Numerous times (too many to say), the traction control indicator sensor comes on & I am unable to control the car. Typically it lasts for 2-3 minutes and turns off. It does not depend on road conditions, weather, and or speed. I have taken the car to the repair shop and they have not been able to capture anything on the engine diagnostic system. No codes were found for them to troubleshoot this issue. I've seen this problem being reported on several posts. Yet the NHSTA has done NOTHING!! TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR THIS ISSUE. WAKE UP NHSTA. MAKE OUR TAX DOLLARS WORK!!! This poses a huge risk to my family and other drivers, not to mention impact on budget.
2004 Toyota Sienna steering complaints
Page 2 of 6: complaints 11 to 40 of 159, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Abs some times activates when driving a light curve road at speed around 30-40 MPH. Usually a steering wheel is about 2 or 10 o'clock positions. At the time vsc indicator flashes and warning alarm goes off. This causes a sudden breaking and it becomes very difficult to control the car.
The vsc system is enabling while driving and making a turn on an otherwise normal road. When it enables, it applies the brake and sounds a repeating alarm. The system applies the brake while I am attempting to make a turn, and this makes me feel unsafe, as if I have temporarily lost control of the vehicle while making an otherwise benign maneuver. The repeating alarm does not turn off until I have turned the wheel to the opposite direction from the initial turn angle. This means if the turn is slow, the alarm will sound for the entire distance of the turn.
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...
We bought this car about 1 1/2 years ago. After having it for a bit we learned of the problem. You will be driving down the road (dry, sunny day) and all of a sudden the car will start beeping, the traction control will kick in and start pressure braking the car. The car thinks it pulling you out of a skid, so you have to strongly hold the steering wheel. It's terrifying! I feel like the car is going to pull me off the road. I won't drive the car in rain because of this and honestly don't feel comfortable even driving it most the time. You never know when it is going to happen and it typically happens while you are driving high speeds on the highway. This is a known problem with toyota - they have a technical service bulletin br008-04 (ABS& traction control intermediate vsc system), which shows they have replaced the defective part. However since the car is old, they won't replace it anymore. It is the companies defect part! How many people have gotten into accidents and/ or died from this? And just to say it - the 2004 version doesn't have a way to manually just turn off the traction control. We have tried everything! I took it to a toyota dealership and they agreed this is what is wrong with the car, but said they won't fix it for free - they wanted $800. I contacted toyota customer and they basically told me they don't care if people die from this, because the car is old and they don't have any responsibility after a certain age of the car. We have 3 kids and this is not an acceptable answer! My whole family has toyota vehicles and if they don't make things like this right, we will not be anymore! The car is new to us and is frankly unsafe. This is toyota's faulty part. I have seen several message boards with the same issue. How can a deadly issue expire?
Driving at 50 MPH on a two lane highway the car suddenly veered to the right and decelerated/braked hard, under it's own control, not mine.
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.
While my vehicle is in motion on city streets and highways at speeds between 35 and 55 MPH, on a straightaway and curve, the stability control light/and alarm comes on randomly. Sometimes it's just the alarm that sounds, and sometimes the alarm sounds and the brakes activate and the minivan swerves. Was the most frightening and dangerous experience ever with my young grandchildren riding with me. I actually had to pull over to the side of the road to calm myself. This has now happened on several occasions with today (7-24-19) being the latest experience.
Steering problem sometime it's hard to steer it's dragging it's too dangerous.I almost got an accident because the steering didn't react when I'm changing lanes
When on a curve the traction control engages affecting the brakes and steering of the vehicle. Speed does not seem to matter, it has engaged at 10mph and at 65 MPH. Last straw was when it engaged on the straight away on the highway at 65mph in the high speed lane dropping the speed down to 35mph almost causing a serious accident. It's been happening for a couple of months and two independent mechanics were not able to figure out the problem even after running a moving vehicle diagnostic. It went off a total of 18 times in a aproximate 15 minute, three mile drive with the mechanic. After watching many videos, and complaints online, why hasn't something been done on this issue that has been going on for over eight years now? I'm afraid to take this vehicle on the highway anymore!!!
The vsc is going off randomly, in dry, safe conditions. Almost always when I am turning to the left in a long turn. But has also happened on a windy road, driving 15mph or less, on ever single turn sometimes just the alarm, light flashing on dash & engine dethrottling, other times add the steering wheel pulling & brakes pumping themselves. We have had it in 3 different shops & the computer detects no codes, all parts in question (suspension, yaw, rotational position sensor, etc) are in good working order, nothing loose, worn or otherwise not functioning properly. We have had the yaw sensor replaced after reading many other reports of this issue, but it didn't help. We love our van, but it is now a death box. We never know when the vsc malfunction will activate, making the car unsafe to drive. When will toyota acknowledge this & help owners?
Traction control malfunction. While driving on curvy roads there is a beeping alarm, steering locks up, brakes engage. The car seems to think that the traction is off. This has been a problem for over a year. No problems driving in city. Only happens on curvy roads.
When traveling at highway speeds and usually on a slight curve to the right, the traction control alarm and breaks go off causing the van to jerk and shake. We have been told this might be low tire pressure but the tires are fine. We have had an alignment, new tires this problem happens randomly and we have not been able to reproduce it for the mechanic. We have been dealing with this for a couple of years maybe happening 20 times. I feel it is just not safe enough to drive or pass this problem on to someone else. I wouldn't want the car on the road with me either I have read online of other toyota sienna's with the same exact problem. This is not isolated and is a safety concern.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the traction control warning indicator illuminated and a warning chime sounded. The vehicle lost steering and braking ability, and the steering wheel started to jerk from left to right. The contact continued to drive and the failures went away after thirty seconds. The contact stated that the failures randomly started approximately one year ago and grew worse. The contact also mentioned that the lock on the sliding door showed that it was unlocked; however, no one could exit the vehicle when attempting to open the door from the inside or the outside. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
For no reason the vsc and traction alarm goes off the vehicle brakes on its own dangerously. It is happening daily. Usually when going high speed and around a left bend. I went and had the system reset as is called for after alignment. That didn't fix it. I had the steering angle sensor replaced and that didn't fix it. The yaw replaced and that didn't fix it. So now what? This is dangerous for my family.
On freeway interchanges, entrances and exits vsc and ABS suddenly engagess. Van is not aggressively driven and when turning on mountain roads and switch backs vsc and ABS engages despite the slow and controled steering.
Steering do not stay straight while I am driving this vehicle. Since I purchased, I went to toyota in the beginning they fix it but issue was not resolve and as of today same problem and I replaced new tires still alignment is the biggest problem. Lighting is not strong to see deer on the road.
When I drive my van the vsc and trac off lights come on intermittently and cause the vehicle to bog down and pull towards oncoming traffic. I took my van to the dealership and they suggested replacing the steering sensor. We replaced the sensor and the problem persists. With no codes coming up they say they can't fix my van. It happens while driving around corners at 35 MPH mostly but has also happened a few times on the freeway at 70. All times it has happened so far has been on dry pavement. Toyota doesn't seem to think that there is really a problem since no codes are coming up on their code reader. Due to the frequency of the issue I am having it could be disastrous and end up in a head-on collision. How come this vehicle hasn't been recalled. I have included a photo of my service report from the dealership. Also there are multiple complaints in different forums regarding this same issue and as far as I have read there is really no resolving it.
While driving the vsc comes on randomly. Causing the vehicle to try to pull into oncoming traffic. It happens quite a bit and is potentially deadly.
While driving at 55 MPH or faster, generally on a right hand bend, the vsc will activate pulsing the brake and violently pulling the car to the left and towards oncoming traffic. The skid light goes on, and the car beeps until you are out of the turn and then it goes away. This problem has been intermittent for about 6 months but has gotten much worse and more frequent in the previous 2 months. It has been to the dealership several times and they do not know what to do. There are no error codes. The best they can say is "you're going to fast..." which is a wholly unacceptable answer considering we are going the speed of traffic and no more than 0-10 over the speed limit.
The vsc traction control system activates on it's own. Driving the van it automatically comes on and brakes the van, dashboard light and beeping noise comes on. Brakes you automatically causing the van to veer to the right. This malfunctioning devise with the yaw system is continuing after many trips to the local toyota dealer. They currently have the van and are replacing part after part and the problem still persists. Contacted toyota headquarters and filed a complaint with them but they say there is no recall on this van. Checked on line and found many other toyota sienna owners who are experiencing the same issues as we are. This is a dangerous safety hazard which can cause an accident. As of today's writing the problem has not been diagnosed by toyota.
Beginning in winter of 2014, my steering wheel began to squeak when I turned it and seemed harder to turn. My steering wheel did the same thing this past winter,2015. Noticed squeaking and more difficulty turning when just beginning to back out and beginning to drive forward and for a few blocks after.
Unexpected vehicle stability control activation while driving resulting in automatic braking and unexpected steering pull. I have been experiencing this issue over the past 4-5 years. There have been times where this issue has LED to almost striking vehicles around me. I have brought the vehicle to a toyota dealership, but they have not been able to fix the issue. On several online bulletin boards, other owners of toyota sienna have complained regarding the same issue. I just read in the news that similar issues are occurring on 2001-2002 toyota sequoia.
On numerous occasions, we have had the vsc indicator light turn on while driving on dry pavement while on the highway, which caused the car to apply the brakes and also swerve. Our car is awd so the first time it happened, we thought there must have been black ice on the road (even though the road appeared dry). It first happened about three years ago, although it is happening more frequently now. We drove home yesterday through the mountains and it happened four times on our two hour drive. It mostly happens while going downhill for us, and has happened at speeds of 70 MPH - 30 MPH. It has happened while turning (both directions) and going straight. It is very scary for both my wife and I, and I feel unsafe with her driving our car with our four children. We've taken it to the dealership and they want to charge us lots of money to try to fix what they "think" the problem is. I have spoken with other sienna owners who have experienced the same frightening experience so know it is not just our car, driving, etc.
Vsc sudden activation on curves 35 MPH. Beeping noise slip sensor comes on.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH through water, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact stated that the failure only occurred when the vehicle was driven through standing water. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure was 140,000.
See engineering investigation ea08024; should be re-opened!!
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. While driving at 35 MPH, the vsc and the ABS warning lights illuminated intermittently. The contact also stated that when the failure occurred, the front of the vehicle began to swerve into other lanes while the rear of the vehicle went in the opposite direction. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the steering sensor was replaced, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 264,888.
2004 sienna le: failure of driver side front suspension spring in january 2012, passenger side in january 2013. Each spring cracked causing vehicle to drop while in motion. Metal in cracked areas appeared porous possibly suggesting flaws in metal during manufacture. 2013 failure included crack near middle of spring, with a sharp broken piece sticking out close to tire. Thankfully occurred while parking/at low speed; failure at high speed may have resulted in puncture of tire/loss of vehicle control. 2012 failure included crack near top. Photographs of the 2012 spring are available upon request. Vehicle is in good condition, with only ~65,000 mi at time of first incident. Driven on paved roads, light loads. Body rust free with minimal surface corrosion of unpainted/undercarriage items. Contacted toyota in 2012, filed case. Was informed similar issues had not been reported, failure was not covered. Noting extreme hazard posed by broken spring puncturing tire, encouraged further evaluation. Obtained/replaced at my cost spring from local toyota dealer, had aligned. Contacted toyota in 2013 regarding second failure. Noted was second occurrence/extreme hazard posed by puncturing tire, encouraged further evaluation. Obtained replacement/had aligned at my cost. Recently contacted toyota; no new information available. Broken springs can result in loss of vehicle control as can tire puncture. Failures I experienced occurred at low speeds; if at higher speeds, results may have been catastrophic. Noting light use and excellent condition of vehicle as well as appearance of the broken springs, toyota parts staff and outside mechanics indicated that manufacturing issues may be cause of failures. Replacement springs included different color coding; parts staff indicated this may correspond to more recent production, suggested that new parts may be of better quality.
The steering angle sensor, pn# 89245-08011 failed. The van can not be driven over 23 MPH. The brakes come on automatically over 23 MPH and the engine will not respond to accelerate. The steering seems strange (anti-lock brake light coming on) but I was able to keep the van in my lane of traffic. I am concerned that this sensor or others will fail and the van will automatically apply the breaks and loose power preventing me from maneuvering the van to the side of the road. I do not know what would have happened if I was travelling at highway speed. I consider this a major safety problem.
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