2008 Toyota Sienna: jerking or lurching

Filed Dec 8, 2020 · Acceleration, Brakes · 170,000 miles · TX

The vehicle stability control will unexpectedly engage in instances where it shouldn't activate. The most common is a long, slight curve on at freeway speeds on dry pavement. The second most common scenario is accelerating to enter the freeway. When vsc engages, the vehicle will lurch to the side it was activated on and curtail any acceleration. This makes the vehicle hard to control when on a freeway curve and when attempting to accelerate to merge onto the freeway, causing unexpected motion that is a hazard to remaining on the road or causing the vehicle to be in an accident with other vehicles. There is no indication that there are malfunctions in any system that would cause this to occur. Note: mileage on the odometer is ~170,000 miles.

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 Dec 1, 2019 · 235,000 miles · FL

While driving on the highway on a slight curve on dry pavement the slip indicator light would come on and the alarm sound eventually causing the brakes to engage and the car to jerk on its own without warning. This happens so often that it's dangerous to drive the van with my family.

Filed Aug 28, 2019 · 95,000 miles · CA

While on a highway or freeway speeds of 35 to 70 MPH while turning on a curve the slip indicator light comes on, causing the vehicle to slow down on a jerk motion as the brakes apply by itself. This can also happen on a sharp curve turning onto the freeway. It's very dangerous situation.

Filed May 28, 2019 · Acceleration, Brakes · 100,000 miles · WI

October 2016 this problem of my 2008 toyota sienna started- on slight curves doing 30-40mph I would hear a clicking noise coming somewhere underneath the front right end almost as if under the dash, the vsc light would flash. I took to a toyota dealership, had a mechanic test drive with me they said the problem was that my tires werent aligned with my last tire change(which was done at their toyota dealership) toyota told me I needed to replace all the tires and have the wheels aligned. I did this, problem continued. I took my van in again to toyota, they lied and told me I needed new brakes, and some other things I didnt need. Decided to get a 2nd opinion from 2 other auto shops and found out toyota lied about the brakes, they were fine and they both were unable to find out my problem. I found this out going to 2 other auto shops asking for them to look into the original problem. Now today may 2019 this problem still exists, but has gotten worse. Now-the vsc light comes on, it still clicks, the ABS light and warning sound goes off, feels as if ABS engages, as it jerks and im unable to accelerate during this time until im on a straight away. Very scary when it happens the van starts jerking and unable to acelerate, not safe to take my family in. Never buy another toyota again...

Filed Dec 4, 2018 · Driver assistance · 175,000 miles · CA

The traction control system comes on when going into any right turn. The alarm beeps and the car automatically brakes, and the gas pedal is disabled so that you can not speed up. The braking can be so severe that it will reduce speed from 45 MPH to 25 MPH without notice which jerks the passengers violently.

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 Mar 5, 2010 · 45,289 miles · MD · crash

We recently purchased a used 2008 toyota sienna. Just before 10 a.m. Today, I pulled into the driveway, just like I have every day for 13 years, turned toward the garage, following the curve of the driveway. I touched the button to open the left garage door, just like I always do. I was driving very slowly, because I was about ready to stop the car and park in my driveway. All of a sudden, the car lurched forward and I think it sped up. I don't know why the car was moving forward! It happened so fast and I recall thinking, 'oh my gosh, I don't want the car to go in the garage!!' I was pressing the brake as hard as I could, and I turned the wheel to the right, trying to avoid the car accelerating into the garage! The car hit the corner of the part of the house that divides the two garage doors. It did stop and I put it in reverse right away to back up. The front corner of that house section now needs to be repaired, and a flower pot (lightweight styrofoam) broke when I turned the wheel that direction. This was a very frightening experience and it happened so fast! I am afraid to drive my car! I have made an appointment to have it looked at by the toyota dealer where we bought it.