2021 Toyota Redundant Sienna: jerking or lurching

Filed Aug 7, 2025 · Brakes · SC

When braking downhill, the car will lurch forward causing me to have to break harder.

Filed Sep 20, 2024 · Brakes · FL

Car lurches forward a few feet while braking. Listed approximate start date but it happens intermittently.

Filed Sep 20, 2024 · Brakes · TX

In certain conditions, like coasting downhill and lightly braking and then going to harder braking - there is an unintended lurch forward which requires immediate harder braking to stop the vehicle.

Filed Sep 16, 2024 · Brakes, Transmission · NY

-Multiple instances recently of feeling like the car was accelerating or lurching forward lightly while I was braking - thought I was going crazy. Today however, the car very clearly lurched forward while I was braking coming into an intersection with my kids in the car. Checked my foot on the pedal, mats, etc. Will be taken to dealer on earliest appointment they have in 7 days. -If there was a car coming through that intersection, my family and I could have been T-boned due to the unexpected acceleration. -There are no warning lamps or messages active in the vehicle. -Symptoms likely started a few months ago, but the most severe instance was today, 9/16/2024. I finished driving my kids to soccer and while there I googled this and called my dealer. Apparently this is a known issue? -How can Toyota not notify owners of this serious issue? There needs to be a recall immediately. This is my family vehicle that we bought new just a few years ago, this is dangerous and absolutely unacceptable.

Filed Sep 11, 2024 · Brakes · MO

Intermittently and randomly the vehicle will lunge forward with the brake applied. I engage the brake, the vehicle slows and then lunges/lurches forward as if I were not braking. Not only is this terrifying but it is also extremely dangerous. This has happened many times since purchase in February 2021 and continues to now.

Filed Jun 28, 2024 · Brakes · KY · crash

When breaking, mostly during downhill, the brakes feel like they simply “let go” for an instant. Most times this is very short and It feels like a typical downshift during breaking in an ICE car. However, last time it really gave me a lurch and I almost ended up falling off a cliff face. Many reports all over the internet but nothing from Toyota.

Filed Jun 18, 2024 · Brakes · OK

The brakes release for a period of time when stopping. This has been ongoing since owning the vehicle. It feels like a lurch forward when my foot is actively braking.

Filed Apr 25, 2024 · Acceleration, Brakes · CA

When my car is going down a steep hill and I have the brake applied, Suddenly the car will speed up and lurch forward instead of continuing to slow down. This is not how cars normally behave in the 30 years I have been driving. I could have slammed into the car in front of me. This has happened over 100 times. My vehicle has approximately 27,000 miles and I have mentioned it at the Toyota service center and it has been checked out and there are no issues that they see. No warning, lamps or messages appear at all

Filed Mar 24, 2024 · Brakes · OH

Occasionally when easing on the brakes the van will accelerate. The engine will rev up while depressing the brake pedal, the van will start jerking and jumping trying to stop and go at the same time. This has happened on numerous occasions in parking lots at slow speeds and while driving on a busy road.

Filed Mar 23, 2024 · Brakes · VA

This is a follow up to the federal safety agency ID Number: 11542558. We have determined that this issue does not merely involve the brakes releasing, but the vehicle actually accelerates during the incident. Our 2021 Toyota Siena LE AWD has an issue where, while steady pressure is being applied to the brake pedal, the brakes will randomly release and the car will actually accelerate briefly. While attempting to slow or stop the vehicle with steady pressure on the brake pedal, the braking action will momentarily give out, resulting in the vehicle lurching forward beyond the anticipated stopping/slowing distance before the braking action re-engages. In many, if not all occurrences, the vehicle actually accelerates. For example, if the incident occurs while driving up a hill, not only will the rate deacceleration decrease, but the vehicle will actually accelerate up the hill briefly before the braking re-engages. This issue occurs on a regular, but seemingly random basis, multiple times per week. This issue occurs under all driving conditions (hot or cold, dry or wet, smooth pavement or rough surfaces). It occurs at all driving speeds, including under 25mph and over 55mph. This is a dangerous condition that could cause serious injury or death. This could easily result in a collision with cars, bikes, or pedestrians as the vehicle suddenly stops slowing without warning and unexpectedly accelerates. It could also result in a serious collision from cross-traffic if the issue caused the Sienna's stopping distance to go past a stop sign or red light into an intersection. The problem is intermittent and difficult to reproduce, but has occurred repeatedly over the 35 months we've owned the Sienna. No warning lamps, error messages, or other related symptoms are associated with these occurrences, either before or after an occurrence of the problem. Please investigate and require Toyota to issue a recall.

Filed Dec 19, 2023 · Brakes · AZ

While depressing the brakes, it will feel as though the brake "slips" for just a moment, and then re-engages. This causes the car to lurch forward, potentially colliding with a vehicle in front of you. This happens intermittently, and cannot be recreated on demand. It is, however, most noticeable when engaging the brakes downhill. The Toyota service department says that there is nothing wrong with the brakes, whatsoever. Numerous forums online would suggest otherwise. This seems to be an issue that a high number of Sienna hybrid owners are experiencing, and are being told by Toyota that the car's system says that there is nothing wrong. Consumers are being gaslit by Toyota, and are headed for serious safety issues if this is not addressed.

Filed Sep 5, 2023 · Brakes · VA

Our 2021 Toyota Siena LE AWD has an issue with the brakes randomly releasing briefly when slowing to a stop. While slowing to a stop with steady pressure on the brake pedal, the braking action will momentarily give out, resulting in the vehicle lurching forward beyond the anticipated stopping/slowing distance before the braking action re-engages. This could easily result in a collision with cars, bikes, or pedestrians as the vehicle suddenly stops slowing without warning and unexpectedly increases stopping distance. It could result in a serious collision if the issue caused the Sienna's stopping distance to go past a stop sign or red light into an intersection. The problem is intermittent and difficult to reproduce, but has occurred repeatedly over the 2+ years we've owned the Sienna. Going over any kind of bump, crack, pothole, etc. seems to increase the likelihood of the occurrence, but it also happens on dry, flat pavement. No warning lamps, error messages, or other related symptoms from the vehicle either before or after occurrences of the problem.