2011 Toyota Sienna: engine stalls while driving

Filed May 12, 2019 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · MD

This vehicle has all wheel drive and uses an electromechanical coupler on the rear differential. It is very similar configuration to the toyota rav4 that uses a viscous coupler in the same location. My coupler has failed due to the front bearing failing. The vehicle is 8 years old and has about 95000 miles on it. Toyota has issued a technical service bulletin and provided extended warranty coverage for the bearing failure problem on the rav4. So far, they have refused to provide similar coverage for repairs on the awd sienna, even though the failure mode is identical. We first noticed the problem when the vehicle started making loud grinding noise from the rear axle while driving. It wasn't clear what the source of noise was, but after finding the service bulletin for the problem on the rav4, it became clear this same bearing failure was happening on the awd sienna's, so it was repaired. It was repaired before it failed catastrophically. It is hard to know what would have happened if the sound was ignored. Would the drive shaft sieze up? Engine stall? Transmission fail? Toyota does not sell this bearing for the sienna, they require the entire coupling to be replaced, with a list price over $1700, plus labor. This defective part should be subject of a recall and the repair performed on all awd sienna with the defective bearing configuration.

Filed Feb 13, 2019 · Transmission · 200,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 toyota sienna. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle started to decelerate. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle decelerated and stalled. The vehicle was towed to toyota of orange (located at 1400 n tustin st, orange, ca 92867, (714) 639-6750) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

Filed Jun 11, 2018 · Driver assistance, Engine · 123,075 miles · MN

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 toyota sienna. While driving 35 MPH, the check engine and traction control warning indicators illuminated. In addition, the vehicle stalled and was unable to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 123,075.

Filed Aug 14, 2015 · Electrical · 64,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 toyota sienna. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the CVT warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled. After several attempts, the vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000.

Filed Aug 6, 2014 · Engine · 33,000 miles · NV · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 toyota sienna. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, all the warning lights illuminated. After driving for 15 minutes, the vehicle stalled and smoke was coming out of the hood. The engine was on fire. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 33,000.

Filed Mar 11, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 31,312 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns 2011 toyota sienna. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who performed a diagnostic and determined that the battery failed and caused the vehicle to stall. The battery was replaced however the dealer could not explain the cause of the battery failure. Additionally, the contact stated that the engine was previously replaced due to failed springs which caused the valves to also fail. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 31,312 and the current mileage was, 31,800.

Filed Jun 6, 2012 · Transmission · 16,000 miles · UT

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 toyota sienna. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost power and decelerated to 25 MPH before stalling without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle but the vehicle would accelerate over 5 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was test driven. The dealer was able to recreate the failure but the vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and the current mileage was 16,000.

Filed Jan 16, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 24,000 miles · AZ

The vehicle engine stalls. This occurs intermittently especially when making turns. I had to press the gas pedal all the way down to accelerate. The vehicle brake lights do not come off for about 10 minutes when the engine and lights have been switched off. It is possible to start the car with the push button without pressing down on the gas pedal sometimes.

Filed Oct 25, 2011 · Acceleration · 4,900 miles · PA · crash

I have loved my 2011 toyota sienna for 5-6 mos. Now. Upon backing up in my flat driveway area on 10/24/11, at a slow rate typical to backing up in a driveway, I found my van propelling very fast straight back/in reverse. This took the vehicle down over a slight hill of our yard into a large pine tree. The thick spruce tree has a huge hole/opening/damaged area and my entire back of the van is very damaged, entire rear window busted into hundreds of smaller pieces, items in the car projected onto the ground behind us. The liftgate, rear window and bumper are very caved in and damaged. I can only describe this as seconds of total confusion, speed, lack of control, shock. I'm feeling like the van is "possessed", and I will not drive it at all again. I did not witness any indicators of any accelerator issues in the 5-6 mos. I've owned it. I would be lying if I said I was positive I was still backing up or if I was in the process of preparing to brake and shift into drive to pull forward and out of my driveway. This happened so quickly for doing something at such a very slow reverse speed, that the details in that second it all changed and accelerated, I can not say for sure what specifics were being done at that very moment of drastic change in speed. I've always loved toyotas. We've had a few now. This is the last one I will buy because I just can not explain why or what occurred to make it go from single digits in reverse to very quickly speeding in reverse. I'm talking 12 yards of space where it went from normal, slow backing up to incredibly fast, then impact. I can't say if the car even stalled when it stopped. I can't recall if I shut if off. I was far more concerned about getting out and checking on my 4 year old who was luckily unharmed in her 5 point harness high back car seat. I know it sounds odd-it was more odd than anyone can imagine!

Filed Jan 12, 2011 · Engine, Lights · 7,500 miles · CA

5 month old toyota sienna 2011 stalled after the lights inside the dashboard (control panel) started blinking and then would not start again. It was towed to the dealer on 12/22/2010. Dealer initially (on 12/27/2010) said it is due to water damage and engine has to be replaced. Dealer was not able to find any evidence of sienna being submerged in water (as it did not go into any big puddle or deep waters). I opened a case with toyota on 12/28/2010. I was in touch with toyota dealer but case manager at toyota informed that they were unable to reach/speak to the dealer for 2 days even though they are both in california. She informed me that their policy is to concur with dealer without even looking at the report or talking to them and they would neither investigate nor inspect. My insurance company (aaa) performed visual inspection and found too many metal pieces inside the engine. Insurance company also followed up with dealer and informed there are other cases where they had seen similar issue with toyota sienna 2011 and this does not seem to be a water damage. There has been neither an explanation nor a follow-up from toyota as to what the cause was. Dealer reported back on 01/04/2011 and informed me that it might be a mechanical failure and toyota will fix it. I am now concerned about the safety of my family and anyone who drives sienna. What if stalls in the middle of freeway ? What if this happens again ? Worried and tensed owner of toyota sienna 2011.