2004 toyota sienna van, the vehicle stability control system (vsc) goes into skid prevention mode and automatically applies the brakes, disconnects the accelerator, and selects one side or wheel to apply braking force to. This has the effect of causing the car to shudder, skid and move dangerously close to the outside edge of a curve. This has occurred 15-20 times in my car since its purchase. I have taken it for repair by the dealer three times. Some "rusted" parts were replaced the first time. The next two times, I was told the vehicle was working properly. The vsc activated at speeds that were at or below the speed limit and in conditions where no realistic possibility of a skd was present. The problem is intermittent as I have driven over the same roads at the same or higher speeds for years without activation of the vsc. When it does activate it is frightening, and it causes a significant danger of losing control of the car or veering out of your lane. After a period of no activity, I have suddenly had 7 incidents in the last week occurring between dec. 24, 2010 and january 2, 2011.the problem first arose approximately three years ago. There have been 4 or 5 isolated incidents, but now there has been a serious and dramatic increase in the frequency of the vsc failure.
2004 Toyota Sienna driver assistance complaints
Page 4 of 4: complaints 71 to 81 of 81, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Traveling between 35-45 MPH on dry, straight roads, the vsc (vehicle skid control) engaged without cause. Alarm sounded, vehicle skid light turned on, vehicle automatically applied brakes to the point that they made some squealing noise, throttle was unresponsive, and vehicle steering pulled to the left. We pulled over and stopped the vehicle, in hopes that it would clear the problem. We started up again only to have the same problem a couple of minutes later. This happened four times on the way home. Would hate to see what would have happened at highway speed while pulling our popup camper.
Vsc engages at highway speeds: vehicle alarm sounds, brakes deploy abruptly and unexpectedly, steering pulls, accelerator goes dead (pulse races, adrenaline courses). First complained to dealer after four incidents in first 20k miles: had online testimonials of yaw sensor, steering angle sensor and ECM replacements as possible remedies; dealer rebuffed my complaints, denying service to sensors, and suggested my tires had 'gone square'. I have lived with the condition for a total of seven years. The car now 'goes off' maybe three times per every 20 miles driven, unpredictably and always shockingly. My family refuses to ride in the car. I cannot sell it in good conscience, as the defects cannot be confirmed by the dealer (and apparently therefore do not exist), so there is no way for it to be 'made safe' for a succeeding owner. Its remaining $10k+ equity has been nullified by this defect.
At any speed the traction control/ABS system warning light activated causing the antilock breaks to start pumping and making it difficult to steer. This occurred three times during our trip, even at high speeds such as 55 MPH, which could have easily caused a collision if someone was driving behind us. It also felt as if it was difficult to steer the vehicle. We brought the minivan to peruzzi toyota in hatfield pa and explained the problem adding we had paid for an extended warranty, they said it was not covered under warranty. It was caused by battery drainage and that a sensor between the steering wheel and the column had to be recalibrated and we had to purchase a new battery. I find it suspicious and alarming that this safety concern could happen to a vehicle due to low battery - especially since there was no indication of low battery. There were no warning lights and all other vehicle operations functioned properly. Also, no doors were left open and no lights were left on, etc... In order to drain the battery. Even if the primary cause was the battery, the breaks should not become activated and the steering difficult while driving down the road at 50 MPH with my family in the care. Considering the recent recall of toyota vehicles, I'm concerned peruzzi toyota might have given us false information.
2004 toyota sienna xle limited- uncontrolled cruise control acceleration/deceleration. The problem has continuously occurred since purchase in september 2004. Dealership denies problems. Dynamic cruise controlsystem causes my car to dangerously accelerate and decelerate. When laser detects nearby vehicle, the car will brake abruptly. Likewise, once the nearby car is no longer in laser range, the car will accelerate abruptly to return to the set cruise control speed. I have almost been hit from behind multiple times on freeways because of the abrupt deceleration. I have been caught off guard several times by the acceleration and nearly lost control of the vehicle. The only way to stop the rapid acceleration and deceleration is to press the brake in order to disengage the cruise control system. I have never driven a car with such a dangerous cruise control system. I no longer use my cruise control system because I fear that I'll be unable to disengage the system and lose control of the vehicle.
I have a 04 sienna w/ 49,000 miles. The check engine light, vsc and trac control light came on several times since I purchased my car back in 04. They would just turned off after the car was shut off.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. While driving 20 MPH, the contact noticed the traction control engaged causing the anti lock brakes to engage. The contact stopped the vehicle; however, when resuming regular functions he could not drive more than 5 MPH without the traction control engaging. A local technician determined that the wheel speed sensor and reluctor rings were rusty which caused the anti lock brakes to activate, the vehicle was repaired at a cost of $87.00. The manufacturer stated that they where unaware of the issue and a complaint was taken. The failure mileage and current mileages were 68,000. Updated 6/01/09 *cn updated 06/02/09.
I have 2004 awd sienna. A week ago, when I started the car in a freezing morning and drove in subdivision road, the slippery light and beep came on and the brake acted here and there on the wheels. At the very beginning, I thought the road was slippery. But it was not the case. There was no way my van was skidding all the time. I was only driving at 10 MPH. Then I realized the vsc was wrongly activated. Whenever I get to more than 10mph, vsc got activated and broke the speed down to 5 MPH. I could only drive at 5mph without getting vsc activated. Then I realized I could not drive this van on the road. I parked it back in garage. The next day, my wife drove it out of the garage and got the same symptom. We put the van back to garage for another 3 days before I was about to call a tow truck to tow it to a dealer for examination. I tried it again. Miraculously, the problem went away. I went to the dealer and talked to the service adviser, he said he knew nothing about the problem (recall etc.) and asked me to bring the van back for service once the problem happens again. My van appears to be working correctly now, but I dare not drive it far away from home. I know the problem is not gone. It will come back at the most inconvenient time. I do not want to be stranded in a snow storm at -30 degrees f that I can only drive at 5mph (that is what the weather is like here in chicago at this time of the year). I do not want to be thousand miles away from home when the problem happens again. It would be nightmare if vsc wrongly comes on at high way speed.
Our family is deeply troubled and worried about the safeness of our 2004 toyota sienna le-8 every time we use it on the road. Our van has been having intermittent vsc, kicking which started early this year. First, it will hesitate to accelerate followed by vsc kicking then automatic braking engages then sudden pull of the steering to the left. The vsc keeps flashing and beeps continuously unless I slow down to around 20mph. I even showed the dealer copies of sienna owners complaints with similar problem and tsbs regarding yaw rate sensor and steering column sensor. But still could not fix or duplicate the problem. Nothing was done to correct the problem and no parts replaced or repaired.
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 35 MPH on a dry straight road, the rear wheels locked up and the slip indicator light and alarm came on. The light went off, and the same thing occurred a second time. The dealership put the vehicle on the computer, but was unable to determine the problem.
The van's skid control system light came on then the system locked up. The vehicle stopped accelerating when this occurred. This is the second time the skid control light came on, but this is the first time the system froze up. *nm
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