2008 Toyota Sienna driver assistance problems

Filed Nov 2, 2022 · Brakes, Driver assistance · CA

Driving on dry pavement in mountainous terrain the slip indicator light/sound activates temporarily and the brakes can engage by themselves! Usually happens during right turns. I've been to several automotive specialists for mechanical & electronic diagnosis. I've replaced the lower control arm & the clock spring behind the steering wheel but the issue persists. Online searches indicate this is a common problem with Toyota siennas that is extremely difficult to diagnose & very costly to replace all the possible problematic components! I've had this problem since buying the car used several months ago.This should be a recall issue!!!!!!!!!!!

Filed Oct 2, 2020 · Driver assistance · 150,000 miles · NC

When driving normally in dry conditions, the vehicle stability control engages when making slow turns at about 45 to 55 MPH. It happens mostly when steering to the right but can happen when turning left. This results in dangerous driving conditions where the brakes unexpectedly engage or the car down shifts to a lower gear. It has almost caused a wreck and has placed me and others in danger. The problem began about 2 to 3 years ago and has become progressively worse. Other owners of this make and model have reported similar issues without resolution by toyota, dealers or auto repair shops. I am only able to resolve the issue by removing the fuse that controls the stability control system. See https://www.cargurus.com/cars/discussion-c9152_ds656326 for one example of a discussion thread. Given the pervasiveness of this problem, it is apparent that this is a systemic problem with the engineering or manufacturing of this vehicles and toyota should be held accountable for this potentially life threatening problem.

Filed Aug 16, 2020 · Driver assistance · 150,000 miles · PA

My vsc and slip dashboard indicators go on while I drive on dry road at speeds between 40-50 MPH. The car then gives me kick back on steering and braking, almost as it losing control of my vehicle. It then goes away randomly. It is difficult to replicate the situation but it tends to occur on speeds above 35mph and on a curved road steering.this has occured while on the highway and on regular roads.

Filed Aug 6, 2020 · Driver assistance · 140,000 miles · ID

While driving, the traction control system warning came on when the roads were clear and dry. Also, the automatic braking started going off when making turns on clear roads. Whenever we traveled the highway and were making a turn at greater than 35 miles per hour, the warning sounded and the brakes went off.

Filed Jul 15, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 180,000 miles · TN

On inclines, the vsc light would come on, clicking noise near the steering column. The car would lose power. I have mechanics checked out. Cv joint and ball bearing replaced. Problem persists.

Filed Jun 23, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 110,000 miles · OR

About a five years ago the slip indicator light (car with swervy lines) started coming on intermittently while turning on highways etc. (but not when any risk of tires slipping). I brought it to toyota three different times over the years and toyota always states they can not duplicate issue and states they can?t fix it but maybe drive slower (really it has nothing to with my speed after years of dealing with this its been something we just deal with). The vsc light also comes on and alarm sometimes sounds while driving. Two more trips to toyota and several visits to different mechanics and nobody can find out the problem. In the last 6 months the ABS system is also being activated without me applying the brakes. It does it without warning. All of these issues can be on a curve at different speeds or on a slight or medium turns (not real sharp turns), going uphill or downhill and left or right. Our van has about 150,000 miles on it now on 2020 but when the problem first started it only had around 110,000 miles on it. We have changed brakes, tires, rotors, brushing on advice from different mechanics to try to fix the issue. Nothing works. Toyota cannot figure it out. It's becoming more dangerous because now the ABS is being activated with this problem. I can't tell if my brake lights come on so that drivers behind me can tell that I?m slowing down very quickly. This jerks those in the car and I?m afraid we may lose control. I have read on different web sites that this is common with a toyota and it's just not my van. If I had the money I would buy a different vehicle but being on a fixed income I don't have the luxury to do so. How can a car company have so many complaints from consumers about this common problem but still can't tell us how to fix it? It's toyotas design they should be able to tell the consumer what is causing this issue and how to fix it.

Filed Jun 22, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 95,000 miles · OH

Vehicle would engage brakes by itself and vsc and traction control lights would start flashing and beeping when going around curves or hitting bumps in the road. This was frightening, and caused me to not in good conscience sell the vehicle outright to another person, so I lost thousands of dollars by trading it in. This happened intermittently for over a year. Estimated financial loss $4000.00.

Filed Jun 8, 2020 · Driver assistance · 150,000 miles · CA

I was driving on the freeway at approximately 70mph on dry asphalt on a sunny day when the stability control warning light came on along with rapid beeping. What was the most concerning was that the breaks activated twice causing me to have a near panic attack and I didn't think I had control of the vehicle. After a few seconds, the beeping stopped and I had full control of the vehicle again. There was no apparent cause for these safety features to have been engaged and no longer feel safe driving this vehicle. This is not the only time it has happened but it was the scariest. The other times have been at slower speeds and the brakes don't always engage. I have read numerous posts online describing the same issue with other siennas and it doesn't seem like toyota wants to do anything about this extremely hazardous issue.

Filed May 11, 2020 · Driver assistance · 185,000 miles · CA

When we go on curvy roads, a clicking starts. It sounds as if it is coming from under the dash near the steering. Once that starts up the traction control malfunctions. The warning alarm comes on and the brakes engage on their own. It doesn't seem to matter how fast or slow we take the curve. This started about a year ago and continues to get worse. I've taken it to the mechanic but he can't replicate the problem because the road are mostly straight there and they couldn't physically see anything wrong. For what its worth, the problem happens when the roads are dry or wet. The tires are good and so is the pressure. This seems to be a common problem in this model of car and especially this particular year. For examples: https://www.siennachat.com/threads/traction-control-malfunctioning.44474/

Filed Apr 8, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 184,000 miles · TX

While driving with my autistic children the check engine light, the vsc light and the trac off light all came on and the wheels locked up on the right side and through the van into a ditch. This is very dangerous since this vehicle was made for families. I am now keeping a log and I do plan on retaining an attorney as no one has addressed this issue as a safety hazard.