AT 30,874 MILES OUR VAN STARTED BLOWING BLUE SMOKE. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD US THAT THE ENGINE HAD "SLUDGED UP" AND WOULD REQUIRE AT LEAST $3,000 TO FIX. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT IT WASN'T COVERED BY WARRANTY (3 YEAR/36,000 MILES). WE ASKED WHY AND WERE TOLD THAT THE SLUDGE COULD ONLY BE CAUSED BY LACK OF MAINTENANCE …
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AT 30,874 MILES OUR VAN STARTED BLOWING BLUE SMOKE. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD US THAT THE ENGINE HAD "SLUDGED UP" AND WOULD REQUIRE AT LEAST $3,000 TO FIX. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT IT WASN'T COVERED BY WARRANTY (3 YEAR/36,000 MILES). WE ASKED WHY AND WERE TOLD THAT THE SLUDGE COULD ONLY BE CAUSED BY LACK OF MAINTENANCE (OIL CHANGES). WE PRODUCED RECEIPTS SHOWING OIL CHANGES WERE DONE, BUT THE COMPANY STILL WON'T COVER THE WORK UNDER WARRANTY. WE HAVE SPOKE TO THE TOYOTA'S REGIONAL CUSTOMER RELATIONS ADMINISTRATOR AND GONE THROUGH THE TOYOTA PROVIDED ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS TO NO AVAIL. WE WENT TO THE INTERNET AND SEARCHED UNDER "TOYOTA SIENNA SLUDGE" AND FOUND DOZENS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR SIENNAS AND WARRANTY COVERAGE. WE BELIEVE THE IS A DEFECT IN THE SIENNA V6 ENGINE CAUSING THE SLUDGE BUILD UP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #748677
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
BLUE SMOKE IS COMING FROM TAILPIPE OF VEHICLE. THERE IS SLUDGE BUILD UP IN ENGINE. DEALER CLAIMS THIS WAS CAUSED BY NON CHANGING OF OIL. CONSUMER STATED THAT OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #890975
Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #746378
Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingStructure
ENGINE WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE. CURRENTLY, NEW ENGINE IS MAKING A RATTLING SOUND INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM WITH ENGINE. ALSO, POWER LOCKS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, SOMETIMES IT TAKES 3 OR 4 TIMES BEFORE DOORS WILL OPEN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #882858
Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
EXCESSIVE SLEDGE BUILD UP IN ENGINE WHICH CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #881364
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DEVELOP SLUDGE, THIS IS WHEN THE OIL TURNS INTO A THICK TAR LIKE GOOP THAT CLOGS THE ENGINE A OIL SYSTEMS, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS STATED THAT THE ONLY CAUSE WAS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE WHICH VOIDS THE CUSTOMERS WARRANTY, THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT…
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A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DEVELOP SLUDGE, THIS IS WHEN THE OIL TURNS INTO A THICK TAR LIKE GOOP THAT CLOGS THE ENGINE A OIL SYSTEMS, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS STATED THAT THE ONLY CAUSE WAS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE WHICH VOIDS THE CUSTOMERS WARRANTY, THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT THE ENGINE AS ABOUT TO BE DAMAGED, THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED IN THEIR NEW VEHICLE. NLM
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998 THROUGH 2010 SIENNA PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 7, 1997 AND JANUARY 4, 2010, CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE SPARE TIRE STOWED UNDER THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN THE COLD CLIMATE REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES WHERE ROAD SALT IS FREQUENTLY USED, WATER SPLASHED BACKWARDS WITH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT CAN REACH THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER AND CORRODE THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER ASSEMBLY CABLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CABLE MAY BREAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND THE SPARE TIRE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS WITH AN INTERIM LETTER INITIALLY INSTRUCTING THEM TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AUTHORIZED DEALERS TO INSPECT FOR CORROSION. A SECOND NOTICE WILL BE SENT WHEN THE PERMANENT REMEDY IS AVAILABLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE TOYOTA'S AMENDED RECALL REPORT OF JULY 19, 2010. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OCTOBER 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS (TDS) SUPPLIED BY AUDIOVOX CORPORATION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN 'OPEN CIRCUIT' CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS AND/OR HVAC FAN SPEED CONTROLS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RUN SMOOTHLY AND COULD STALL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
DP02004 · Engine Seizure
Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
PE99070 · Steering Wheel To Return To Center
Opened Nov 17, 1999 · Closed Apr 12, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
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