2001 TOYOTA SIENNA — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE 3.0 L V6 ENGINE. HEAVY SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. VISIBLE OIL SLUDGE UNDER THE OIL REFILL CAP.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SLIDING DOOR HAS SEVERAL TIMES NOW REFUSED TO LATCH, AND WHEN IN EMERGENCY SITUATION I HAVE LOCKED IT AND FORCED IT TO SHUT THEN IT WILL NOT UNLOCK AND IT HAS TO BE TAKEN APART TO BE OPENED AND THE WHOLE LATCH AND LOCK MECHANISM REWORKED BY THE MECHANIC, AND IN THE MEANTIME THE DOOR IS UNABLE TO BE OPENED WHICH IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE WHEN I HAVE CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE AND BACK ROWS OF THE VAN. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN THE PAST 3 YEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED, SO IT IS DEFINITELY AN ACTUAL PROBLEM WITH THE HARDWARE OF THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM ITSELF AND NOT SIMPLY A GLITCH THAT OCCURRED ONCE OR SOMETHING.

MY 9 YEAR OLD SON AND I WERE ON OUR WAY HOME FROM WORK LAST NIGHT AND I HEARD SOMETHING SNAP ON MY 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA. I THEN HEARD SOMETHING DRAGGING SO I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO CHECK AND REALIZED THE FUEL TANK WAS DRAGGING AND THE BACK STRAPS HOLDING THE GAS TANK UP HAD BROKEN LOOSE CAUSING THE BACK SECTION OF THE TANK TO DRAG ON THE ROAD. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TOW VEHICLE TO THE MECHANICS. SINCE I WORK 18 MILES AWAY I FIND GETTING TO WORK DIFFICULT.

I HAD JUST DROPPED MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER OFF AT SCHOOL AND AS I WAS LEAVING I HAD TO STOP BECAUSE SOME CHILDREN WITH THEIR PARENTS NEEDED TO CROSS IN FRONT OF ME I APPLIED MY BRAKES AS NORMAL AND I HAD NO ISSUES IN STOPPING BUT THEN IT FEELS LIKE A "GHOST" PUSHES THE GAS PEDAL DOWN BECAUSE I CAN FEEL IT MOVE AND SEE MY RPM GAUGE GO UP AND I HEAR MY ENGINE "VRRRROOOMMMM" I PUSHED MY BRAKES HARDER AND STILL NOTHING, THE END RESULTS ME HAVING TO PUT MY CAR INTO PARK TO KEEP IT FROM MOVING INTO THE CROSSWALK ONTO THE PEOPLE. WHEN I GET HOME IT DOES THE SAME THING AND I ALMOST CRASH INTO MY GARAGE BECAUSE THE CAR IS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AND AGAIN. IT WOULD ALWAYS HAPPEN AT RANDOM, AFTER I WOULD LET GO OF THE BRAKES ITS ALREADY MOVING FAST AS IF MY FOOT IS ON THE GAS, I SAY TO MY PASSENGER WHICH IS MY WIFE "LOOK THE VAN IS GOING ON IT'S OWN, I'M NOT EVEN PUSHING THE GAS" THE VAN WAS MOVING PRETTY FAST, BUT FAST ENOUGH FOR THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC FROM A STOP AND GO MOVEMENT. I NO LONGER DRIVE THE VAN BECAUSE I AM SCARED THAT I AM GOING TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON I EVEN HAD THE VAN CHECKED FOR CODES AND NOTHING CAME UP.

TAKATA RECALL. WHITE SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE EXHAUST WHEN I START THE CAR. THEN SMOKE DISAPPEARS OR STAY AT LOW LEVEL DURING DRIVING. DECREASE OIL. I PUT ONE QUARTER OIL EACH WEEK. MECHANICS SAYS IT MAY HEAD GASKIT OR SEALS. COSTS 2000 AND ABOVE TO REPAIR. IF NOT BETTER TO GARBAGE THIS VEHICLE. IT HAS A CLEAN TITLE WITH 106K.