2008 Toyota Sienna: check engine light

Filed Aug 23, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · CA

Check engine light, vsc light and trac off light on and off light intermittent. At any time the light goes on and off. It is nerve breaking knowing that the warning light and the problem can not be fixed by toyota. I have my toyota sienna 2008 and it have a very low miles due to lights safety reasons that can not be solved by toyota. Every time we complain, we were always told that bring the car in when the light goes on. The problem is when the light goes on it will be off when we get to the dealership. We noticed when the car reached approximately 98,000 miles. The cause of the on and off lights are unknown.

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.

Filed Sep 2, 2015 · Engine · FL

2008 toyota sienna. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle engine problems. *smd the consumer stated the air condition was not cooling the vehicle, and she thought it just needed to be serviced. After two hours of driving, the check engine light illuminated. By the time she was able to pull over, the engine was ruined, the dealer stated the engine water hose and oil hose had malfunctioned.

Filed May 19, 2015 · Engine · 112,496 miles · SC

Upon exiting the interstate, we began to smell a burning smell and the light for the A/C started flashing and wouldn't turn back on. We drove about a mile thinking that the smell was roadwork, but then we decided to stop and check it under the hood. Once we opened the hood, we were hit with a plume of smoke, and realized there was a pool of oil under the van. We began to look on the internet for causes, where we came across several instances of the oil hose blowing and the vehicle catching fire. We called the dealership the next day to see if there was a recall. They didn't know of one, but stated that they'd fixed several vehicles for the same issue. This is very alarming since the check engine light, oil light, etc didn't even turn on. Had we driven another mile, would the van have caught fire? We have a van full of children, and it's frightening to think that this could have ended much worse.

Filed Jan 21, 2015 · Engine · 80,200 miles · KS

My wife was driving the minivan with both kids in the car after grocery shopping and picking them up from the preschool. While she was driving into the garage she smelled and saw oil fume coming out of the hood. She thought the car was going to catch fire and grabbed the kids and got out of the van as quickly as she can. I got her call and rushed home from work. It turned out there was a sudden failure of a oil cooling pipe on the engine. All of the engine oil had almost leaked out (there was maybe about quarter of inch showing on the dip stick). After we towed the car to the dealer, we found out the oil had leaked from an engine cooler pipe which was poorly designed and over time it could develop a slow seep leak or in our case failed in a sudden burst and caused the oil to leak out like a running faucet. We were extremely fortunate because it occurred just while she was driving the van in our subdivision. Toyota had an extended warranty for this issue last summer but didn't have a recall for this. If it happened while we were driving on highway and we didn't pay attention to the engine light, the engine may burn or worse it could seize and cause accident. After a little research on the web, I found out there are a lot of people had this same issue. Toyota actually had a recall other models of cars for the same issue several years ago. I wonder why they didn't recall the 2008 sienna and they should have. I want to report this and hopefully force toyota to start recall on this issue for all impacted models so others won't have to experience this and avoid potential accidents. Thanks.

Filed Oct 31, 2014 · Driver assistance, Fuel system · 79,000 miles · CA

Car pauses at slow speeds. Car jerks first, then check engine light comes on, trac off light comes on. Vsv light comes on. Code diagnosed as dtc po717. Toyota dealer does not know how to fix it. Suggests trial and error. Vehicle hesitating is dangerous.

Filed May 23, 2014 · Engine · 80,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota sienna. The contact stated that while traveling 25 MPH, the check engine light illuminated. The steering wheel became very difficult to control and had to be towed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The VIN was not provided. The failure and current mileage were 80,000.

Filed Mar 12, 2014 · Engine · 55,253 miles · FL

While driving my vehicle it began to make a strange knocking sound as I accelerated. I had been driving around town for several hours that morning. I pulled over to inspect the engine, and saw some type of fluid on the left side of the engine and wall. I pulled the oil dipstick out and there was no oil on it at all. Completely dry! I had someone bring me some oil and I drove my car up to the repair shop just a short distance away. They discovered that the oil pressure line -valve cover variable timing-on top of motor to right on passenger side had burst. Part of the line is rubber and that part had ruptured and all the oil had blown out of the engine. My oil light did not come on at any time nor did my check engine light. Even after I stopped it did not come on.

Filed Jun 7, 2013 · Engine · 51,303 miles · MN

While driving are 2008 sienna mini van with 51303 miles on it we had developed a sudden loss of oil from the engine. No check engine lights or warning lights came on notifying us that there was a problem. Observed that there was a large amount of oil loss in the driveway. Could track back where we were driving with the oil loss trail in the road. Did some research and learned that the engine in the sienna is that same as that in several other toyotas (avalons). I learned that there is a vvi oil line is faulty on the engine. Toyota used a rubber hose which results in failure which then results in engine damage due to the oil loss. Toyota recalled the same party on the avalon and is aware that this hose is bad and needs replacement. Toyota issued recall on the avalons but is not issuing a recall on the sienna. This is the same piece on the two vehicles. They then state that this hose with an average fails at 50-60000miles. They then stated that this hose is not covered under warranty. This hose bursting can cause engine damage and is also a safety issue. There needs to be a recall on this rubber oil hose on all vehicles. They know that this is a bad piece when talking with them. Also if it were to fail they then will state that since this hose caused the engine issues they will not cover it under warranty. This then results in people having to replace the engine in there vehicle for 5-10000dollars. When oil loss occurs it sprays every where getting on brakes, belts, and exhaust which could cause an accident and or fire. Also resulting in serious engine damage. Toyota know this vvi hose is bad and issued a recall on the same hose on the avalons. A five minute search on the internet will show you the issues with motor and vvi hose. A recall must be issued on all toyota vehicles with this motor which had the vvi oil hose. Thanks

Filed May 1, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 77,300 miles · GA

On a rainy sunday afternoon I was driving 65 MPH on the interstate when the check engine, vsc and trac off lights came on. The vehicle was taken directly to the dealer the next morning (69 additional miles were driven). When tested the code indicated to inspect the vvt-1 system, including the actuator bolts and alignment. Upon inspection (requiring the engine to be partially disassembled) it was determined that the vvti gear was coming apart causing debris to spread throughout the camshaft gears and housing only for cam bank 1. This is an obvious material quality defect and toyota's only statement is "we don't have a recall for this". My van is 90 days past the 5 year & 17,369 miles over the 60,000 warranty. (note: other manufacturer's offer a 100,000 powertrain warranty). This van has only been serviced by this dealer. This single repair bill is $4,295.00 with no guarantee the other cam bank won't do the same thing, requiring another high service bill. After 3 days of waiting for toyota to investigate, they only offered a goodwill contribution to the repairs of $2,400 ... But only after I submit paid receipts and then wait 10 weeks for them to reimburse me. They flat out refused to send the payment to the dealer. This is toyota's premier family vehicle and if the engine has seized while driving could have killed my family or someone else. I have driven toyota's for over 15 years and never heard of this kind of materials defect and then to be treated this poorly over a major safety issue that is a direct result of poor quality materials. I guess they would have been more interested if someone had died. I think everyone who owns a 2008 sienna should be aware that this model has a vvti gear material quality defect that can be expensive to repair or cause the engine to seize while driving and kill someone. Who knows if other 08 models are also affected.

Filed Jul 20, 2011 · Engine · 45,000 miles · ID

2008 toyota sienna with approx. 45k miles. Driving down highway after wedding. Traction control light comes on. A minute later, check engine light comes on. Half mile from exit, decide to take exit to see what's going on. As reach gas station right off exit, oil light comes on. Check oil and see no oil in engine. Oil splashed on tailgate. Determine oil flowing from engine. Toyota acknowledged problem with rubber oil hose and sent tow truck. Loss of all oil without indication until engine failure. Same v6 engine as recalled in camry and avalon. This is a serious problem requiring complete engine replacement. This is unsafe--sudden engine failure without indication at highway speeds and oil spill to exhaust components of engine could have caused accident or fire!

Filed Jul 29, 2010 · Acceleration, Engine · 25,000 miles · CO

1. Engine lights came on alerting us to a problem (check engine, service engine, etc.). After alleged repair, spouse drove to families house approximate 600 miles away and found a significant amount of oil had leaked from the system - oil had been changed as part of the fix. A second dealer, at the new location, "fixed" with the same hose again, with similar results, though my spouse only drop 120 miles. She is unable to continue the trip home due to this issue. 2. After taking to dealer, was told the vvt oil line was a known faulty part and needed replacement. Was not a "formal" recall, but was considered an internal recall to toyota that needed to be fixed for "free". Both dealerships claimed to have fixed the problem, though the engine is still leaking a significant amount of oil. There is a significant amount of data on the web that addresses this oil line and the associated issues. 3. Part was replaced, but with same type (part number, composition, etc.). Basically, a "new" bad part was replaced. Furthermore, the first dealership installed various gaskets and seals incorrectly, and still gave the car a safe rating for a 600 mile trip. The second dealership merely replaced a bad oil line with another bad oil line.