2004 Toyota Sienna driver assistance problems

Filed May 9, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · OH

The Traction Control System commonly malfunctions while making turns on curving road sections. I will lose power through turns as the TCS light blinks on my dashboard and makes a beeping sound. On some occasions the brakes will automatically engage in the tire that the car perceives as experiencing slippage. This problem is continuously worsening and commonly endangers me and my passengers, as the car engages brakes or cuts power to the engine at unexpected and in opportune times.

Filed Feb 2, 2022 · Driver assistance · CA

Toyota VSC and ABS engaging and activating for no reason on dry pavement causing loss of proper control of the vehicle. The have been multiple occurrences on dry pavement between 30 and 65 mikes per hour. The car pulls to one side as the computer takes control of the car end engages the brakes suddenly for no reason. VSC Skid light goes on on the dash and there is a beeping sound while this happens. Very dangerous. Toyota USA notified and assigned case number 220201001364. They refuse to take any responsibility for this dangerous failure.

Filed Jul 27, 2021 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · CA

I had the control arms replaced, then one of the bolts came out after a few thousand miles. I had that bolt replaced and the problem started happening intermittently after that. Everything will be functioning fine and then the speed of my vehicle is inhibited and it is hard to accelerate. It is very difficult to get from 40 MPH up to 50 MPH. On slight curves, not always, it will beep and the slip indicator light comes on and will apply the brakes on what feels like one side. This has happened at 35-60 MPH. The slip indicator will beep sometimes until I decrease my speed to under 25 MPH. I took it into a reputable tire and front end shop and they replaced a wheel bearing with sensor, and 2 front tires. The problem happened again within 5 miles and the shop said I need to take it to Toyota dealer to have it the steering angle sensors recalibrated. The Toyota dealership said that this is something that the vehicle does itself. They inspected it and took it for a test drive and said nothing is wrong. The problem happened again within a few miles of leaving the dealership. I have read countless forums of people experiencing the same thing in their Toyota Sienna and having the dealership telling them there is not a problem. I have also found that the solution could very well be worn rack and pinion bushings that are creating the play that are triggering the sensors. I don't think they gave it a proper inspection. This is a very dangerous problem, and even more so when the dealership is saying there isn't a problem. I am feeling very lost on what to do with my van right now. I have spent $1100 and 3 days of my time with the same thing happening. I

Filed Jul 10, 2021 · Driver assistance · NY

While driving at approximately 30 to 50 MPH, on dry and smooth pavement, usually going on or off ramp to the left, the skid control engaged and warning sound came on, automatic brake takes over and start braking the van uncontrollably, pulling the vehicle to the right and nearly causing accidents.

Filed Oct 10, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 260,000 miles · TX

In motion, on dry, off-camber highway curves, with slight acceleration, the ABS/vsc /trak engages, briefly jerking the steering to one side. Dash warnings: "vsc" "trak off" + "check engine". Reducing mechanical "slop" (wheel bearings, steering rack & pinion, etc.) tends to reduce frequency of occurrence. Toyota dealer diagnosis: "steering control system fault". >"toyota knows about -- but, does not know how to fix this problem."< dealer-suggested workaround: "pull fuzes to disable vsc and ABS systems..." dealer repair documents are with previous owner...

Filed Jun 22, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 185,000 miles · MT

This vehicle has a traction control feature which helps keep it from skidding out of control in icy, wet, or otherwise unstable conditions. It can help an out of control vehicle get back into control by doing a variety of things, including braking. Previously this feature had only kicked on when I would slide on the snow during a low speed turn and would slide in the snow (which was good). But over the past few months, there have been two times that this feature has kicked on at high speeds (once at 40mph and once at 65mph) on dry roads, both while turning around a curve. Suddenly the braking system is applied without any warning and the vehicle swerves slightly and does what it wants for a few seconds. Then it stops. If this were to happen on an icy road at those speeds, the vehicle could certainly spin out of control. The vehicle could also swerve into an oncoming lane of traffic. I have seen many forums online where other sienna owners are having the same issue and toyota dealers say they can't replicate or fix the issue. This is certainly a safety issue that needs to be looked into by toyota to see what is causing this issue. Thank you!

Filed Feb 4, 2020 · Driver assistance · 178,311 miles · CA

While driving at or below the speed limit, under dry conditions, on curvy roads, the vsc dash light comes on and engages with beeping and automatic braking. The rapid deceleration and skidding, as the tires lock-up, makes control of the vehicle difficult and cars following must panic brake to avoid rear-ending my vehicle. Increasing occurrences over the past year.

Filed Sep 18, 2019 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 95,000 miles · AZ

When driving under normal conditions the vehicles' vsc will engage. The dashboard lights go off, there is a loud interior beeping sound, the ABS engages, the car slows down drastically at once. The roads are dry. At first this happened while driving normal speed exiting or entering an hwy off/on ramp. Then happened yesterday as I was driving on neighborhood streets at about 25-30 MPH. I could hear a rubbing on the back tires as if the brakes were on.

Filed Jul 29, 2019 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 170,000 miles · NJ

When driving in dry conditions at various speeds over 25 MPH, the vsc warning light comes on, an alarm sounds and the antilock brakes engage for no reason. This is a terrifying and extremely dangerous issue that is well documented by so many toyota sienna owners but to date has not been addressed or acknowledged by toyota. When taken to a dealership, they claim (as other owners have also stated) that they cannot replicate the problem and it does not register through the obd2 sensor so there is no record of it happening. With as many people as this is happening with, it is not a question of whether there will be accidents, injuries and ultimately deaths caused by this issue. The only question is when and how many have to occur before toyota acknowledges this is a problem. Driving down the road, in traffic at 65 miles an hour when for no reason, the car slams on the brakes without warning. It is happening all the time at this point making the car completely unsafe to drive for the owner, the vehicle's occupants and any unsuspecting vehicle in the vicinity. I am begging you. Please get toyota to issue a recall before tragedy strikes. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. I am submitting the date below as today's date as the car is now sitting in my driveway until I can figure out what needs to be done. It has happened over the past 6 months every time I drive it and the $750 steering position sensor that toyota replaced did nothing to address the problem.

Filed Mar 28, 2019 · Driver assistance · 207,000 miles · OK

The anti skid control light comes on from time to time when I am driving, especially on the highway. In addition to the light, there is warning beeping, as if I'm sliding on ice. At the same time, I completely lose control of the acceleration and braking. It's very scary, and I am concerned for my safety and my family's. This has happened multiple times on clear, dry days, so it's definitely not caused by the road being wet or icy.