2012 Toyota Sienna: whining or grinding noise

5 of the 247 complaints about the 2012 Toyota Sienna describe whining or grinding noise.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 2%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 10 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Whining or grinding noise by model year

2020
1
2019
6
2018
10
2017
19
2013
2
2012
5
2011
1
2009
1
2006
1
2000
5

What owners say

Filed May 11, 2022 · MO

Vehicle has a whining grinding noise, after having it serviced at Toyota Dealership, the finding has been a known issue for a few years: Rear Differential Viscous Coupling gone bad. If this is the same set up as the Toyota Rav and they issued a recall on it, What is the issue with not calling it for the Sienna's, especially when its a very known problem? Its a complete RIPOFF to the public, and something truly must be done. Thank you.

Filed Oct 19, 2020 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · MN

My 2012 toyota sienna recently began making a loud whining noise from the rear axle area. Upon inspection, we were informed that the differential unit was failing and needed to be replaced. This would cost us between $2,500-$3,000. After some research, I discovered that this is a common problem with the sienna, likely caused by a design flaw. The same unit was used on the rav-4, and after similar problems surfaced it was recalled and fixed by toyota. Given the danger posed by failure of this part to a family vehicle, and the known existence of the problem by toyota, it seems obvious that it should be immediately recalled and fixed by the manufacturer.

Filed Jun 2, 2020 · Transmission · 98,000 miles · MN

Unit is producing a speed dependent whine from the rear differential consistent with a bearing failure in the viscous coupler. Issue first observed with approximately 98,000 miles on odometer. This appears to be a common component failure on many toyota awd vehicles manufactured in the last 15-20 years, and the component in question may be under-engineered to perform as expected in normal driving conditions. Replacement part costs $1300+ from toyota, not including installation.

Filed Feb 5, 2020 · Transmission · 75,000 miles · NY

The bearing for the viscous coupler has gone bad. It whines loudly when in motion, and the volume correlates with the speed. According to feedback from online this issue happens a lot. Toyota will not change the bearing ($50 plus labor). They will only change the whole coupler ($1800 plus labor) as they state the coupler is not serviceable. Multiple people have serviced the working coupler to change just the bearing. Toyota released a similar tsb for the rav 4 where the coupler failed.

Filed Aug 18, 2014 · Body, Electrical · 46,250 miles · FL

Driver's side rear sliding door will not latch shut when closing door either manually of electrically. When closing front latches engage of sliding door but subsequent rear latching does not engage upon end of closing cycle. One can hear rear of sliding door locking mechanism actuator whine when attempting final close cycle. After the van's failure to cycle the door shut at rear, then also at rear a diagnostic sounds a long beep warning sound afterwards. Removing negative to see if this would reset the door in some way only served to cancel all electronic commands to the door to open or close useless from any button (fob, overhead control console button, manual door handle opening or open/close buttons). Passenger (right) sliding door unaffected.