2004 Toyota Sienna

Please see the attached closing resume summary.It has been attached to this document as a PDF.

ODI'S ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY DATA SHOWS THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS OCCURRED IN JUST 0.2 PERCENT OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION.WHEN THE ANALYSIS IS LIMITED TO SALT-BELT STATES, THE RATE IS STILL WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF THE POPULATION (0.4 PERCENT).IN ADDITION, TESTS CONDUCTED BY ODI AND TOYOTA HAVE SHOWN THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS A MINIMAL AFFECT ON STEERING EFFORTS.ODI INTERVIEWS OF OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE ALLEGED DEFECT INDICATED THAT IN MOST CASES THE PROBLEM WAS PRECEDED BY MONTHS OR YEARS OF NOISE OR A GRADUAL INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORTS IN THE INITIAL STEERING MANEUVERS AFTER FIRST STARTING A COLD VEHICLE.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE FOR 4 TO 5 YEARS WITH NO CRASHES OR INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.TOYOTA'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO SERVICE TECHNICIANS IN THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT CONDITION. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REFER TO THE EA08-024 CLOSING REPORT.

IN A JUNE 25, 2008, LETTER RESPONDING TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST FROM ODI, TOYOTA PROVIDED INFORMATION ABOUT AN ACCELERATOR PEDAL INTERFERENCE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED DURING PRODUCTION DYNAMOMETER TESTING AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT FOR AN EARLY PRODUCTION MY 2004 SIENNA MINIVAN.THE INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A MISSING RETAINING CLIP THAT ALLOWED THE CENTER CONSOLE TRIM PANEL TO INTERFERE WITH (TRAP) THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER IT HAD BEEN DEPRESSED.TOYOTA SUBSEQUENTLY IMPLEMENTED AN 100% INSPECTION REQUIREMENT FOR THE RETAINING CLIP.IN JUNE 2003, TOYOTA CHANGED THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF THE TRIM PANEL TO ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR PEDAL INTERFERENCE IN THE EVENT THE RETAINING CLIP IS NOT PRESENT.ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY DATA SHOW THAT A FEW (4) INCIDENTS OF INTERFERENCE BY THE TRIM PANEL HAVE OCCURRED IN SERVICE.IN AT LEAST THREE OF THE INCIDENTS, THE INTERFERENCE OCCURRED AFTER SERVICE WAS PERFORMED THAT REQUIRED REMOVAL AND REINSTALLATION OF THE SUBJECT TRIM PANEL AND RETAINING CLIP. ON JANUARY 14, 2009, TOYOTA NOTIFIED ODI THAT THEY WOULD RECALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 10, 2003 AND JUNE 11, 2003, WHEN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FLOOR CARPET COVER WAS USED IN PRODUCTION (NHTSA RECALL NO. 09V-023).TOYOTA'S RECALL WILL INSTRUCT DEALERS TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL FLOOR CARPET COVER WITH THE NEWER DESIGN FLOOR CARPET (AND RETENTION CLIP) AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER.THE REPAIR WILL REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR TRIM PANEL INTERFERENCE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TRAVEL SHOULD THE RETAINING CLIPS BECOME MISSING BECAUSE OF IMPROPER SERVICE OR OTHER REASONS.THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED AS A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN.

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION, PE08-041, TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF STEERING BINDING OR INCREASED STEERING EFFORT CAUSED BY CORROSION OF STEERING INTERMEDIATE UNIVERSAL JOINTS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA VEHICLES.TOYOTA'S RESPONSE TO ODI'S REQUEST FOR INFORMATION IN PE08-041 INDICATED THAT TOYOTA HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING REPORTS OF INCREASED STEERING EFFORT IN MY 2004 THROUGH 2006 SIENNA VEHICLES SINCE 2005. TOYOTA DETERMINED THAT A COMBINATION OF THERMAL DAMAGE AND SUBSEQUENT WATER INTRUSION COULD LEAD TO CORROSION OF THE LOWERMOST UNIVERSAL JOINT INSTALLED ON THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. TOYOTA HAS MADE PRODUCTION CHANGES SINCE SEPTEMBER 2006 TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS AND HAS ISSUED TWO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS TO ITS DEALERSHIPS TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS ON DIAGNOSING AND REPAIRING COMPLAINTS RELATED TO CORROSION OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. TOYOTA HAS NOT DETERMINED THAT A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM OF THE TOYOTA SIENNA VEHICLES AND PROVIDED TEST DATA SHOWING THAT THE EFFECT ON STEERING EFFORT IS MINIMAL, EVEN FOR PARTS WITH RELATIVELY SEVERE CORROSION. ODI ANALYZED COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA RELATING TO THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS: (1) STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BINDING OR LOCKING; (2) CORROSION OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT; (3) COMPLAINTS OF INCREASED EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL FROM NEUTRAL OR RETURN TO NEUTRAL AFTER TURNING (E.G., HARD STEERING OR STEERING BINDING); OR (4) NOISE WHILE STEERING.THESE ANALYSES REVEALED THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL COMPLAINT RATE OF 81.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND A TOTAL WARRANTY CLAIM RATE OF 3.0 PERCENT.ODI'S ANALYSIS FOUND THAT APPROXIMATELY TWO-THIRDS OF COMPLAINTS WERE FOR NOISE ONLY.SIMILAR ANALYSIS OF THE WARRANTY DATA SHOWED THAT 91 PERCENT WERE RELATED TO NOISE CONCERNS. ODI HAS UPGRADED THIS INVESTIGATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA08-024) TO CONDUCT TESTING TO ASSESS THE EFFECT OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT ON STEERING EFFORT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.

The contact's mother owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. While the contact's mother was driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the warning lights illuminated on and off for days and months. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where DTC: P2241 was retrieved. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure code was confirmed. The contact was informed that the oxygen sensors needed to be replaced. In addition, the contact was informed that a TSB for the ECM software update needed to be performed. The contact stated that the vehicle was not repaired because the ECM software update was performed, and the ECM software update damaged the ECM. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 150,132.

NHTSA ID

11699794

Incident

Nov 10, 2025

Mileage

150,132 mi

Shifter not shifting into park even when in park causing it to roll even when you think it’s in park

NHTSA ID

11693880

Incident

Oct 15, 2025

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while the liftgate door was opened, the door had erroneously closed and failed to remain opened. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the rear hatch door struts were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V244000 (STRUCTURE); but parts were on back order. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11679304

Incident

Aug 8, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

The Traction Control System commonly malfunctions while making turns on curving road sections. I will lose power through turns as the TCS light blinks on my dashboard and makes a beeping sound. On some occasions the brakes will automatically engage in the tire that the car perceives as experiencing slippage. This problem is continuously worsening and commonly endangers me and my passengers, as the car engages brakes or cuts power to the engine at unexpected and in opportune times.

NHTSA ID

11659970

Incident

Mar 1, 2025

Vehicle often applies brakes on its own . At first it was only in turns . However now it does it when driving straight on the the freeway or just down the street at 45mph. I have fixed my alignment ,new tires, all of the front suspension and nothing prevents the car from trying to brake for me. it is a safety feature that is not safe at all. a car slamming on your brakes at any speed is dangerous in addition to that it seems to cut off your fuel , leaving you unable to accelerate until its done beeping which can take a long time. the vsc , chenk engine and trac off flash there is no crash to report I have been lucky so far

NHTSA ID

11649266

Incident

Mar 2, 2025

While driving typically around 35 mph and either left or right turn the vehicle traction control engages and the van brakes and steering is affected. The roads have always been dry and in each instance the speed of the van was at or below the speed limit - traction was never lost and yet the traction control engaged as if we were in a skid. This occurred at least 12 times while driving to and from a day trip in the mountains (windy road). It has also happened multiple times at around 50 mph while turning left on a nearby flat freeway. An independent service shop has not been able to replicate the problem. The safety of the driver and passengers were at risk when it occurred on the freeway as a driver behind us got close to rear ending the van while it was in its brake mode.

NHTSA ID

11641856

Incident

Feb 1, 2025

Was driving on highway at 60-65 mph. The car continued to accelerate. Pressed on brake and wasn't slowing the vehicle. The driver was weaving in and out of cars as the van started to creek up to 92 mph. The driver and passengers thought they were going to crash and possible die. The driver tried the brake multiple times and nothing. The driver said the accelerator pedal wasn't pressed all the way down to the floor. It was half way and driver had to go down and pull up on the pedal while driving. The van then started to slow and driver was able to pull over to have the van evaluated . The throttle body was reached and cleaned of carbon because it said that this may have been part of the issue. Never has this van taken off like this. The throttle body cable wasnt loose or disconnected either. So far we havent been able to recreate but 3 people could have been killed.

NHTSA ID

11635166

Incident

Dec 31, 2024

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and the speed of the vehicle increased to over 90 MPH. During the failure, the braking system had failed and would not stop the vehicle while pressing the brake pedal. The front passenger was able to view the fuel pedal was stuck to the floor and was able to physically pull the fuel pedal up from the stuck position and the vehicle's speed was reduced. The incident lasted for approximately 10 minutes. During the incident, the police were on the scene. A police report was later filed at the scene and the vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The contact was informed by the dealer that the failure was due to a missing fuel pedal pen. No further information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact expressed experiencing emotional stress and anxiety during and after the incident. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11576843

Incident

Dec 16, 2023

Mileage

200,000 mi

To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.

The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint and appears as pitting or water spots. As acid rain droplets on the vehicle surface evaporate, the concentration strength of the acid increases, causing deeper and more rapid damage. This evaporation and corrosive action also occur more rapidly on dark colored cars as direct sun heat increases. It is the dealer’s responsibility to protect and maintain the quality of the vehicle’s paint finish after receipt at the dealership prior to the first sale. In areas known for high frequency and/or concentration of acid rain, frequent vehicle washing during high heat or humidity periods will minimize the potential for paint damage caused by acid rain. It is further recommended that either reverse osmosis or deionized water be used to prevent water spotting.

Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on the paint surface that resemble hard water spots. Unlike water spots however, acid rain damage cannot be removed by regular washing procedures. Also, because acid rain can etch and soften the paint, normal buffing or polishing repair procedures should not be attempted. This can cause further damage and result in visible depressions in the paint surface. The following are the three major categories of acid rain damage: •Minor damage: requires only buffing to repair. •Moderate damage: usually requires neutralizing, color sanding, and buffing. •Severe damage: extending beyond 1/2 mil of clearcoat on a pearl, metallic, or solid color, requires neutralization, sanding, and repainting. In cases where acid rain damage is minor, neutralization and buffing with a liquid-type paint finessing product may provide an adequate repair. Only specially formulated products outlined in this bulletin should be used for that purpose. Unfortunately, other than minor damage, there is no simple method of determining the actual extent (depth) of acid penetration other than color sanding a representative affected area until there is no visible etching or depressions, followed by measuring the amount of paint removed with either a magnetic or digital-type film thickness gauge. The procedures in this bulletin are intended for use by qualified body/paint technicians and should not be attempted by inexperienced personnel. It is the dealer’s responsibility to protect and maintain the quality of the vehicle’s paint finish after receipt at the dealership prior to the first sale. Perform frequent vehicle washing, as often as daily, during high heat and humidity periods to minimize the potential for paint damage due to acid rain exposure. This is especially important in geographical areas known for high frequency and concentration of acid rain and industrial fallout.

Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film within 90 days from initial application.

Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surface. These particles are often difficult to see on dark color paints but can be easily felt when brushing a hand across horizontal body surfaces such as the hood, roof, or deck lid. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to clean vehicles that may have been subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles such as rail dust during rail transportation or extended storage near industrial areas.

To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.