2008 Toyota Sienna: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Jun 1, 2018 · Engine · 170,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota sienna. While operating the vehicle, the engine hesitated and shuddered before stalling. The vehicle was taken to toyota of orlando (3575 vineland rd, orlando, fl) where it was diagnosed that the engine camshaft was faulty and the engine would need to be rebuilt. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified, but no assistance was offered. The contact indicated that the vehicle previously experienced the same failure in 2011 and the engine was rebuilt. Furthermore, in 2016, the camshaft was repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 170,000.

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 Jan 30, 2013 · Acceleration · 50,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota sienna. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH and making a turn he depressed the accelerator pedal but the vehicle began to hesitate and it did not respond. The failure occurred while making a left or a right turn. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage wa 50,000.

Filed Jul 14, 2011 · Transmission · NY

My 2008 sienna hesitates when gas pedal is pressed after slowing down. The engine revs fast (engine is loud) but car does not respond accordingly by moving ahead until a couple of seconds later. Usually I would release the gas pedal to prevent the engine rev from going very high. This happens intermittently. Dealer could not replicate the problem and service manager explained that was probably caused by a delay in trying to get the correct shift. There was no tsb on the problem according to the manager.

Filed Jan 1, 2011 · Transmission · 20,000 miles · CA

Upon accelerating between first and second gear (7-15) miles an hour, especially after breaking, the vehicle hesitates as if it was in neutral. The RPM's go up but the car does not move. This mainly happens when making a right hand turn when not fully stopping. I also have had it happen when making a left hand turn going across traffic trying to get across the intersection. I have taken this vehicle in numerous times and the problem has never been reproduced by the service tech. I have taken them out on a drive along only to not reproduce it also. This is my main vehicle I drive my four children around in and I would hate to have this issue occur when I really need to accelerate and cause an accident. Apparently, I am not the only individual who owns this vehicle that had witnessed this hesitation problem. I believe this problem warrants further investigation and a possible recall/fix. This happens almost ever time I drive this vehicle.

Filed Aug 10, 2010 · Transmission · 1,000 miles · TX

2008 toyota sienna hesitation after slow speed turn/stop. After slowing down for a speed bump or for a turn, there is a lag in throttle response after pressing on the gas pedal. When stepping back on the gas pedal, the engine revs but the transmission engagement is delayed. This vehicle consistently behaves in this manner under the above conditions. The dealer stated this is normal operation for drive by wire systems. It does not seem normal to me.

Filed Jun 14, 2010 · Transmission · 41,000 miles · NH

The transmission does not respond to get the car into the first or lowest gear when pressing on accelerator if you do not come to a complete full stop at an intersection. It also appears that prior braking or slowing the vehicle as you come to a stop affects how the car shifts into gears and could be why it hesitates or hangs in no gear while trying to accelerate through an intersection or stop. This problem occurs at least 90% of the time. The response from the transmission while accelerating in these situations warrants a replacement or adjustment.

Filed Apr 28, 2010 · Acceleration, Transmission · MA

2008 toyota sienna acceleration hesitation this minivan hesitates from driver acceleration for 1-2 seconds intermittently at very low speeds. However, the problem can be reproduced very easily by making a corner turn at low speed, and increasing acceleration after the turn. The minivan will not respond for 1-2 seconds before 'jumping' into the acceleration. The biggest safety issue with this is a left turn across an oncoming lane of traffic (similar to a corner turn). If I am coasting to the intersection for the turn, the minivan does not respond to the driver input for acceleration to get out of the way of the oncoming car (until through the intersection). Knowing this defect, I compensate for it, but an unsuspecting driver could have an accident with this defect.

Filed Mar 1, 2010 · Transmission · 38,000 miles · MD

I am concerned about the electronic control system in my 2008 toyota sienna van. Rather than the acceleration problems associated with the recalls, my van sometimes does not respond appropriately, eg. There is excessive hesitation and lack of acceleration when the gas pedal is depressed. There are other times, esp. Going downhill, when the car seems stuck in an unusually low gear (automatic transmission). When I've reported my concerns to the dealer (each time it's been serviced for 2 years!), the service rep says, "yes, my avalon does the same thing. It's because the gas pedal is no longer mechanically attached; instead it relies on radio waves which can be affected by temperature and humidity." so, while this does not appear to be as "dangerous" a problem as the unintended accelerations, I can imagine a scenario when I would need to accelerate, the car would not respond, and I could be rear-ended. I felt it was important to "report" this apparent problem, as the testimony I saw from toyota officials seemed to heavily discount the possibility of there being problems with the electronic control systems. But something isn't right! I previously drove a 2000 sienna and did not have any of the hesitation I have described above. (unfortunately, that engine "died" at 78k, I believe, due to the "white smoke" problem that had been subject of an earlier recall!) note: stated date is most recent date van hesitated and was "stuck in a low gear." problem first noted in nov. 2007 with less than 1000 miles.

Filed Nov 4, 2009 · Transmission · 31,000 miles · PA

Problem occurs after slowing down at a stop sign or intersection at the speed between 5 to 10 MPH and then go to increase speed. The transmission hesitates. One time the engine seemed to roar up, but the car didn't move.... This hesitation occurs when transmission is shifting at low speeds when accelerating after slowing down at an intersection or turning at a corner. This occurs intermittently but is quite noticeable. I can often reproduce hesitation with a hard brake followed by heavy throttle.