Toyota Sienna fire or smoke problems

Filed Jun 25, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · 170,000 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Sienna. While the contact’s wife was pulling into the parking space, the transmission shifter was shifted into park(P), and the vehicle suddenly rolled forward approximately four feet. The parking brake was activated, preventing the vehicle from crashing into a parked vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence. While examining the vehicle, the contact determined that the shifter cable bushing had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. Additionally, previously while driving there was smoke coming from the engine compartment and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the oil cooler line had failed causing engine oil to spill from the engine. The rubber oil cooler line was replaced with an updated improved oil cooler line, and the vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 170,000.

Filed Mar 25, 2026 · 107,000 miles · MA · fire

The contact owned a 2008 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while he was away, the fire department called to notify him that his vehicle had caught fire while parked in the driveway. The contact's neighbor was alerted to the fire by the vehicle's alarm system and called the fire department. The fire department extinguished the fire but was unable to determine the cause of the fire. A fire department report was filed. The fire destroyed the interior of the vehicle. The insurance company was made aware of the failure, but had not yet deemed the vehicle totaled. The vehicle remained in the driveway. The contact stated that the vehicle was an equipped BraunAbility handicap wheelchair ramp van. The contact also stated that prior to the fire, the vehicle had no failure and no warning light was illuminated. In addition, The fire wall of the engine performed as designed and protected the engine, although the interior of the vehicle was severely damaged as a result of the fire. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

Filed Nov 17, 2025 · Brakes, Electrical · MD

Vehicle: 2011 Toyota Sienna XLE VIN: [XXX] Mileage: ~204,800 Incident Date: [XXX] Recent Service: Oil change, tire rotation, brake inspection, and multipoint inspection performed on November 10, 2025 at Fitzgerald Toyota Gaithersburg (Maryland). Description of the Defect: On [XXX] while driving with my child in the vehicle, my 2011 Toyota Sienna experienced a sudden and dangerous failure. A strong burning smell entered the cabin, the ABS warning light illuminated, and then wheels locked up while the vehicle was in motion. At the same time, the steering wheel locked, making the vehicle impossible to steer. The engine immediately lost power and shut down in the middle of the roadway. The vehicle would not restart and had to be towed. This failure occurred four days after dealership service at Fitzgerald Toyota Gaithersburg, which included an oil change, tire rotation, and brake inspection. The dealership initially claimed the failure was due to a “dead battery,” and the following day changed the explanation to a “shorted alternator.” A weak battery or alternator failure does not explain a mechanical wheel lock or steering wheel lock while driving. The dealership has refused to provide diagnostic documentation or photographs of the components involved. This incident presents a significant safety hazard, and if it had occurred at highway speeds, it could have resulted in a severe crash. I am reporting this to request investigation into a potential safety defect involving the steering system, braking/ABS system, electrical system, or related components. Safety Risk: High. Loss of steering control + wheel lock + engine shutdown presents an immediate crash hazard. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 12, 2025 · Engine · TX · fire

My engine caught on fire. We had seconds to get out prior to it engulfing in flames. Fire department had to extinguish. Not sure what caused it. The entire vehicle caught on fire. There was an engine light warning I had the vehicle repaired but the warning light was not cleared

Filed Jul 29, 2024 · AL · fire

Something under the hood caught on fire while I was driving with my son, and I pulled over. I was stopped at a red light when I first noticed smoke when I was looking in the rearview mirror. The gauges and lights never indicated anything was wrong, which I was looking at while the car was smoking and I was trying to find a place to pull over. There was smoke billowing up from the hood and all around and in the back of the van. By the time the fire department got the fire out, most of the front was melted. When pulling over the brakes were hardly responsive. The vehicle is at the wrecker and has not been inspected.

Filed Nov 11, 2023 · Engine · IN

Driving down highway noticed white smoke coming from car. Exited highway and warning light then came on saying engine oil low. Stopped van immediately on side of the road and had it towed. Appears the oil coolant line burst which is a known issue on these vehicles after google searching, but was never made aware. Always completed all recalls. Extremely dangerous especially with children in car.

Filed Jan 3, 2023 · Electrical · AR · fire

We recently had a full diagnostic check done on our vehicle (199 point at Parkway Automotive in Little Rock, Arkansas) that listed some components in need of repair. The only part involving the electrical system needing repair was our battery which was testing as no longer holding enough charge. We took the vehicle to Sam's Club in North Little Rock, AR within the last 2-3 weeks and had the battery replaced with a new Duracell with 3 year warranty. We drove away with no issues with the vehicle and used it for local driving without issues for those 2-3 weeks. The morning of Thursday, December 29, 2022 we started the car to drive to our church about 2 miles away with our four young children (1, 5, 8, 10). In the short drive, dash lights were flickering and the nav/audio screen system was turning off and restarting. Upon arrival at the church, as we were parking the car, gray smoke began to come from the hood quickly. The children were all still strapped in seatbelts and carseat, so we quickly unloaded them from the car and took them inside the building. While we were unloading them from the vehicle we observed the following: -black smoke pouring from driver's side hood -sparks falling on the ground from driver's side engine compartment, near bumper -spurts of fire coming from the hood and below the bumper on driver's side -charring and melting coming from the vents/lights where each child was seated in the 2nd and 3rd row seating After calling the fire department and locating a fire extinguisher, the fire quickly grew into an uncontrollable blaze so we all went inside the building as quickly as possible to avoid injury. Shortly thereafter, the battery itself seemed to explode (a loud explosion was heard and then a smaller one) and the driver windshield was blown. The fire was large enough to seem to be traveling toward the gas tank and we were afraid of a big disaster. The fire department then arrived and extinguished the fire and made a report.

Filed Jun 9, 2022 · Engine · CA · fire · 1 injury

Was driving my sienna down he highway, as I was passing someone I lightly accelerated and I heard a loud bang sound. Seconds later I see smoke coming out of the hood so I pull over, about 30 seconds before I pulled over the engine bursted into flames. When the vehicle came to a stop it would not unlock and me and my 2 kids were stuck in a burning vehicle, we barley made it out and my arm got burnt from it, this is the 4th time I’ve had a problem with the engine and 6th time the transmission has had problems. I’ve heard this happen on many other siennas yet it’s not recalled…

Filed May 22, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · WI · fire

I was driving my 2017 Sienna on 5/10/2022 and was approaching a roundabout. As I was going thru the roundabout, my van stalled. I coasted into a gas station. After a few minutes I notice smoke coming from under my hood. I popped the hood and noticed the smoke was coming from the air intake. We called AAA and they towed it to the dealership we bought it new from and had all services done at. The next day we authorized them to do a diognostic on it where they found a burnt airfilter and melted housing. Heiser Toyota in Milwaukee WI has not repaired the van yet and we wanted to talk to Toyota customer service and your office to see what we should do. We called insurance and a claim has been started - not sure if they have inspected the van yet. It is available for you to inspect. All warning lights were on when it stalled. There was no power loss or any warning before it stalled.

Filed Apr 14, 2022 · Engine · VA · fire

After a short 10-min drive, parked the van in my house's driveway. When I stopped, smoke started coming out of the hood. Which developed into flames and the front of the van was engulfed in flames. Immediately called the fire department to put the fire out. Van is totaly burnt. Managed to move two other vehicles away from the burning van. Aluminum siding next to the garage sustained heat damage.