NHTSA Complaint #10712847 — 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA

RADIATOR FAILURE RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKAGE IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. I NOTICED MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA HAD SOME BELT NOISE THAT GOT WORSE. THE VAN WAS DUE FOR A WATER PUMP/TIMING BELT CHANGE. LATER THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE READ HIGH AND AFTER CHECKING THE FLUIDS NOTICED THE ANTIFREEZE LEVEL TO BE LOW AND TOPPED IT UP. A WEEK LATER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY STEAM STARTED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. I NOTICED THE PINK FLUID HAD ALSO LEAKED OUT OF A TUBE (LOOKED LIKE A RELIEF TUBE) ON THE DRIVER SIDE. RADIATOR LEVEL WAS LOW. THE TRANSMISSION FUEL LOOKED PINKISH AND READ ABOUT SIX INCHES ABOVE THE MAX LEVEL ON THE DIPSTICK. TRANS FLUID WAS MILKY PINK, THICK, AND HAD GRAINY DEPOSIT. TOOK THE VAN TO THE AUTOLAND DEALER IN SPRINGFIELD, NJ TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND TO HAVE THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT CHANGE AT THE SAME TIME. HAD TO LEAVE THE VAN OVERNIGHT. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE WITH A NEARLY $2000 BILL FOR REPAIRS (BRAKES, TIRE ROTATION, TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP) OTHER THAN CHANGING THE TRANS. FLUID OR TELLING ME WHAT WAS WRONG. DEALER SAID SOMEONE PUT ADDITIVE TO THE FLUID???. NOTE THAT ONLY AUTOLAND HAD BEEN SERVICING THE VEHICLE. THEY REFUSED TO CHANGE THE TRANS FLUID. "I AM NOT TOUCHING THAT." THE DEALER SAID. I NOW KNOW FROM A LOCAL TRANS REPAIR SHOP THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE TRANS FLUID. A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH RADIATORS ON TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT HAD A RECALL. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE RECALL. I NOW HAVE AN ESTIMATED $4,000 PROBLEM TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF AUTOLAND HAD DONE ITS JOB PROPERLY AND NOT REFUSED TO CHANGE THE TRANS. FLUID. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA AND WITH AUTOLAND'S SERVICE. *TR