2005 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.

ON MAY 30, 2008, TOYOTA INITIATED A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE LIFTGATE STRUTS IN APPROXIMATELY 196,000 MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 TOYOTA SIENNA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER LIFTGATES (RECALL 08V-244).THE RECALL WILL PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR VEHICLE OWNERS TO OBTAIN NEW STRUTS THAT ARE MORE ROBUST.BASED ON THESE ACTIONS, THE AGENCY HAS DECIDED TO CLOSE THE INVESTIGATION.WHILE TOYOTA HAS NOT MADE A DECISION THAT THE RECALLED VEHICLES CONTAIN A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT, IN VIEW OF THE RECALL, FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY'S RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ANY FINDING BY NHTSA.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.

THE LIFTGATE GAS STRUTS FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY HAVE DAMAGED GAS SEALS THAT ALLOW THE LIFTGATE TO DROP UNEXPECTEDLY.THE RATES FOR COMPLAINTS, ALLEGED INJURIES AND WARRANTY CLAIMS ARE HIGHER FOR VEHICLES WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION.THE POWER LIFTGATE MAY AUTOMATICALLY POWER-CLOSE AT THE COMPLETION OF A POWER-OPEN COMMAND WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE OPERATOR.SOME OWNERS ARE CAUGHT UNAWARE OF THE POWER-CLOSE OPERATION WHILE UNDER THE REAR LIFTGATE DOOR.ODI HAS UPGRADED THE INVESTIGATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-020) AND MODIFIED THE SCOPE TO INCLUDE ONLY THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION.

The dashboard has so many cracks literally everywhere. All the way from the driver side to the passenger side. When the temperature changes hot to cold or cold to hot. There’s nothing but cracking sounds.

NHTSA ID

11591696

Incident

Jan 8, 2024

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the oil warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over, opened the hood, and added additional oil. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who informed him that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 142,000.

NHTSA ID

11571869

Incident

Feb 5, 2024

Mileage

142,000 mi

The rear hatch on our 2005 Toyota Sienna, after being opened, comes down almost immediately and can hit a person who is reaching into the back cargo area and cause injury. Other people have also reported this same dangerous malfunction online as far back as 2007.

NHTSA ID

11556754

Incident

Apr 15, 2023

When driving on the highway, the van will suddenly brake and the steering will lock up for about 10 seconds. It is truly frightening. It has happened many times, even with the anti-lock button off. I love this vehicle otherwise, but cannot drive it for safety reasons. And I feel bad selling it to anyone else because I don't want anyone to die! The scariest part when it's on a windy 2 lane road. It really becomes non responsive and also the brakes come on when you are going 60+ miles an hour! HELP! I DONT WANT TO DIE

NHTSA ID

11547272

Incident

Sep 29, 2023

The stickiness of the dashboard causes unwanted glare and reflections on the windshield, especially when driving in bright sunlight. This glare and reflection make it extremely challenging to maintain a clear and unobstructed view of the road ahead, leading to hazy and blurry vision. As you can imagine, this compromised visibility poses a significant safety risk for both my family and other road users. The dashboard was recalled by Toyota however the part was not available at first for many months and by the time I inquired again, the recall had already expired, leaving us without a viable solution.

NHTSA ID

11546395

Incident

Sep 25, 2023

Air bag warning light illuminated red on dashboard.

NHTSA ID

11544568

Incident

Apr 1, 2022

The airbag light is on. The seatbelt on the passenger side gets stuck.

NHTSA ID

11534963

Incident

Jul 26, 2023

I was driving on a dry road, going 70mph when my car began flashing the abs indicator and it began breaking and controlling my steering taking me into another lane. The car slowed my vehicle suddenly down to 60 mph and then went off like it never happened. I then had control. There was no reason for the car to do this. There was nothing in the road and luckily no one was to close to me or there would have been an accident. I almost over corrected due to the pulling of the steering and the breaking of the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11518385

Incident

Apr 22, 2023

Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manual and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines.

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.

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.

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.

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.