2004 Toyota Sienna: engine overheating

Filed Apr 25, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 121,482 miles · NJ

Radiator failure resulting in coolant leakage in the transmission fluid and transmission is failing. I noticed my 2004 toyota sienna had some belt noise that got worse. The van was due for a water pump/timing belt change. Later the engine temperature gauge read high and after checking the fluids noticed the antifreeze level to be low and topped it up. A week later while driving on the highway steam started coming out of the hood. I noticed the pink fluid had also leaked out of a tube (looked like a relief tube) on the driver side. Radiator level was low. The transmission fuel looked pinkish and read about six inches above the max level on the dipstick. Trans fluid was milky pink, thick, and had grainy deposit. Took the van to the autoland dealer in springfield, nj to diagnose the problem and to have the water pump and timing belt change at the same time. Had to leave the van overnight. I picked up the vehicle with a nearly $2000 bill for repairs (brakes, tire rotation, timing belt and water pump) other than changing the trans. Fluid or telling me what was wrong. Dealer said someone put additive to the fluid???. Note that only autoland had been servicing the vehicle. They refused to change the trans fluid. "I am not touching that." the dealer said. I now know from a local trans repair shop that the radiator was leaking coolant into the trans fluid. A known problem with radiators on toyota vehicles that had a recall. I never received notice of the recall. I now have an estimated $4,000 problem to replace the radiator and transmission that could have been prevented if autoland had done its job properly and not refused to change the trans. Fluid. I am very disappointed with toyota and with autoland's service.

Filed Dec 6, 2011 · Body · 105,000 miles · AL

The motor in the power sliding door burnt out. The pulley cable got caught and overheated the motor. Now the door is stuck in the open position the pulley cable is taught and it will not close.

Filed Feb 18, 2010 · Engine · 110,000 miles · RI

Engine overheated on numerous occasions, slow loss of radiator coolant noted, and 2 engine thermostats replaced before cracked radiator was discovered. While owner was investigating problem, it was discovered that toyota issued a couple of years ago a tsb and a limited warranty extension to replace radiators from this year (2004) and the next (2005) of the sienna van. However, we have been only owner of this van and have received every other notice from toyota regarding this model year of van including the bad door hinges (replaced under warranty), gas struts on rear hatch (replaced under warranty), and bad seat belt bezel (replaced under warranty) - but we never received any notice of the radiator issue - our radiator is now damaged beyond repair and needs replacement and toyota will not replace even though this is apparently a well known issue at toyota. There should be a full recall on this item given the amount of known bad radiators out there. This is a safety issue as the radiator is prone to sudden and catastrophic failure. The only known repair is to replace the radiator. There is extensive online documentation of this issue - but toyota continues to stonewall most owners on this problem due to the expense (this is much more expensive to fix than the bad hinge, gas strut, and seat belt bezel that did have safety bulletins issued on them. Http://www.carcomplaints.com/toyota/sienna/2004/tsbs.shtml http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php?topic=58487.0 http://www.edmunds.com/maintenance/recalltsb.html?type=tsb&styleid=100458140&zip=#18 http://www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/cars/problems/tsb/tsbresults_drilldown.cfm?start=1&searchtype=drilldown&type=vehicle&year=2005&make=toyota&model=sienna&&typenum=1&submit=retrieve+recalls&printversion=yes http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/webx?ed_searchresults@@.f0b4803!keywords=allin%3amsgtext%20limit%3a.f0b4803%20radiator&count=20&skip=20.

Filed Sep 12, 2009 · Engine · 108,000 miles · AZ

Check engine light came on in 2004 sienna le, called dealership for appt, the next day, the air conditioning went out. I live in phoenix, az, where it is routinely 115 in the summer. Took car van to dealership where price to fix is $4200. Compressor exploded and sent shards of metal throughout entire A/C system. Toyota is aware of this problem, as posted in their tsb ac003-05, but refuses to cover their defect under a recall as it's not life-threatening. Let me tell you, riding in a car for any length of time in 115 degree weather is life-threatening. A/c is not a luxury in az; it is necessary for survival. Upon contacting toyota customer service, they deny any culpability; however, there are plenty of forums, including toyotanation.com, in which people have routinely had this problem with this vehicle. Would like toyota to issue a recall for their defect and take care of their customers. They are aware of the problem and to deem it non-life-threatening is a mistake. Most people who own mini-vans are transporting children and it doesn't take much for children to overheat in a non-air conditioned car, not to mention the mild heat exhaustion that comes from being in the car for 15 minutes. Car is still not fixed due to exorbitant cost and it is well over 100 here still in september.

Filed Jul 9, 2008 · Engine · 93,000 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. While driving under 40 MPH, the air conditioner failed to work properly. The air conditioner stopped working and the temperature on the thermostat continued to rise the following day. The contact checked the coolant and noticed that there was no antifreeze; therefore, she refilled the radiator. This did not keep the vehicle from overheating. She took the vehicle to a local dealer and they stated that there was a leak in the radiator core. The vehicle has not been repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 93,000.

Filed Mar 23, 2006 · Visibility · 52,000 miles · NC

Dt*: the contact stated in a heavy rain, the windshield wipers dislodged and locked up. The dealership determined this was a safety feature, when there is too much pressure on the wipers, the motor locks up to prevent the motor from overheating. The dealership reset the wipers.

Filed Aug 12, 2005 · Acceleration, Electrical · 22,000 miles · CO

Radiator ruptured and the engine overheated; hose replaced in steering column recall; rust protective tape recall; dvd screen replaced and the entire dvd player replaced(screen still not easily visible in middle row); passenger seat belt replaced; middle passenger seat belt failing; gasoline smell inside of car with AC on recirculation; driver's window fell inside door in snow storm and was not considered a safety issue to get a loaner vehicle even though the vehicle could not be locked; tires completely bald and leaking under 30,000 miles, dvd player must be at a high db volume and when returned to radio/cd will almost deafen you; interior lights have to be manually over ridden or will drain battery; car hesitates 1-2 seconds when trying to quickly accelerate and then lurches forward alarmingly; cruise control is not functioning; waiting to have fuel mixture sensor replaced. I was not informed of first 2 recalls until I my engine overheated. I did get the rust recall and a sticker on my sliding door informing user of danger of having middle windows open while opening the middle door could catch a head or other extremity. Toyota dealer service manager says mine is the only 04 sienna experiencing any problems except for the recalls on the radiator; the steering hose; the rust tape; and the middle seat belt. Not so according to all I have read here. Most of the problems have occurred between 22,000 and 34,000 miles; the dvd screen always failed to lock into a good position for the middle row viewers.

Filed Feb 24, 2005 · Engine · 15,982 miles · MA

Overheating radiator, I was told it was a product recall from toyota,I was never notified, nor do I see the recall mentioned anywhere,I was also treated very rudely at boch toyota in norwood ma when I complained about it.

Filed Feb 15, 2005 · Engine · 25,000 miles · MA · crash

The vehicle overheated and caused the engine to seize while driving 45 MPH. Consumer and his children were left strained for several hours before help arrived. Vehicle was towed to the dealer, who d replaced the radiator, which was covered under a recall. Consumer stated he was never notified of this recall.