2007 Toyota Sienna: engine knocking or ticking

Filed Sep 22, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 126,300 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota sienna. The contact stated while stopped at traffic light, the vehicle stalled with the brake pedal depressed. Several warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact shifted the vehicle into neutral and coasted into a driveway. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that there was no oil in the engine. The contact refilled the oil however, the oil immediately leaked out the vehicle. A mechanic arrived on scene and replaced an oil hose. After the hose was replaced, the contact heard an abnormal knocking noise in the engine. The contact took the vehicle to several independent mechanics and was informed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The contact had the vehicle towed to suburban toyota of farmington hills (25000 haggerty rd, farmington hills, mi 48335) who confirmed there was an engine failure. The contact then had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where the engine was replaced. After the engine replacement, the contact experienced several transmission issues. The contact stated that while at a stop, the vehicle independently shifted in and out of gear without warning. Also, while in reverse, the vehicle coasted and jerked upon slight depression of the accelerator pedal. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 126,300.*dt

Filed Dec 16, 2015 · Steering · 60,000 miles · SD

The steering wheel makes a ticking or clunking sound as it is turned back and forth or when a bump affects one of the front tires which naturally moves the steering wheel one way or the other. There also seems to be excessive "slop" in the steering wheel movement. Dealer has looked at it and said it is a faulty "intermediate steering shaft" and it needs to be replaced. This is a known toyota issue with other models (2004-2011?). There are two u-joints on the intermediate shaft. One or both of them is wearing out, causing the sound and excessive play. This is a design issue affecting the steering wheel of a motor vehicle. I thought I should record this complaint.

Filed Sep 29, 2014 · Body, Wheels · 136,065 miles · IA · crash

I was parallel parking, backing into a parking space on a long bridge in a downtown/busy area. When I tapped the accelerator lightly to back up, my van suddenly lurched back (in reverse), accelerating so quickly I felt like I was in a rocket ship being lifted into the air. My wheel was turned in preparation for backing into the space. At a breakneck speed, my van accelerated in reverse, lurching up a large concrete step (all 4 tires), squealing erratically. Then it continued across a wide sidewalk/pedestrian area, the bumper hitting the bridge, immediately knocking about 20 feet of a concrete railing from the bridge into the river below. Luckily, my wheels basically bounced off the bottom portion of the bridge, which was secured by a large concrete block at the base of the bridge. This all happened in about 1 second... It didn't take long. The first thing I tried when this happened was hit the brakes. They didn't move. It was like they were locked. As my van bounced forward after it bounced off the concrete block, I was able to get it into park. I am lucky there were no pedestrians on the bridge, as they would have been crushed immediately by the concrete, and thrown into the river below. I'm also incredibly fortunate my van didn't continue in reverse, plunging itself, and me, into the river. It was a harrowing experience and two weeks later, I am still not quite past it. I am a safe driver and this is my first "real" accident in 25+ years of driving. My van is totaled.

Filed Sep 8, 2014 · Engine · 97,302 miles · NC

My wife was driving our 2007 toyota sienna on a major road when she noticed smoke coming from under it. She pulled into a parking lot and shut the engine off, avoiding engine seizure because within just a couple of minutes it had lost 2 qts of oil onto the ground due to a rupture in a rubber oil vvt-1 line. After reading online I found out this is a very common problem which toyota has refused to address properly. In 2009 siennas the line have been switched to all metal leaving the rest of their earlier customers with ticking time bombs. This type of failure is unacceptable, an engine seizure at 70mph will be deadly and the spilt oil on the road posses hazards as well. A toyota dealership wants to charge over $500.00 to replace this $23.00 hose.

Filed Mar 11, 2013 · Engine · 104,525 miles · WI

Failure of a defective rubber oil cooler hose occurred at app. 5:30 pm on 2/11/2013 while the sienna was being driven on a city street. The vehicle rapidly lost most of its oil, and incurred significant and very costly engine damage (resulting in the need for replacement of the engine short-block, plus other collateral engine repairs that the toyota dealership and toyota engineering eventually determined necessary). See toyota technical service bulletin t-sb-0201, dated 12/21/2011. The oil "seepage" term used by toyota in this tsb is a complete misnomer, as the oil loss was rapid and resulted in oil spraying profusely under the front of the vehicle. Toyota had not previously communicated any information to its unsuspecting customer regarding this specific defective part. On 3/3/2011, the customer discovered through his own personal research the scope and magnitude of toyota's pervasive failure history with a very similar defective rubber oil supply hose. The defective rubber oil supply hose is the subject of a current multi-part limited service campaign (lsc) prior launched by toyota, however toyota is incredibly claiming to the customer that this lsc campaign (which is set to expire on 3/31/2013) does not cover the defective oil cooler hose. In the customer's opinion, toyota has demonstrated gross negligence in not including coverage of both defective rubber oil hose parts under the current lsc (or, not launching a separate lsc addressing the defective oil cooler hose). This defective rubber oil cooler hose could be described as a ticking time bomb for owners of affected toyota highlanders (2008 - 2011), highlander hvs (2011), siennas (2007 - 2011), and venzas (2009 - 2011). The customer is continuing interface with toyota, for toyota to accept full financial responsibility for all customer costs incurred in this matter.