2000 Toyota Sienna: engine failure

Filed Aug 24, 2015 · Steering · 150,000 miles · OK

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 toyota sienna. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the power steering seized without any warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that steering shaft joint flex coupling had malfunctioned. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Feb 22, 2010 · Engine · 75,000 miles · AL

Noticed check engine light on and smoke on cold start up. Called local toyota dealer and was told this would be a major "fix" and would cost at least $3,000.00 to repair. After doing a google search I realized my sienna most likely had oil gel and called tmsusa in california to report it. Was told to take van to a local dealer and have diagnosed. Took it in the very next day and oil gel was confirmed (in writing). Was then told that the van was 90 days past coverage and it would cost $6,200.00 for a new engine. I tried to show documents of my oil changes and service manager said it would do no good. I refuse to drive this van for fear that the engine will seize! I am requesting that a second investigation be made into these vehicles. The class action lawsuit did no good for the toyota consumers! Also, for the record, I took the van in when the engine light first came on (engine was not smoking yet) and the dealer told me it was probably just the gas cap and that the engine light comes on in these vehicles all the time. They never documented my visits to the service department. I would have been within the 8 year time frame if they would have checked the engine at that time!

Filed Feb 5, 2008 · Body, Engine · NC

Engine light went on , checked water and oil, both levels were fine, engine just quit, van was towed to repair shop, I the owner was told that due to sludge in the engine the oil could not pass through so engine seized up, it was a 2000 sienna van, the oil was changed every 3000-4000 miles faithfully, the engine only had 107,000. Original miles on it, a new engine would be 6,200.00 plus labor and a used engine would be 4,200.00 plus labor, so now my van had to be junked.

Filed Mar 21, 2006 · Engine · MD

I put my car in the shop at coleman toyota telling them the car wouldn't start. They replaced the ignition chamber and then phoned to say the starter was bad too- they charged me about $575. I picked up the car wednesday march 15 and on march 16 the car just stopped as I was driving to work. The car had to be towed to coleman toyota. They phoned to tell me the engine had "locked" and the car was shot. They refuse to refund me the $575 for the unnecessary repairs and refuse to acknowledge that the engine failure due to "gelling" is a manufacturers defect.

Filed Oct 10, 2005 · Engine · 59,000 miles · HI

There is an admitted defect in the design of the 1999-2001 toyota sienna and camry engines. The cooling chamber passages to the cylinders were reduced in size to reduce hazardous emissions which had the unanticipated side effect of causing the temperature of the cylinder heads to reach up to 130 degrees. For many owners, this has caused the oil to oxidize forming a sludge in the engine which in our case LED to engine failure in our 2000 toyota sienna van requiring engine replacement at 59,000 miles costing over $8,000. The same situation occurred with our 1999 camry. Toyota claims that this is due to not changing the oil frequently enough, and this may be true. However my brother's friend bought a toyota celica back in the 1970's and never changed the oil, never even opened the hood to add oil or maintenance it at all - just drove it until quit - at 80,000 miles. Granted this is not advisable but evidence suggests that while less than optimal oil change frequencies may contribute to this engine failure problem in the 1999-2001 models, based on other research I have read with other owners having the same problem leading to engine failure in these models even with mileages as low as 29,000 miles, I don't buy toyota's argument. We owned 3 toyota's at the time, 2 camrys and 1 sienna. Because toyota did not own up to this design defect and reimburse owners for the damage caused by their flawed engine design without their providing oil change receipts - (e.g. What if you don't save receipts and/or what if you change your oil yourself)? - for this reason I will never buy another toyota. I own a subaru wrx and am planning to purchase another subaru soon.

Filed Jan 10, 2005 · Engine · 68,000 miles · OH

The engine in my 2000 toyota sienna has a defect that causes engine oil jelling and leads to a total failure of the engine. The problem first occurred at 38000 miles while still under the new car warranty. Toyota fixed the problem by cleaning the sludge from the value area of the engine but this did not eliminate the problem. At 68000, there was a complete failure of the engine that was a result of engine oil gelling. A toyota technician who inspected the car stated that there is scaring of the internal engine parts that indicate a history of oil starvation. The oil starvation problem that caused the engine failure is due to oil gelling problem. Toyota has agreed to extend the warranty on my vehicle to cover this problem for a period of eight years with unlimited mileage, however, they are now refusing to honor this warranty.

Filed Feb 27, 2004 · Engine · 43,000 miles · VA

2001 toyota sienna had sludge problem. Toyota fixed but still calls this an owner issue!?? Have seen complaints that these engines have still failed a couple thousand miles after fix. Toyota originally insisted people buy new engines but only cleans them now. What about their modifying this engine starting in july 2001? No problems with those engines. This v6 is in 9 models over 6 years and somehow it's the owners? They replaced my valve covers stating the pcv system is inetgrated into the valve covers. They get clogged and can't be cleaned. Will it take an engine seizing up due to engine failure at highway speeds, and a fatality to get toyota's attention on this? I never received their "letter" of notification. I had owned it brand new off the lot. I can't afford to keep a ticking financial time bomb in my garage.

Filed Feb 12, 2002 · Engine · NE

Our sienna was diagnosed with sludge buildup in may 2000. We were told it was necessary to replace the engine as eventually we will encounter engine failure at some point. Toyota refuses to take responsiblity of this matter and continually blames the owners for lack of maintanence. There have been other owners who have encountered engine failure while driving. We are fortunate to not have had that. However, we have no peace of mind in driving this vehicle every day, with our children mind you, and knowing we could have engine failure at any time. It is very important that an investigation into this matter be done. It is obvious there is a problem as toyota has had over 3000 complaints such as ours. It is only a matter of time before someone is injured or killed as a result of toyotas negligence in this matter. Is there a stipulation that someone nust be injured or killed before an agency such as yours will investigate? That makes no sense. When there is a potential for injury you must follow through. Please.

Filed Dec 26, 2001 · NV

Oil light failed to report major engine sludge problem before there was severe engine damage. The damage is reported by the toyota dealer as $8900.00 to replace the engine in a car with only 20,181 miles. The light flashed for a split second and never turned on again. The oil light failed to indicate low oil pressure in the system causing considerable damage.

Filed Nov 13, 2001 · Engine · MD

Noticed white smoke upon starting car for a couple of days. The following sunday, the oil pressure light came on while traveling-stopped and put in 1 quart of oil, light went out. The following monday, the engine check light came on. The next morning, tuesday I took the car to the nearest toyota dealer and was told that our engine was full of sludge due to improper or lack of maintenance. The repairs were not covered under the warranty. Was given an estimate of $9k to replace the engine or $5500 to rebuild the engine. We then took the car back to the dealer where we purchased the car, and was told the same thing, only this estimate was $2k to "clean" the engine. The service manager called the toyota rep on our behalf and was denied any help through the warranty. In filing a report with toyota was told my next step was arbitration - "the paperwork is in your warranty book". I had to have the engine cleaned at my own expense.

Filed Mar 15, 2001 · Engine · TN

I took my new toyota sienna to be repaired because it was smoking. I was told that the engine had sludge in it and toyota was denying any warranty claims. How does a brand new engine get sludge in it? There are literally hundreds of similar instances reported on various sites on the internet. The pattern is similar - low mileage toyota vehcles (especially siennas) suddenly smoking and having sludge in their engines, depsite proper maintenance and regular oil changes. There clearly is a coverup here by toyota. They are declining warranty claims rather than trying to deal with the problem.