2006 Toyota Sienna Brakes Problems

Bought the van used last year. Previous owner said mechanic could not diagnose the issue. On slight curves similar to on-ramps while accelerating the Vehicle stability control (VSC) will engage unexpectedly, sound an alarm and jerk the steering wheel. Some times to the point of pulling the vehicle out of its lane. Road speed is decreased dramatically as it feels as though the ABS is engaging. This has happened to me at least half a dozen times since June 2023. The condition will continue for maybe five or ten seconds until the wheel is straightened and speed reduced. Searching the Internet seems it's a fairly common problem. The fix might be to replace the steering rack or disable the VSC system. It's reported by those experiencing the issue get little to no help from the dealerships which strikes me as quite strange... From what I've read it seems to affect 2004-2009 Siennas

NHTSA ID

11548154

Incident

Jun 1, 2023

Vehicle traction control system will activate around a curve and break the vehicle while the traction control warning system activates. Breaking around a curve in a wet road situation can be very risky. Numerous other Toyota owners have filed similar complaints.

NHTSA ID

11540120

Incident

Aug 22, 2023

Mileage

232,000 mi

The vehicle stability control system randomly engages and activates the brakes without cause. This can happen on a gentle curve going under the speed limit. It is very scary and I am afraid it is going to cause an accident. Internet research shows many owners with this issue and no information on the cause or a fix

NHTSA ID

11514074

Incident

Mar 27, 2023

Slip light indicator comes on and alarm goes off, while anti-lock brakes engage. This is happening while I'm driving on the highway never in the city. The car starts pulling to the right sometimes almost pulling me off the road. The road conditions are completely normal and dry no gravel in it no reason whatsoever for the anti-lock brakes to start engaging. When this first started happening it only happens on curves while I was driving approximately 35 mph. After a couple of months it started happening also while I was driving approximately 70 miles an hour going straight on a dry road. It almost pulled me off into a ditch. The steering is affected I can barely steer but I have managed to keep the car on the road. This is now happening more frequently. I was almost pulled into another car to my right once. At first it was only every couple of months but now I had it happen twice in about a hundred mile trip. There's no way I can get a mechanic to have this happen because you can't predict when it will happen and many miles it won't happen. It is very very dangerous and I'm afraid to take my Toyota sienna on the highway now. After researching it I have found that many people are having this trouble with their Toyota Sienna's there needs to be a recall or a repair. Apparently Toyota mechanics have replaced all kinds of things in the Sienna's but nothing has fixed the problem.

NHTSA ID

11512351

Incident

Jul 15, 2021

Every time I go around a curve, the ABS TRC and vehicle beeps like I'm sliding. It happens on every curve. Its very dangerous. I have unplugged the sensor under the front passenger seat and all problems go away. i have replaced this part and it still has not fixed the problem. with part unplugged i have no ABS TRC Airbags none of the safety equipment is working while unplugged, but is safer than having my brakes slammed in every curve.

NHTSA ID

11504238

Incident

Aug 19, 2020

The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that she heard a strange noise while decelerating and the brake pedal failed to engage. There were no warning lights. The contact continued to depress the brake pedal with force until the antilock braking system engaged but failed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the brake pump was replaced but the failure recurred. The contact then had the brake pump replaced for a second time, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ABS needed to be replaced and the contact was advised to take the vehicle to a dealer. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact to take the vehicle back to the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11480843

Incident

Dec 1, 2021

Mileage

90,000 mi

Vehicle Trac Control/ABS system engages periodically especially on winding roads between speeds of 30-60mph. Trac Control alarm goes off and vehicle pumps brakes automatically, then resolves. This is extremely dangerous especially when roads are wet/icy or when being followed too closely by another vehicle. Tried replacing front right wheel speed sensor but problem persists. Research shows this is a chronic problem with Sienna vans and needs to be repaired or guidance provided by Toyota on how to resolve before someone gets hurt. Please help!

NHTSA ID

11464622

Incident

May 13, 2022

I've had multiple instances of driving along at varying speeds ranging from 35 to 65 mph, where the traction control kicked in abruptly, the slip indicator lights come on along with the traction control light on the dashboard, a beeping sound occurs, and the van brakes suddenly on its own. This has happened on dry pavement without any reason for traction control to kick in whether I'm driving straight or going around a curve. It is very dangerous and I've stopped driving the vehicle since I often drive with my 3 young children and I fear for our safety.

NHTSA ID

11437926

Incident

Apr 5, 2021

When driving on a curve traveling about 30 to 45 MPH. The traction control engages in perfectly dry road conditions. It automatically brakes and jerks the car one way or the other. Very dangerous, especially since you're traveling on a curve when it most often happens and you basically lose your ability to control the vehicle. I won't even let my wife drive the car. There's no known remedy for this problem and I can't even sell the car.

NHTSA ID

11432627

Incident

Jul 25, 2021

Vehicle shut off when going over the drain pipe I rolled it into a gas station turned it on and off switched gears and it started to roll back on drive I tried to move the gears and turned off the the vehicle after ward no gear worked.

NHTSA ID

11425228

Incident

Jul 10, 2021

VCS lights activate, alarm sounds and auto breaking while traveling at posted speeds while going around curved roads. Creates loss of control. Dealer has no remedy, mechanic has no remedy. Many similar issues found on on-line forums.

NHTSA ID

11422155

Incident

Jun 24, 2021

WITH NO WARNING ABS WILL LOCK UP AND CAUSE VAN TO VIOLENTLY SWERVE TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES ONCE , OTHER TIMES SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROW. ONLY LASTS FOR A FEW SECONDS. BUT LONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. TERRIFYING TO LOOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL IT DECIDES TO GIVE YOU CONTROL AGAIN. SEVERAL TRIPS TO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERS AS WELL NO LESS THAN 5 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND NO ONE HAS ANY IDEA WHAT CAUSES IT. HOWEVER THE TOYOTA DEALERS WERE ALL VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE BUT HAD NO IDEA HOW TO FIX IT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 18 MONTHS. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF PEOPLE TRYING TO SOLVE THE SAME ISSUE IN 2004-2010 TOYOTA'S IN ALL MODELS. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA ID

11416197

Incident

May 11, 2021

Mileage

141,000 mi

WHEN CORNERING THE VANS STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVATED WITHOUT WARNING AND MODULATES THE ABS BRAKES AND BEEPS AND BECOMES VERY UNSTABLE. MY WIFE AND I HAVE BOTH EXPERIENCED THIS AND FEAR IT WILL CAUSE A CAR ACCIDENT. IT IS NOT HAPPENING ALL THE TIME BUT MAKES ME WORRY EVERY TIME WE DRIVE A WINDY ROAD. WE HAD THE TOYOTA ZERO POINT CALIBRATION DONE, HAVE REPLACED WHEEL BEARINGS AND DONE AN ALIGNMENT WHICH HAVE NOT CHANGED IT AT ALL. IT TYPICALLY HAPPENS ON CURVY ROADS BETWEEN 25 AND 65 MPH.

NHTSA ID

11396106

Incident

Feb 13, 2021

Mileage

204,000 mi

ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT (CAR WITH SWERVY LINES) STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TURNING ON HIGHWAYS OR ROADS IN DRY CONDITIONS WITHOUT ANY RISK OF TIRES SLIPPING. THE ABS ACTIVATES WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN ON ITS OWN. THE SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS. NO KNOWN FIX FROM TOYOTA.

NHTSA ID

11388118

Incident

Mar 1, 2020

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL FOR A SHORT WHILE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO HIS DESTINATION. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CALL BIG ISLAND TOYOTA KAILUA-KONA (74-5504 KAIWI ST, KAILUA-KONA, HI 96740; (808) 329-8517) WHERE A VOICEMAIL WAS LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,400.

NHTSA ID

11377804

Incident

Dec 2, 2020

Mileage

77,400 mi

TRACTION CONTROL WARNING SOUNDS AND VEHICLE AUTO BRAKES - HARD. CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. OFTEN THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VAN IS IN A CURVE. SPEEDS VARY FROM 30S TO 70S (ON THE INTERSTATE). THIS CREATES A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

11373588

Incident

Nov 7, 2020

Mileage

169,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GOING AROUND A CURVE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SLOWED ABRUPTLY WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER COLONIAL TOYOTA (2600 W PIKE RD, INDIANA, PA 15701, (724) 471-4287) SUGGESTED THAT THE ISSUE MAY BE DUE TO A BROKEN WIRE OR A DIRTY SENSOR. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR WHEEL HUBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED AND THE SPEED SENSORS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11363215

Incident

Sep 1, 2020

THE SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT (CAR WITH SWERVE LINES) STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TURNING ON HIGHWAYS ETC. (BUT NOT WHEN ANY RISK OF TIRE SLIPPING). THEN VSC LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AND ALARM SOMETIMES SOUNDED. VISIT TO OUR OWN MECHANIC, NO PROBLEMS FOUND. IN THE LAST 2 YEARS THE ABS SYSTEM HAS ACTIVATED (DAILY) IT UNEXPECTEDLY APPLIES THE BRAKES WHILE IN MOTION. IT IS ON SPECIFIC TYPES OF CURVE AND WHILE DRIVING AT LEAST 30MPH, BUT HAS DONE AT 35, 55, 70 MPH, ON SLIGHT OR MEDIUM TURNS (NOT REAL SHARP TURNS), GOING UPHILL OR DOWNHILL AND LEFT OR RIGHT. TOOK MY MECHANIC FOR A RIDE WITH THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER HOOKED UP, IT DID THE ABS BRAKING, WARNING LIGHT, AND BEEPING 5 TIMES BUT COMPUTER SHOWED NO CODES. SUGGESTED RESETTING YAW WHICH WE DID, IT DID NOT HELP. SUGGESTED CALLING TOYOTA, THEY WERE NO HELP, SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT PROBLEM AND MY MECHANIC PROBABLY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO READ THE COMPUTER. WHEN ABS ACTIVATES IT'S VERY DANGEROUS - THINKING ABOUT DEACTIVATING ENTIRE VSC SYSTEM. I BELIEVE THE RACK AND PINION MAY PLAY A ROLE, THERE ARE RATTLE AND BUMP SOUNDS, PERHAPS A LOOSE SUSPENSION IS THE CULPRIT, THAT IS OUR NEXT OPTION. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED STRUTS, FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS, ALL NEW TIRES, HAD IT ALIGNED, DID NEW BRAKE PADS, AND ROTORS. ABSOLUTELY FED UP WITH THIS PROBLEM! *TR

NHTSA ID

11330888

Incident

Jun 25, 2020

Mileage

200,000 mi

TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATES ON DRY PAVEMENT AT RANDOM SPEEDS CAUSING VEHICLE ABS SYSTEM TO BRAKE AUTOMATICALLY. THIS HAPPENS ON GRADUAL CURVES TAKEN AT 30-45 MPH CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL WHEN ABS ACTIVATED.

NHTSA ID

11329865

Incident

Jun 20, 2020

Mileage

180,000 mi

WHEN I DRIVE HIGHWAYS THAT CURVE MY TRACTION CONTROL TURNS ON A NEARLY CAUSES ME TO WRECK! IT'S TERRIFYING AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL IT CAUSES AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11310608

Incident

Jan 1, 2017

Mileage

135,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 38 MPH OR MORE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL/TIRES, THE VSC WARNING ALARM WILL GO OFF. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE CARS AUTOMATICALLY BRAKES. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE SEVERITY OF THE BRAKING AND LENGTH OF ALARM VARY. IT IS ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC ON TIGHT TURNS. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER YOU ARE GOING UPHILL, DOWNHILL, OR TURNING ON A FLAT ROAD. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS UNSAFE ISSUE. WE HAVE TRIED TURNING OFF THE TRAC. IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE.

NHTSA ID

11289780

Incident

Dec 16, 2019

Mileage

145,000 mi

THE TCS IS MALFUNCTIONING, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP. I.E.-GOING 35MPH, IN A WIDE CURVE, THE STEERING "JERKED" SIDE TO SIDE AS THE VAN LOST TRACTION AND THEN CAME TO A FULL STOP AS THE BRAKES KICKED IN. THE TRACTION CONTROL ALARM AND DASH LIGHT CAME ON DURING THE EVENT, BUT THEN WENT OFF AS SOON AS THE BRAKES RELEASED. THIS HAS BEEN ON-GOING FOR 3 WEEKS, BUT THE MOST RECENT WAS TODAY.

NHTSA ID

11279679

Incident

Nov 12, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRACTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE MADE A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED LITHIA TOYOTA OF REDDING (LOCATED AT 250 E CYPRESS AVE, REDDING, CA 96002, (530) 605-2938) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

NHTSA ID

11257396

Incident

Sep 20, 2019

Mileage

165,000 mi

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA LE WITH ONLY 26500 MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 45 MILES PER HOUR ON A DRY PAVEMENT ON TUESDAY 09/03/2019 AROUND 6:40 PM AND AT A SUDDEN MOMENT THE VSC LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, WARNING SOUND CAME ON, THE CAR APPLIED THE BRAKES ON ITS OWN HARD UNTIL IT FULLY STOPPED, AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF BY ITSELF, WHICH ALMOST GOT ME INTO AN ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DEALER TO GET THE CAR DIAGNOSED FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE, THEY TRANSFERRED ME TO HUDSON TOYOTA AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT DESPITE THAT I HAD MY CAR TO THE DEALER RECENTLY FOR TWO RECALLS AND THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND GAVE ME A REPORT THAT EVERYTHING IN THE CAR WAS GOOD. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND I FOUND A LOT OF TOYOTA SIENNA OWNERS FROM THIS MODEL COMPLAINING ABOUT IT AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS DOCUMENTING IT, THIS LINK SHOWS A TOYOTA SIENNA OWNER DOCUMENTING ON VIDEO THE SAME PROBLEM (HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/SY9A8SHJ0XG) WHICH HAPPENED WITH HIM 20 TIMES IN THE COURSE OF 90 MINUETS AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HIS CAR. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE FIXED UNDER A RECALL BY TOYOTA BECAUSE THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE ON ITS OWN RANDOMLY ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

11253811

Incident

Sep 3, 2019

Mileage

26,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKE ASSIST AND SLIP WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF OLYMPIA (6969 TYEE DR SW, TUMWATER, WA 98512 (360), 539-3939) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1907270452. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,669.

NHTSA ID

11241774

Incident

Aug 5, 2019

Mileage

150,669 mi