HAD MY VAN SERVICED BY A TOYOTA DEALER ON A REGULAR BASIS, SO THIS PROBLEM IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. *TR

SLIDING DOOR HANDLE ON EXTERIOR HAS BROKEN OFF. BROKEN OFF WHEN PULLING HANDLE TO OPEN DOOR. NO HISTORY OF ACCIDENT. PART WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

DOOR HANDLES ON ALL DOORS HAVE BROKEN OFF. IN CASE OF ACCIDENT, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO ENTER THE VEHICLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. REAR SLIDING DOORS ALSO STICK AND AGAIN DO NOT ALLOW ENTRY OR EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT USE OF A LOT OF STRENGTH WHICH IS DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN IN BACK OF VAN. *TR

THE SEAT BELTS IN OUR 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA HAVE BEEN FAILING. THEY WILL NOT RETRACT. WE HAVE HAD TWO REPLACED AT OUR COST, NOW TWO MORE HAVE FAILED. I HAVE THE PARTS FROM THE SECOND BELT THAT FAILED. IT IS NOT TWISTED AND THERE IS NO FOREIGN MATERIAL IN THE BELT OR IT'S PATH. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE OF OUR SEAT BELTS, I TALKED OUR FRIENDS (THE MILLER FAMILY) INTO BUYING A VAN JUST LIKE OURS. THEY WERE HIT BY A RED LIGHT RUNNER MAY 29, 2005. THE SEAT BELT HOLDING THEIR THREE-YEAR-OLD SON, KYLE, FAILED AND HE WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. HE WAS KILLED INSTANTLY. THE REST OF THE FAMILY WALKED AWAY FROM THE CRASH. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN THE FAILURE OF OUR SEAT BELTS. I HAVE READ OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS FROM OTHER OWNERS (ON THE INTERNET). PLEASE HELP TO HOLD TOYOTA RESPONSIBLE. AT THE VERY LEAST, THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE BELTS AT THEIR COST. *TR

THE SLIDING DOORS LOCKS FREEZE UP AND CANNOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE AND PRESENT A DANGER IF YOU ARE IN AN ACCIDENT AND CANNOT OPEN THE LOCKS. *TR

REAR WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON AN OPEN COUNTRY ROAD , NO OVERHANGING TREES OR OVERPASSES), WITH OTHER TRAFFIC PRESENT. NO SIGN OF ANY IMPACT. SOUNDED LIKE A THUMP", THEN LOOKED BACK TO SEE THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. PULLED OVER AS MY DAUGHTER AND SON WHO WAS IN THE BACK ROW OF SEATS BEGAN SCRERAMING. *AK

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE (AND MOST RECENTLY, TODAY), THE SLIDING DOOR HANDLE/LATCH/LOCK HAS FAILED. USUALLY, THE FAILURE IS SUCH THAT THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. SOMETIMES, THE DOOR CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE AND SOMETIMES THE DOOR CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION, AN INOPERABLE DOOR SPONTANEOUSLY OPENED ITSELF WHEN NOBODY WAS NEAR IT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS LOOKED AT THIS PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES, TO NO AVAIL, AND SIGNIFICANT PIECES OF THE MECHANISM HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT THE COST OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. A DIFFERENT, BUT POSSIBLY RELATED, PROBLEM IS THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LOCK (THE ELECTRONIC LOCK) HAS ALSO FAILED REPEATEDLY OVER THE LIFE OF THE CAR. *JB

I PURCHASED 2 COOPER LIFELINER TOURING SLE SIZE 215/ 65R-15. THEY COMPLETE UNRAVELED WITHIN ONE WEEK OF EACH OTHER. ONE WAS REPLACED AS MY DAUGHTER WAS HEADED ON A 350 MILE TRIP BACK TO HER COLLEGE TOWN, AND THE OTHER I STILL HAVE DISINTERGRATED ON HER WAY HOME FROM COLLEGE. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THEY WERE ON THE FRONT INSTEAD OF THE BACK. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT IT CAME APART RIGHT DOWN TO THE STEEL BELT. *JB

AT INTERSTATE SPEED I HAD A FEW SECOND DRAG AND THEN COMPLETE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGEMENT. MANAGED TO GET IT OFF THE INTERSTATE BY LETTING IT SET A FEW MINUTES AND BEING ABLE TO DRIVE A 1/4 MILE OR SO AT A TIME. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF THE VAN INCLUDING FLUID CHANGES. IT ONLY HAS 77,000 MILES BUT TOYOTA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE DEFECT( BECAUSE THERE WARRANTY EXTENSION IS ONLY FOR 8 YEARS 100,000 AND I AM OVER THE 8 YEARS. *JB