2011 Toyota Sienna acceleration problems

Filed Jul 29, 2024 · Acceleration, Body · TX · crash

I was pulling my 2011 Toyota Siena into a parking space. My foot was on the brake and the car was going about 5 mph. The car made a slight sound, along with a perceptible yet small physical shift, and (while my foot was on the brake) independently accelerated with tremendous force. It was like it was ignited. The car hit a concrete pole and was totaled. The acceleration over-rode the brake. No one was hurt. The concrete pole averted what could have been a catastrophic accident, had we hit pedestrians, or had we rear ended a car or truck on the freeway. The brakes failed as the car jumped into independent acceleration. My safety and the safety of my passenger were both at risk. As I said, in a different situation, we might have hit pedestrians, or gone through the wall of the grocery store and hit customers. The concrete pole saved us and others. The mechanic at the service center where the car was towed said it was impossible to discern if there had been a failure in the system of the car - though clearly both my passenger and myself experienced that failure in the car's ability to override an independent, forceful acceleration not caused by the driver. There was no warning of any kind. On the Edmunds site, there are many, many testimonials by other drivers of the Toyota Siena of similar, frightening experiences of independent acceleration. It is terribly dangerous and should be investigated. If there is not a recall on this vehicle, there should be. This is a potentially catastrophic defect.

Filed Jan 16, 2019 · Acceleration · 129,000 miles · IA · crash

On a snowy saturday morning, my husband was slowly (driving less than 5 MPH) pulling into a parking spot while braking. As he shifted into park, the vehicle suddenly revved and accelerated over the five inch curb and hit a building a few feet in front of the car. His foot remained firmly on the brake during the incident. Although the vehicle had come to a complete stop once it hit the building and was put into park, the engine continued to make a loud revving sound. The revving did not stop until the vehicle was turned off.

Filed Feb 24, 2018 · Acceleration · 20,000 miles · VA

Van was parked on a city street. I was trying to pull out of a parking space.I had my foot on the brake when the engine revved up and lunged forward. I had my foot on the brake, the mat was secured down. I took my van in to have the toyota dealer check. They couldn't find anything wrong. This happened 3 different times.

Filed Oct 7, 2017 · Acceleration · 63,000 miles · TX

While stopped at a stop sign with my foot on the brake and waiting for traffic to clear, sudden unintended acceleration began. I lifted my foot off the brake for a split second and then braked hard. The engine returned to idle. This was the second time this happened, the first being three weeks earlier, shortly after having power sliding door recall work performed. I am convinced there is a defect in the electronic throttle control system. There is no other reasonable explanation. I took the car to my dealership and the dealer said a technician found all systems okay and no action was required.

Filed Oct 4, 2017 · Acceleration, Engine · 114,000 miles · ID · crash · 3 injuries

I put my vehicle in park and then turned on the hazard lights, as I was parked at the entrance to a busy highway, and just wanted to grab my mail. I turned around from getting the mail; and my minivan was rolling across the highway with three of my children inside of it. It stopped when it hit a cement barrier on the other side of the highway. No air bag deployed. My children suffered from minor injuries. And, a-lot of anxiety.what happened to make my minivan switch out of park?

Filed Jan 11, 2017 · Acceleration, Airbags · 117,296 miles · NC · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 toyota sienna. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, it became stuck. The brake pedal was depressed, but failed to operate. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,296.

Filed Jan 26, 2016 · Acceleration · WA · crash · 2 injuries

Tl* the contact owned a 2011 toyota sienna. While driving 10 MPH approaching the driveway, the vehicle accelerated without warning when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle crashed into a tree at 15 MPH. The driver sustained fractures to the right ribs, foot, ankle, and leg that required medical attention. The passenger sustained fractures to the right hand, left hip, neck, hand, and back. Medical attention was required. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Dec 23, 2015 · Acceleration, Airbags · 40,000 miles · IL · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 toyota sienna. The contact stated that the vehicle unintentionally accelerated as the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond without warning. As a result, the contact crashed into a building. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The driver sustained neck and leg injuries however, it was unknown if medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Filed Nov 16, 2015 · Acceleration, Brakes · 15,600 miles · PA · crash

I pulled into a relative's gravel driveway which has a very large parking area to the side. I pulled up to about two feet from their grassy area, got into position to back up into a parking space, stopped, and put my 2011 sienna into reverse, and as soon as I gently touched the excelerator to begin backing up the van sped forward at a high rate of speed crashing into and over an 8 inch railroad tie that had a steelbeam on top that separated the driveway from their yard. I had to slam both feet onto the brake to get it to stop which it finally did. I thought I had not put it in reverse but I looked at the gearshift and it was indeed in reverse. I jiggled the gearshift to make sure it was secured in the slot and it was. I then put it in park and sat there for a minute or two trying to gain composure trying to figure out what just happened, I was in shock as nothing like this has ever happened to me before. After that minute or two I decided I couldn't let the vehicle sit there and needed to move it. Scared, but I put it in reverse again, ready to pounce on the brakes with both feet and barely touching the excelerator I started moving in reverse. It was working fine then. I then got out to check for damage and the bumper on the driver's side was damaged from the impact. The airbag did not deploy, I was not hurt however had any of my relatives been in that area at that moment it could've resulted in an injury or fatality. I reported what happened to the local dealership where I bought it and then to toyota USA as instructed in the handbook. Now I'm reporting it here. Am awaiting contact supposedly within the next day or so to see what toyota intends to do with the sienna. I will not drive again it until the reason for this defect is found and fixed and damages repaired. The outcome will decide whether I will ever be a toyota customer again.

Filed Jun 16, 2014 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 21,960 miles · WA

2011 toyota sienna. While driving about 40 MPH, the power steering failed as the steering traction control and the vsc warning lights illuminated. Steering wheel is very heavy and hard to turn. When parking or turning at a road cross the steering wheel seized.