2008 Toyota Sienna Driver assistance Problems

Throttle stuck while in reverse pulling out of a parking spot and accelerated resulting in backing into the building

NHTSA ID

11697917

Incident

Jul 16, 2025

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

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

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

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

CAR SPEED VARIES WHEN DOING A MODERATE SPEED EXAMPLE 40 MPH SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE ITS ENGINE SLIPS AND SPEED SLOWS CAR JUMPS FORWARD FEELS LIKE ENGINE SLIPS OR GEAR SHIFTS. ENGINE BOGS DOWN OR SOMETIMES REVS UP A LITTLE..SCARES ME SOMETIMES BUT NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE

NHTSA ID

11416631

Incident

Apr 6, 2021

Mileage

108,000 mi

BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, AND CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES MAKE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE IN WET WEATHER WHEN BACKING UP AND SOMETIMES WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING ALSO A 🔊 NOISE AND BRAKES SEEM TO SLIP HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE IT SCARES ME CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT CONTINUES TO PERSIST. BOTH IN HIGHWAY DRIVING AND REGULAR STREET DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11416627

Incident

Apr 6, 2021

Mileage

108,000 mi

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

WHEN DRIVING NORMALLY IN DRY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL ENGAGES WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS AT ABOUT 45 TO 55 MPH. IT HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN STEERING TO THE RIGHT BUT CAN HAPPEN WHEN TURNING LEFT. THIS RESULTS IN DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS WHERE THE BRAKES UNEXPECTEDLY ENGAGE OR THE CAR DOWN SHIFTS TO A LOWER GEAR. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK AND HAS PLACED ME AND OTHERS IN DANGER. THE PROBLEM BEGAN ABOUT 2 TO 3 YEARS AGO AND HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR ISSUES WITHOUT RESOLUTION BY TOYOTA, DEALERS OR AUTO REPAIR SHOPS. I AM ONLY ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE BY REMOVING THE FUSE THAT CONTROLS THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM. SEE HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-C9152_DS656326 FOR ONE EXAMPLE OF A DISCUSSION THREAD. GIVEN THE PERVASIVENESS OF THIS PROBLEM, IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINEERING OR MANUFACTURING OF THIS VEHICLES AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11362403

Incident

Oct 1, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY VSC AND SLIP DASHBOARD INDICATORS GO ON WHILE I DRIVE ON DRY ROAD AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40-50 MPH. THE CAR THEN GIVES ME KICK BACK ON STEERING AND BRAKING, ALMOST AS IT LOSING CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. IT THEN GOES AWAY RANDOMLY. IT IS DIFFICULT TO REPLICATE THE SITUATION BUT IT TENDS TO OCCUR ON SPEEDS ABOVE 35MPH AND ON A CURVED ROAD STEERING.THIS HAS OCCURED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AND ON REGULAR ROADS.

NHTSA ID

11349659

Incident

Aug 12, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING CAME ON WHEN THE ROADS WERE CLEAR AND DRY. ALSO, THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING STARTED GOING OFF WHEN MAKING TURNS ON CLEAR ROADS. WHENEVER WE TRAVELED THE HIGHWAY AND WERE MAKING A TURN AT GREATER THAN 35 MILES PER HOUR, THE WARNING SOUNDED AND THE BRAKES WENT OFF.

NHTSA ID

11343782

Incident

Jul 13, 2020

Mileage

140,000 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

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH ON DRY ASPHALT ON A SUNNY DAY WHEN THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH RAPID BEEPING. WHAT WAS THE MOST CONCERNING WAS THAT THE BREAKS ACTIVATED TWICE CAUSING ME TO HAVE A NEAR PANIC ATTACK AND I DIDN'T THINK I HAD CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE BEEPING STOPPED AND I HAD FULL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THERE WAS NO APPARENT CAUSE FOR THESE SAFETY FEATURES TO HAVE BEEN ENGAGED AND NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME IT HAS HAPPENED BUT IT WAS THE SCARIEST. THE OTHER TIMES HAVE BEEN AT SLOWER SPEEDS AND THE BRAKES DON'T ALWAYS ENGAGE. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS POSTS ONLINE DESCRIBING THE SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER SIENNAS AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE TOYOTA WANTS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11327895

Incident

Jun 6, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHEN WE GO ON CURVY ROADS, A CLICKING STARTS. IT SOUNDS AS IF IT IS COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH NEAR THE STEERING. ONCE THAT STARTS UP THE TRACTION CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS. THE WARNING ALARM COMES ON AND THE BRAKES ENGAGE ON THEIR OWN. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER HOW FAST OR SLOW WE TAKE THE CURVE. THIS STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC BUT HE CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ROAD ARE MOSTLY STRAIGHT THERE AND THEY COULDN'T PHYSICALLY SEE ANYTHING WRONG. FOR WHAT ITS WORTH, THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN THE ROADS ARE DRY OR WET. THE TIRES ARE GOOD AND SO IS THE PRESSURE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL OF CAR AND ESPECIALLY THIS PARTICULAR YEAR. FOR EXAMPLES: HTTPS://WWW.SIENNACHAT.COM/THREADS/TRACTION-CONTROL-MALFUNCTIONING.44474/ *TR

NHTSA ID

11324089

Incident

May 31, 2019

Mileage

185,000 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

CAR ENGENDERS SELF BRAKING AND CUTTING POWER OFF

NHTSA ID

11292449

Incident

Dec 3, 2019

Mileage

117,560 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

THE TRACTION CONTROL ERRONEOUSLY ENGAGES UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, WHICH IN TURN ACTIVATES THE ABS. THIS CAUSES SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED BRAKING. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11266688

Incident

Sep 19, 2019

Mileage

135,000 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

THE STABILITY CONTROL/TRACTION WILL ACTIVATE FOR NO REASON THUS SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN AT FREEWAYS SPEEDS. MECHANICS FIND NO PROBLEMS WITH PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11217517

Incident

Jun 2, 2019

Mileage

95,000 mi