2008 Toyota Sienna Brakes Problems

I have had the traction control go on while driving on the highway even when I turn it off. Sometimes the VSC and TRAC OFF lights go on while driving. The roads are dry. Whenever I take it in to the mechanic, all the lights are off. They pulled a zero calibration code and recalibrated. It still kept happening. Then I was driving around a curve on highway speeds when the traction control light went on and the van suddenly braked on its own and I almost lost control. The tires are new and the roads were dry.

NHTSA ID

11641052

Incident

Feb 5, 2025

The Vehicle VSC Engaged multiple times even at low speed of 30 mph under the road speed limit. The brake applied and even the vehicle stop to respond to the acceleration. We have 3 little kids and old parents in this vehicle.Toyota should own this problem and fix it free of charge as a factory recall.

NHTSA ID

11497165

Incident

Dec 12, 2022

Driving on dry pavement in mountainous terrain the slip indicator light/sound activates temporarily and the brakes can engage by themselves! Usually happens during right turns. I've been to several automotive specialists for mechanical & electronic diagnosis. I've replaced the lower control arm & the clock spring behind the steering wheel but the issue persists. Online searches indicate this is a common problem with Toyota siennas that is extremely difficult to diagnose & very costly to replace all the possible problematic components! I've had this problem since buying the car used several months ago.This should be a recall issue!!!!!!!!!!!

NHTSA ID

11491948

Incident

Sep 1, 2022

Vehicle starting beebing and automatically engaged abs braking on highway. Dry and clear.

NHTSA ID

11478285

Incident

Aug 7, 2022

The vsc begins to beep and then the car sometimes applies brakes, or the motor seems to lug. This can happen at any any speed. This has been happening for years and is becoming more frequent.

NHTSA ID

11446362

Incident

Sep 23, 2020

Anti skid/slip malfunctions, Brakes are automatic applied while turning a corner. When this happen one dry road surfaces it was harder to control the car. This happen multiple times in the pass. Yes my safety and others on the road was put at risk. Yes been confirmed by independent service centers. 4.) UNKNOWN 5).No. The warning indicator light and buzzer comes on at the time the incident happens.

NHTSA ID

11440625

Incident

Nov 10, 2021

The dashboard lights up. abs and traction control light, vsc and brake. It seems like the bushings by the rack and pinion become loose and leads to random brake failure.

NHTSA ID

11431470

Incident

Sep 2, 2021

2008 Toyota Sienna. Driving down steep right turns, VSC light comes on, urgent beeping alarm and tires grip and grip vehicle brakes going 20-30+ mph on dry road. Very scary and dangerous, and has continues repeatedly over the past year on curvy right turns. Local mechanics don't know what is wrong with the vehicle. Many Sienna owners have similar problems listed on Carguru. https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-c9152_ds656326 Please insist on a manufacturing recall for this vehicle. It is unsafe and could easily cause an accident. Thank you. Concerned original car owner.

NHTSA ID

11420705

Incident

Jun 12, 2021

WHILE ON AN ON-RAMP; THE VEHICLE AT ABOUT 35 MPH STARTED BLINKING THE SLIP LIGHT AND SLOWED THE VAN DOWN, ALSO CAUSING I THINK THE BRAKES TO ENGAGE WITH FORCE. HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY AND ON RAMPS. I HAD THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED AND STILL HAS DONE THIS.

NHTSA ID

11404919

Incident

Mar 23, 2021

Mileage

146,892 mi

THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WILL UNEXPECTEDLY ENGAGE IN INSTANCES WHERE IT SHOULDN'T ACTIVATE. THE MOST COMMON IS A LONG, SLIGHT CURVE ON AT FREEWAY SPEEDS ON DRY PAVEMENT. THE SECOND MOST COMMON SCENARIO IS ACCELERATING TO ENTER THE FREEWAY. WHEN VSC ENGAGES, THE VEHICLE WILL LURCH TO THE SIDE IT WAS ACTIVATED ON AND CURTAIL ANY ACCELERATION. THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE HARD TO CONTROL WHEN ON A FREEWAY CURVE AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY, CAUSING UNEXPECTED MOTION THAT IS A HAZARD TO REMAINING ON THE ROAD OR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT WITH OTHER VEHICLES. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THERE ARE MALFUNCTIONS IN ANY SYSTEM THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS TO OCCUR. NOTE: MILEAGE ON THE ODOMETER IS ~170,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11378530

Incident

Oct 23, 2020

Mileage

170,000 mi

ON INCLINES, THE VSC LIGHT WOULD COME ON, CLICKING NOISE NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CAR WOULD LOSE POWER. I HAVE MECHANICS CHECKED OUT. CV JOINT AND BALL BEARING REPLACED. PROBLEM PERSISTS.

NHTSA ID

11339611

Incident

Jul 1, 2020

Mileage

180,000 mi

ABOUT A FIVE YEARS AGO THE SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT (CAR WITH SWERVY LINES) STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TURNING ON HIGHWAYS ETC. (BUT NOT WHEN ANY RISK OF TIRES SLIPPING). I BROUGHT IT TO TOYOTA THREE DIFFERENT TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND TOYOTA ALWAYS STATES THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE ISSUE AND STATES THEY CAN?T FIX IT BUT MAYBE DRIVE SLOWER (REALLY IT HAS NOTHING TO WITH MY SPEED AFTER YEARS OF DEALING WITH THIS ITS BEEN SOMETHING WE JUST DEAL WITH). THE VSC LIGHT ALSO COMES ON AND ALARM SOMETIMES SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING. TWO MORE TRIPS TO TOYOTA AND SEVERAL VISITS TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND NOBODY CAN FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS THE ABS SYSTEM IS ALSO BEING ACTIVATED WITHOUT ME APPLYING THE BRAKES. IT DOES IT WITHOUT WARNING. ALL OF THESE ISSUES CAN BE ON A CURVE AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS OR ON A SLIGHT OR MEDIUM TURNS (NOT REAL SHARP TURNS), GOING UPHILL OR DOWNHILL AND LEFT OR RIGHT. OUR VAN HAS ABOUT 150,000 MILES ON IT NOW ON 2020 BUT WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED IT ONLY HAD AROUND 110,000 MILES ON IT. WE HAVE CHANGED BRAKES, TIRES, ROTORS, BRUSHING ON ADVICE FROM DIFFERENT MECHANICS TO TRY TO FIX THE ISSUE. NOTHING WORKS. TOYOTA CANNOT FIGURE IT OUT. IT'S BECOMING MORE DANGEROUS BECAUSE NOW THE ABS IS BEING ACTIVATED WITH THIS PROBLEM. I CAN'T TELL IF MY BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON SO THAT DRIVERS BEHIND ME CAN TELL THAT I?M SLOWING DOWN VERY QUICKLY. THIS JERKS THOSE IN THE CAR AND I?M AFRAID WE MAY LOSE CONTROL. I HAVE READ ON DIFFERENT WEB SITES THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH A TOYOTA AND IT'S JUST NOT MY VAN. IF I HAD THE MONEY I WOULD BUY A DIFFERENT VEHICLE BUT BEING ON A FIXED INCOME I DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY TO DO SO. HOW CAN A CAR COMPANY HAVE SO MANY COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS ABOUT THIS COMMON PROBLEM BUT STILL CAN'T TELL US HOW TO FIX IT? IT'S TOYOTAS DESIGN THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL THE CONSUMER WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE AND HOW TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

11330408

Incident

Jun 8, 2015

Mileage

110,000 mi

VEHICLE WOULD ENGAGE BRAKES BY ITSELF AND VSC AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS WOULD START FLASHING AND BEEPING WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES OR HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THIS WAS FRIGHTENING, AND CAUSED ME TO NOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SELL THE VEHICLE OUTRIGHT TO ANOTHER PERSON, SO I LOST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BY TRADING IT IN. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY FOR OVER A YEAR. ESTIMATED FINANCIAL LOSS $4000.00. *TR

NHTSA ID

11330108

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

Mileage

95,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING WITH MY AUTISTIC CHILDREN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE VSC LIGHT AND THE TRAC OFF LIGHT ALL CAME ON AND THE WHEELS LOCKED UP ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND THROUGH THE VAN INTO A DITCH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS MADE FOR FAMILIES. I AM NOW KEEPING A LOG AND I DO PLAN ON RETAINING AN ATTORNEY AS NO ONE HAS ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE AS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

11320604

Incident

Apr 8, 2020

Mileage

184,000 mi

THE TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITY, AND ABS ENGAGE IN TURNS (STEERING INPUT) RANGING FROM SPEEDS OF 25-55 MPH. IT HAPPENS ON FLAT SURFACES, INCLINES AND DECLINES. THE TURN RANGE FROM SHARP TURNS TO SLIGHT TURNS THAT THERE IS NO REDUCTION OF SPEED TO NAVIGATE THE TURN. WHEN IT OCCURS THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY DECELERATES AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE IN A TURN THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE UNTIL THERE IS NO STEERING INPUT. DEALERS AND MECHANICS CAN NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING DAILY FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. THIS HAS CAUSED MANY NEAR CRASHES.

NHTSA ID

11279479

Incident

Apr 1, 2019

Mileage

180,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON A SLOPE, INCLINE OR DECLINE, MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ( CAR WITH SQUIGGLES BEHIND IT) COMES ON, A LOUD 'BEEP BEEP BEEP' SOUNDS, AND MY CAR BRAKES ON ITS OWN. ALWAYS HAPPENS WHILE IN MOTION. HIGHWAY DRIVING. 90 PERCENT OF THE TIME WHILE ON AN INCLINE OR DECLINE. IT SCARES THE HECK OUT OF YOU CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THE BRAKES APPLY, IT PULLS YOU OUT OF YOUR LANE. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS 3 WEEKS AGO. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE INTERMITTENT ANYMORE. YOU CAN COUNT ON IT HAPPENING WHEN YOUR ON A SLOPE.

NHTSA ID

11271212

Incident

Oct 10, 2019

Mileage

175,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VSC/ABS SYSTEM COMES ON UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO BRAKE AND EFFECT STEERING. IT IS MOST FREQUENTLY NOTICED WHEN STEERING ON CURVES 30-40 MPH. I HAVE REPLACED TIRES, FRONT STEERING COMPONENTS AND DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE. I BELIEVE WHEEL SPEED/YAW SENSOR CALIBRATION IS AFFECTING THE VSC SYSTEM. THIS IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION TO BE IN THAT COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. YOUR BRAKING AND STEERING AFFECTED ALL AT ONCE UNEXPECTEDLY IS DANGEROUS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND PROVIDE SOLUTION ASAP.

NHTSA ID

11258777

Incident

Mar 22, 2016

Mileage

97,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHEN THE CONTACT SWITCHED LANES OR MADE A TURN, THE BRAKES ACTIVATED ON THEIR OWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FLAT OR CURVED ROADS AND WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES WORKED PROPERLY, BUT SOMETIMES THEY DID NOT WORK AT ALL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE ON ITS OWN AND THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL TICKING NOISE. FURTHERMORE, THE VSC AND TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA KNOXVILLE (10415 PARKSIDE DR, KNOXVILLE, TN 37922), BUT THEY DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO FOX TOYOTA (228 FOX FAMILY LN, CLINTON, TN 37716) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A STEERING ANGLE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. *BF *TR

NHTSA ID

11222907

Incident

Jun 28, 2017

Mileage

170,000 mi

OCTOBER 2016 THIS PROBLEM OF MY 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA STARTED- ON SLIGHT CURVES DOING 30-40MPH I WOULD HEAR A CLICKING NOISE COMING SOMEWHERE UNDERNEATH THE FRONT RIGHT END ALMOST AS IF UNDER THE DASH, THE VSC LIGHT WOULD FLASH. I TOOK TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, HAD A MECHANIC TEST DRIVE WITH ME THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THAT MY TIRES WERENT ALIGNED WITH MY LAST TIRE CHANGE(WHICH WAS DONE AT THEIR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP) TOYOTA TOLD ME I NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL THE TIRES AND HAVE THE WHEELS ALIGNED. I DID THIS, PROBLEM CONTINUED. I TOOK MY VAN IN AGAIN TO TOYOTA, THEY LIED AND TOLD ME I NEEDED NEW BRAKES, AND SOME OTHER THINGS I DIDNT NEED. DECIDED TO GET A 2ND OPINION FROM 2 OTHER AUTO SHOPS AND FOUND OUT TOYOTA LIED ABOUT THE BRAKES, THEY WERE FINE AND THEY BOTH WERE UNABLE TO FIND OUT MY PROBLEM. I FOUND THIS OUT GOING TO 2 OTHER AUTO SHOPS ASKING FOR THEM TO LOOK INTO THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. NOW TODAY MAY 2019 THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, BUT HAS GOTTEN WORSE. NOW-THE VSC LIGHT COMES ON, IT STILL CLICKS, THE ABS LIGHT AND WARNING SOUND GOES OFF, FEELS AS IF ABS ENGAGES, AS IT JERKS AND IM UNABLE TO ACCELERATE DURING THIS TIME UNTIL IM ON A STRAIGHT AWAY. VERY SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS THE VAN STARTS JERKING AND UNABLE TO ACELERATE, NOT SAFE TO TAKE MY FAMILY IN. NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA AGAIN...

NHTSA ID

11210356

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

WHEN TURNING CORNERS, THE VSC LIGHT TURNS ON, THE CAR BEEPS, AND THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGES, CAUSING THE CAR TO BRAKE ON OWN. THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY, INTERMITTENTLY, AT ALL SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID

11163496

Incident

Dec 26, 2018

BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO FLOOR AND EXPERIENCED NO BRAKING. DEALER STATED "BRAKE COMPONENTS SEIZED AND INTERNAL FAILURE IN MASTER CYLINDER"

NHTSA ID

11144420

Incident

Jun 21, 2018

Mileage

129,082 mi

TRACTION LIGHT NOTIFIED ME OF A BRAKE PROBLEM. VAN WOULD STOP AND LOCK THE BRAKES. DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS THE ABS BRAKE ACTUATOR. REPLACED IN JUNE OF 2015. VAN WAS BEING DRIVEN ON CITY STREET

NHTSA ID

11144417

Incident

Jun 16, 2015

Mileage

95,474 mi

WHILE PUTTING ON THE BRAKES TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED UP TO 6000 RPM AND TRIED TO TAKE OFF BY ITSELF. I PUSHED THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND PUT MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM MOVING. I KICKED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL IT DISENGAGED. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THERE WAS NOT A FLOOR MAT INVOLVED AS THERE WAS NOT ONE IN THE CAR AT THIS TIME. THE LAST TIME I TALKED TO A TOYOTA DEALER ABOUT THIS THEY SAID THIS COULD NOT HAPPEN AND I WAS WRONG ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. THE DEALER DID NOT DOCUMENT ANY OF THIS AND WANTED NOTHING FURTHER TO DO WITH ME. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING WHEN YOU PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL OR TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE. MY WIFE WAS ALSO IN THE CAR TWO OF THE TIMES AND SAW WHAT HAPPENED. SHE WAS NOT IN THE CAR FOR THE LATEST EPISODE.

NHTSA ID

10972344

Incident

Apr 13, 2017

Mileage

154,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING 35 MPH ON AT LEAST 4 SEPERATE OCCASSIONS WHEN MY I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THEY COMPLETELY FAILED. I TOOK IT BACK TO TOYOTA AND THEY KEPT IT FOR 10 DAYS, FLUSHED THE BRAKE LINES 4 TIMES, REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, CHARGED ME $600 AND MADE ME SIGN A FORM SAYING THE VAN WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA ID

10745572

Incident

Mar 1, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

I DRIVE ABOUT 5,000 MILES A YEAR, IN THE BEGINNING OF 2012 I WAS TOLD MY BRAKES DID NOT PASS THE STATE INSPECTION. AT THIS TIME I HAD AROUND 20000 MILES ON THE VAN. THE REASON OF THE REJECT WAS RUST ON THE ROTORS, IT WAS SO BAD AND THE ROTORS WERE SO THIN AND OF A POOR METAL, THEY COULD EVEN BE WORKED ON. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AND PADS ON ALL 4 WHEELS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643370

Incident

May 1, 2012

Mileage

20,000 mi