2002 Toyota Sienna Engine Problems

CHECKING ENGINE LIGHT ON AND OFF SLIDE DOOR NOT WORKING PROPERLY

NHTSA ID

11515584

Incident

Apr 5, 2023

I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY ONTO THE ROAD. I SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE TYPICAL ACCELERATION. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL COMPLETELY. THEN I PUT MY FOOT BACK ON THE GAS PEDAL AND PUSHED DOWN HARDER THAN NORMAL TO SEE IF I GOT A RESPONSE. AT THIS POINT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV. THEN I HAD TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD. EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE ENGINE CONTINUE TO REV AND THE CAR WAS STILL MOVING FORWARD. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND WITH MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE CONTINUE TO REV. I THEN DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL WITH MY FOOT BRIEFLY AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF AND THE ENGINE STOPPED REVVING AT THIS POINT. I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT AFTER THAT POINT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS REVVING MY LEFT FOOT WAS NOT TOUCHING OR NEAR THE GAS PEDAL. THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT IN THE WAY. AND MY RIGHT FOOT WAS FREE AND UNENCUMBERED. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AROUND ME SO I WAS ABLE TO FULLY CONCENTRATE ON THE ISSUE AND DID NOT HIT ANYONE OR ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676163

Incident

Jan 16, 2015

Mileage

122,727 mi

I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS ISSUE. JUST GOOGLE IT. I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON CONSISTENTLY SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE, BRAND NEW. I HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS, ENDLESS HOURS AND A LOT OF ANXIETY AND FRUSTRATION. WHEN I LIVED IN OHIO, IT WAS NOT A "BIG DEAL" BECAUSE THERE WERE NO EMISSION REQUIREMENTS. WHEN I MOVED TO ARIZONA, IT BECAME A NIGHTMARE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL SERVICES BY TOYOTA ON THE VAN. I HAVE PAID HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR WHAT THEY TELL ME IS THE PROBLEM AND IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. I READ OTHER PEOPLES STORIES ONLINE AND THE SAME "REMEDIES. SUGGESTED BY TOYOTA AND THEIR COMPUTER READOUTS" THAT COST HUNDREDS, SOMETIME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. THE SAFETY ISSUE ARISES, WHEN IS THE ENGINE LIGHT A REAL ISSUE AND WHEN IS IT JUST TOYOTAS MANUFACTURING DEFECT? THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL. I AM CAMPAIGNING AND WILLING TO ORGANIZE A SOCIAL MEDIA RECALL. I AM TIRED AND OUT OF MONEY FOR REPAIRS THAT DO NOT WORK. IT IS TIME FOR TOYOTA TO ADMIT THE ISSUE AND FIX IT. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10502348

Incident

Mar 1, 2002

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA WHICH I PURCHASED AS A "CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE" IN JANUARY 2008. I WASN'T INFORMED ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THESE PARTICULAR VEHICLES WERE HAVING WITH OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP. SHORTLY AFTER JANUARY 2010, I CHECKED MY OIL AND FOUND THE OIL TO BE GUMMY. I TOOK IT IN FOR A PROPER OIL CHANGE (THOUGH IT WAS UNDER THE 3000 MILE MARK FOR AN OIL CHANGE). I CHECKED THE OIL AGAIN AFTER ONLY DRIVING 100 MILES OR SO, AND FOUND THE SAME GUMMY OIL BUILD UP. I STOPPED DRIVING IT AS SOON AS I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC AT THE TIME, AS I WAS WAITING FOR MY TAX RETURN CHECK TO ARRIVE. AS SOON AS I HAD THE MONEY TO GET IT DIAGNOSED, I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE, WHICH WOULD COST $7000! MY MECHANIC TOLD ME OF THE ONGOING PROBLEMS MY TYPE OF VEHICLE WAS HAVING AND SUGGESTED I CALL THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT CENTER OF TOYOTA. BECAUSE I WAS NEVER INFORMED BY TOYOTA (I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE IN 2008, SEVERAL YEARS AFTER A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS IMPLEMENTED AGAINST TOYOTA) MY WARRANTY HAD ALREADY EXPIRED BY THE TIME I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. I FEEL MISINFORMED AND RIPPED OFF BY BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA AS A WHOLE. I STILL OWE OVER $9000 ON MY LOAN AND DO NOT HAVE A VEHICLE TO DRIVE MY FIVE CHILDREN AROUND IN SAFELY. TOYOTA IS RISKING THE LIVES AND LOYALTY OF MILLIONS OF CONSUMERS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY. THEY REFUSE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND HAVE BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF RUDE TO ME. I HOPE THE GOVERNMENT OF THIS COUNTRY WILL DO SOMETHING TO HELP REIMBURSE BOTH MYSELF, AND THE MILLIONS OF OTHERS LIKE ME. THIS IS A CRIME AND NEEDS TO BE STOPPED! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10341835

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHENEVER THE CHARCOAL CANISTER OR ANY MINOR MALFUNCTION OCCURRED IN THE VEHICLE THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS DEACTIVATED. THE TRACTION CONTROL ALSO DEACTIVATED WHEN THE FUEL CAP WAS NOT REPLACED PROPERLY ON THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE DEFECT; YET, THEY REQUIRE THE CONTACT TO COME IN WHENEVER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK SINCE IT RAINS IN FLORIDA AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WHEN ACTIVATED ENGAGED ITSELF TO ASSIST WITH TRACTION. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE CHARCOAL CANISTER VALVE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL AND NOT A DANGER. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10319345

Incident

Dec 10, 2009

Mileage

70,000 mi

MY 2002 SIENNA WAS DIAGNOSED WITH OIL SLUDGE AT 73,000 MILES. DEALER SAYS IT CANNOT REPLACE ENGINE AT THEIR COST WITHOUT RECEIPTS TO PROVE OIL CHANGES. SINCE WE DID THE CHANGES OURSELVES WE HAVE NO RECEIPTS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10148325

Incident

Jan 11, 2006

Mileage

73,000 mi

IDLE CONTROL VALVE FAILURE. PREVENTS CAR FROM IDLING CORRECTLY. CAR WILL START AND THEN CUT OFF RIGHT AFTER YOU DRIVE OFF. POTENTIALLY CAUSING YOU TO GET HIT BY OTHER VEHICLES. THIS HAPPENED ON MY 2002 SIENNA AT 40K MILE AND CONTINUOUSLY SINCE. I KNOW OF 4 OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC HAD ABOUT 10 OR THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS IN HIS SHOP AND HE SAID THAT HE REPLACES THESE ALL THE TIME ON ALL THE TOYOTAS. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE FREMONT TOYOTA DEALER AND THE SERVICE REP SAID THE FAILURE RATE WAS SO HIGH THAT THERE WAS A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE FOR THIS PART AND THAT IT WOULD TAKE 2 MONTHS FOR THE PART TO BE AVAILABLE. THE DUBLIN CA, TOYOTA DEALER WAS ALSO WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM OF THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE. IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ALL OPERATORS OF SIENNAS, CAMRYS, AND OTHER TOTOTA VEHICLES WITH THIS IDLE CONTROL VALVE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10139759

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

Mileage

40,000 mi

I HAVE 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CAR WAS PERFECT UNTIL AFTER 30K MILES. WE FIRST NOTICED THE CAR OCCASIONALLY HAD DIFFICULTY OF STARTING DURING WARM WEATHER OR WARM ENGINE CONDITION. THEN THE SITUATION GOT WORST, THE NO STARTING GOT MORE OFTEN. WE EVEN GOT STUCK IN THE FREEWAY AND BUSY STREET BECAUSE WE STOPPED THE CAR AND HAD A LOT OF DIFFICULTY TO GET THE CAR STARTED AGAIN. THE SITUATION COULD BE DANGEROUS IN A TRAFFIC BUSY LOCATION. I HAVE TWO FRIEND WHO HAVE SIENNA AND THEY BOTH HAD THE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SIENNA. THE USUAL SYMPTOM OF THE PROBLEM: THE CAR TAKES MORE CRACKING TO START AND THEN ITS RPM IMMEDIATELY DROPS TO 400-200RPM AND THEN THE ENGINE DIES; SOME TIMES PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR WOULD HELP RAISING THE RPM AND GOT THE CAR REALLY STARTED; AT SOME OTHER TIMES, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AT ALL UNTIL THE ENGINEER COOLS DOWN AND/OR THE WEATHER COOLS DOWN; TODAY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN AN OUTDOOR PARKING LOT. I AM STILL TRYING TO GET IT STARTED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10138047

Incident

Sep 28, 2005

Mileage

39,523 mi

PURCHASE 2002 SIENNA CE IN JUNE 2002. HAVE LEAK IN TOP RADIATOR HOSE WHERE IT JOINS THE ENGINE. LOOSES COOLANT OVER SEVERAL WEEKS. BROUGHT TO TOYOTA DEALER WHERE PURCHASED AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE HOSE. INSTALLED A NEW CLAMP. NOW 3 MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM IS BACK. I BELIEVE THIS IS A BAD PART THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER IS GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND.*AK

NHTSA ID

10112701

Incident

Dec 16, 2004

MY 2002 SIENNA HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS A LOUD ENGINE KNOCKING WHEN ACCELERATING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. IT HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR ABOUT THE LAST 6000 MILES. AT 20,000 MILES, SCOTT CLARKES TOYOTA IN CHARLOTTE TOLD ME TO USE A BETTER GRADE GASOLINE, WITH NO RESULTS. AT 24,000 MILES, THEY TOLD ME I HAVE SPARK KNOCK AND NEED TO DRIVE THE CAR AT HIGHER SPEEDS MORE OFTEN. (I DRIVE MOSTLY IN THE CITY). READING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT SLUDGE, I THINK THIS IS RELATED, SINCE THEY TOLD ME MY OIL WAS SLUDGEY TOO. I THINK THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10100707

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

Mileage

20,000 mi

TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALER THAT MY THREE YR OLD 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA WITH 47,542 MILES NEEDS A NEW ENGINE DUE TO SLUDGE/GELLING OF ENGINE OIL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10095797

Incident

Oct 13, 2004

Mileage

47,542 mi

ENGINE OIL SLUDGE FORMING IN CAMSHAFT CARRIER AND UNDER OIL FILLER CAP AFTER ONLY 35K MILES! I BOUGHT THIS SIENNA BRAND NEW FOR $32000 AND PERFORM MAINTENANCE RELIGIOUSLY, CHANGING OIL & FILTER EVERY 4000 - 5000. YET, LAST WEEK ON A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE I NOTICED BLACK GRITTY DEPOSITS CAKED UNDERNEATH THE OIL FILLER CAP! IT WAS ABOUT 2-4 MM THICK; I COULD SCRAPE IT WITH MY FINGERNAILS AND IT FELT LIKE HARDENED SUGAR. I COULD SEE THE BLACK DEPOSITS WELL INTO THE CAM CARRIER. I FOUND OUT THAT MANY OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SLUDGE PROBLEM! THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW IN THE 3.0L V6 ENGINES CAUSING THE OIL TO SLUDGE; TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE ENGINES! *LA

NHTSA ID

10080887

Incident

Jul 3, 2004

Mileage

35,000 mi

ENGINE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF AN ACCUMALATION OF SLUDGE WHICH DEVELOPED IN THE BASE OF THE MOTOR. THEN, ENGINE STALLED. THIS WAS THE THIRD ENGINE REPLACEMENT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10081395

Incident

Jul 6, 2004

Mileage

30,000 mi

OIL SLUDGE: IT TOOK SOME DOING BUT TOYOTA FINALLY DID PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

10070042

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 5/28/2003 AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT FUNCTION WITH THE CURRENT ENGINE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10025127

VEHICLE WAS BLOWING WHITE SMOKE OUT, AND WHEN YOU REMOVED THE OIL REFILL CAP THERE WAS A GEL TYPE SUBSTANCE ON IT, THE MECHANIC CALLED IT OIL GEL. TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY ARE NOT MAINTAINING THEIR AUTO, BUT WITH HER VEHICLE THIS IS NOT TRUE. *TT

NHTSA ID

10021772

Incident

May 28, 2003

TOYOTA SIENNA ENGINE FIRE. THE CONSUMER INQUIRED WHEN THE RESULTS OF THE FIRE INVESTIGATION WOULD BE PUBLISHED. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10014910

Incident

Jan 29, 2003

THE ENGINE LOCKED UP.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009680

Incident

Mar 3, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM MAGIC TOYOTA IN EDMONDS WA. THE VAN HAS 20000 MILES ON IT AND IS NOW IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE HAD IT SERVICED BUT APPARENTLY THE TOYOTA ENGINES HAVE AN OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP PROBLEM WHICH DESTROYS THE ENGINE IF IT OCCURS. TOYOTA IS UNCERTAIN AT THIS JUNCTURE IF THEY ARE GOING TO REPAIR THE ENGINE WHICH IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD IT SERVICED ON 11/20/02 AT MAGIC TOYOTA. FOUR WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE IS DEAD LINED WITH BLUE SMOKE, POOR COMPRESSION, AND A KNOCK. I HAVE RECENTLY READ THAT TOYOTA ENGINES FROM 2000 ON WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I AM ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT THE STATE OF IDAHO AND POSSIBLY CALIFORNIA ARE FORMULATING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON THIS ISSUE. TOYOTA IS CLAIMING THAT IT IS AN OWNER MAINTENANCE ISSUE NOT A DEFECT. I REQUEST TO FILE AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT AGAINST TOYOTA IN REFERENCE TO THIS ENGINE DEFECT. THEY ARE NOT STANDING GOOD FOR IT. AN ENGINE WITH 20,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD NOT BE DEAD LINED. TS

NHTSA ID

10000410

Incident

Nov 20, 2002

Mileage

21,000 mi