2005 Toyota Sienna: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Nov 7, 2016 · Engine, Steering · 107,000 miles · CT

Crankshaft pulley safety recall - 2005 toyota sienna -recall # 11v539000 more vehicles possibly affected than stated in recall notice. Dealer stated VIN did not fall in range of recall, although the defective crankshaft pulley part stamped with mark has been identified on my vehicle. Burning smell related to drive belt while driving and abnormal engine noise. Upon replacing new drive belt, the crankshaft pulley was inspected and shown to fail due the inadequate adhesive stated in the recall. Notified dealer, called toyota representative and opened case#1611070038. Both dealer and toyota refused recall since VIN was not in range. Toyota representative stated no photos or evidence were required to show the failed crankshaft pulley. Please used the details and photos attached for odi# 10924632

Filed Mar 24, 2016 · Driver assistance · 223,000 miles · WA

On march 15, 2016, the vehicle stability control on my 2005 toyota sienna xle activated suddenly and for no reason. I was in a left turn merging lane from one major highway to a busy interstate. I was going about 50 MPH when it activated. The activation caused my car to rapidly decelerate from 50 MPH to 20 MPH in a matter of 3 seconds and caused my wife and I to lurch forward. Vsc also caused my vehicle to swerve sharply to the right. I had immediately lost control! This put me and my family in mortal danger along with the occupants of vehicles around us. They were completely unprepared for my sudden and unwarranted stop! I believe toyota has sold a vehicle that has a hardware and/or software error in it that can result in fatal injuries to the driver, passengers and occupants of surrounding vehicles. This is why I believe the national highway transportation safety administration should require toyota to issue a safety recall that permanently eliminates this problem for toyota owners like me. (as background, I did some internet research to see if others have experienced this. I've attached my findings of 23 identical incidents experienced by sienna owners. I stopped at 23 - there were more.) I believe this situation is far more serious than your recent recall of the toyota shift lever assembly to prevent an accidental roll away. (the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v429000). In our case we are driving at highway speeds when without warning the car suddenly slams on the brakes and veers to the right. I believe this calls for your immediate action. Personally, I think this is just as serious as a car going down the highway that suddenly bursts into flames. I know you would issue a recall to that car company and I believe you should issue a similar recall to toyota.

Filed Feb 3, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 163,860 miles · OH

While driving on 4 lane highway, I began to smell burning rubber, then noticed that the battery discharge indicator light came on. Found that the serpentine belt driving the alternator and compressor had been shredded and was hanging to the ground. Upon a closer look, the crankshaft pulley had failed (it had come apart). It appeared that the outer ring had separated from the rubber inner ring of the pulley and the outer ring had become misaligned. The misalignment appeared to have caused the serpentine belt failure. It also caused damage to the timing belt cover, the timing belt and the power steering belt. The battery light came on because of the failed serpentine belt. Fortunately, I maintained power steering because the power steering belt had not completely failed when I pulled off the highway. The failure seems to be identical to that covered by safety recall the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v539000. However, toyota claims that my VIN number is not subject to the recall. Toyota's response to me does not make sense since this is the same model, same model year, same engine model, same parts manufacture (pulley contains the mark noted in the recall), same manufacture date (feb. 2005), etc of the vehicles covered by the recall. Seems that the recall has not covered all of the vehicles affected by this failure. My vehicle was purchased new on september 15, 2005.

Filed Jun 18, 2014 · Engine, Steering · 28,723 miles · CA

First, I noticed some oil stains on my drive way, then I drove my minivan to a local toyota car dealer for check up and routine oil change. Next day, I noticed a bigger oil stain. Anyway, I had an appointment and have to drive my minivan to my dentist office, on the highway, I saw smoke came out of my front hood. Then, I drove it to the same toyota dealer afterwards. It was quite scary driving and seeing smoke came out of my front hood especially with my young daughter on board today. At one moment, I thought my car will be on fire. On the paper, I was told that my leaking is from rack and pinion steering system. I called toyota customer service, and the person who assisted me state his surprise of this rack and pinion leaking for such a low mileage car. I would like to file a mechanical damage report toward toyota defective parts.

Filed Apr 21, 2013 · Engine · 79,000 miles · MA

I was driving home from work, after merge from rte 20 into rte 9, I drove up hill, about 50 yards to my street, I saw smoke behind my van, I did not see any warning light from my driving panel, my van was still running smoothly, so I decided to drive to my house (about 150 yards) away, after I parked my van, I saw smoke coming out from hood, and a long leaking oil track along the street. I checked my engine oil, it was ok. Next morning, I started my van, it is still no warning light on my driving panel, I called aaa to get my van towed to toyota westborough ma. Technician told me that my engine cylinder head got blown a hole and oil flying out to be burned and produced smoke, potentially it will catch fire if I continue to drive. I had my van oil changed on 08/2012 by sears shop, about 5,000 miles was driven since last oil changed. I believe the engine aluminum head was defective product, not because of other reason. It is very dangerous it happened while the van was running at highway. It could catch fire too.

Filed Jan 21, 2013 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 63,000 miles · MA

I was driving the car and noticed it was a bit sluggish. The next thing I know, the brake pedal is on the floor even though I am not pressing it, and the car is still moving. I had my three children in the car, so I drove carefully to a safe stopping place, used the emergency brake, and exited the car. I then noticed that all four brakes or tires were smoking and there was a very strong burning smell. If there had been a need for me to stop suddenly while I was still moving, my brakes would not have worked! After getting the car towed and replacing both the ABS actuator and the master cylinder, my mechanic diagnosed the source of the problem: the brake light switch and bracket had been knocked out of alignment and were causing brake application even when the pedal was not depressed by the driver. This caused ABS and vehicle stability control failures when the brakes overheated. I searched toyota's recalls and found a recall for this exact problem was issued for 2011 siennas only, but I had experienced precisely the same problem in a 2005 sienna. I called toyota and got nowhere; because no recall had been issued for my model year, they would not help me at all with covering the tremendous cost I had incurred.

Filed Aug 27, 2009 · Body, Locks · 50,000 miles · GA

I own a 2005 toyota sienna le without automatic doors. 1. In the winter the doors freeze shut and will open on their own while driving once the temperature warms up. Anything under 38 degrees this happens. 2. The sliding rear doors do not open about 50% of the time, once the passenger side door did not open for 4 months and then started working again out of the blue. I find these glitches dangerous to my family. Especially, when the frozen doors open while driving or when the sliding doors will not open from the inside or outside. What if the car was on fire or submerged in water? We would die.

Filed Dec 22, 2008 · Engine · 45,311 miles · CT · fire

Vehicle caught fire spontaneously during normal use. Fire started in the area of exhaust muffler and quickly spread into the cabin.

Filed Aug 4, 2005 · Tires · 3,100 miles · CA · fire

Dt: had a new 2005 toyota sienna with 3,000 miles on the vehicle that had run flat tires, and the back right passenger tire that went flat. Then smoked and reached a flash point and caught fire. Was driving on highway at a speed of about 60 MPH and noticed a jumpiness in the vehicle. Drove this way for an unknown distance. Pulled to side of the road, noticed a lot smoke coming from the tire and immediately removed family from vehicle. Called 911, and aaa. A passerby who worked for the forestry division called fire department as well. Two passerbys used 2 full fire extinguishers and put out fire, fire department came after and watered down tire as well. Towed to a dealer, dealer did not know why tire went into flames. Dealer did not offer no explanation. Contacted toyota suggested that when the tire went flat along with hot temperatures, hot pavement, and gases within the tire could have cobusted and caused the fire. Toyota did replace the tire. The ti bridgestone, brand b380 run flats, unsure of tire size at this time.