On XXX approximately 12:15 pm, I was driving my 2014 Toyota Sienna in [XXX] when the engine stalled while driving at approximately 20 miles per hour, luckily it did not happened on the freeway. I was turning left from [XXX] onto [XXX], the traffic slowed down and I hit the breaks, then the engine stalled. I quickly shifted the car into park position and restarted the car and proceeded to my destination at [XXX] village shopping center. It was a scary situation. This is the second time this has happened. The first time my wife was driving it and I don't know the details. What I know from my wife testimony is that the engine stalled while dropping out kid's at school. I would like for Toyota to address this safety concern. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Toyota Sienna stalling problems
94 of the 8,559 owner complaints about the Toyota Sienna describe engine stalls while driving, most of them for the 2004 model year.
- owner complaints
- 94
- worst model year
- 2004
- typical repair cost reported
- $3,600
- typical mileage
- 43,000
By model year
Often reported together
Check engine light 16Fuel pump 11Loss of power 7Jerking 6Fire or smoke 6Engine failure 5Hesitation 4Won't start 3
What owners say
I am submitting this complaint to request that the federal safety agency document and evaluate what may be a broader defect affecting certain Toyota Sienna vehicles and determine whether it presents a potential safety-related defect trend. My 2015 Toyota Sienna was diagnosed by an authorized Toyota dealership with an external rear-bank head gasket leak. A head gasket is a critical engine component, and failure can result in coolant loss, engine overheating, reduced engine performance, stalling, or complete vehicle disablement. These conditions may create a safety risk, particularly if they occur while driving in traffic or at highway speeds. An authorized Toyota dealership confirmed the diagnosis and submitted a goodwill assistance request to Toyota. The dealership noted my history as a repeat Toyota customer and recommended that assistance be provided. Toyota denied the goodwill request based on the vehicle's age and mileage. I subsequently appealed through Toyota's customer relations process, and the denial was upheld. I understand that the federal safety agency does not resolve individual warranty or customer-assistance disputes. My purpose in submitting this complaint is to request that the federal safety agency determine whether similar reports exist involving premature head gasket failures in this model year or related vehicles and, if warranted, evaluate whether a broader defect trend exists that could present a safety concern. Potential safety consequences include engine overheating, loss of power, stalling, and unexpected vehicle disablement. The vehicle has been maintained in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and has not experienced any overheating event that would reasonably explain a premature head gasket failure. Thank you for your consideration and for documenting this complaint as part of the federal safety agency's review of potential vehicle safety issues. Respectfully, Vehicle Owner
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.
While driving at speed, the vehicle suffered a sudden and complete loss of engine power and stalled in traffic. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic who found a failed factory-installed Denso fuel pump module. This failure mirrors Toyota Safety Recall 20TA02 (the federal safety agency Campaign 20V012) for the exact same model year 2017 Toyota Sienna, but my specific VIN is currently excluded from the recall list. The un-recalled defective component created an immediate highway safety hazard as me and my family were left stranded in the middle of the road. We waited for hours at the risk of oncoming traffic until we were able to have a tow truck lift the van and take to the nearest repair facility (an independent service center - Goodyear Auto Service). The repair facility diagnosed the problem and confirmed that the fuel pump failed to generate enough pressure causing the vehicle to stall and not start again. To correct the problem, the fuel pump was replaced with an OEM toyota fuel pump module assembly.
The vehicle is a 2020 Toyota Sienna. While driving, the engine suddenly shut off without warning, creating a dangerous situation and loss of power. This occurred while transporting children, increasing the safety risk. A mechanic inspected the vehicle and diagnosed a failure of the low-pressure fuel pump. The problem appears intermittently — sometimes the vehicle runs normally, and other times it stalls or loses power. The check engine light has turned on and off. This issue matches the known defect related to the Denso fuel pump recall affecting many Toyota vehicles from similar model years. However, my VIN is not included in the recall. This is a serious safety concern because the engine can shut off unexpectedly while driving, which could lead to an accident. I believe this vehicle may have the same defective component as those included in the recall, even though it is not currently listed. The issue has been confirmed by an independent mechanic and the vehicle is available for inspection if needed.
The vehicle died while driving and when I try to start again it will crank but can't start.
Subject: Safety Defect Complaint – 2017 Toyota Sienna (VIN: [XXX] ) Safety Division, I am submitting a safety complaint regarding my 2017 Toyota Sienna, VIN [XXX] . In June 2023, while traveling on I-81 South in Virginia with my family of seven, the van stalled suddenly and emitted white smoke from under the hood, then the engine completely failed. The vehicle had only 111,000 miles. The repair would have cost $15,000, and I had to sell the van in 2024 for $4,000, suffering significant financial loss. Toyota informed me no recall applies to my VIN, although many 2017 Siennas experienced fuel pump failures causing stalling. As a person with disability and serious health issues, this incident caused extreme stress, hardship, and risk to my family. I request that the federal safety agency investigate this potential safety defect to determine whether other 2017 Siennas are affected. Sincerely, Your Name Phone Number Address INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While driving our vehicle on the highway, the check engine light suddenly came on and traction control turned off. Within moments, the vehicle began to stall and would not accelerate. My wife and children were in the car and we were nearly hit by another vehicle as she struggled to get the car to safety. It was a terrifying experience that put my entire family in danger, along with everyone else on the highway. Upon taking the car to the dealership, we were told the transmission failed and would need to be replaced.
October of 2024 my van stalled while I was driving. The van was towed to an auto shop. The shop suspected a battery & alternator so replaced it. Later that same week I filled my tank at Delta Sonic and immediately proceeded to the car wash. My van stalled in the car wash. Once I was pushed out I had it towed again. I drove it for a few weeks and filled up the tank at Delta Sonic but this time the van didn’t start at all. Towed the van again. Shop thinks my issue is resolved- did a complete check of everything & returned my van to me. A week or so goes by and I filled my tank late at night and it wouldn’t start after fill up. A tow was not available. Scared and frustrated I called multiple people for help. Two hours pass, before I try to start the van again. It starts. Now I am starting to correlate a fuel fill up with my van not starting after re-fueling. My safety and my grandchild’s safety was jeopardized when my van stalled while driving in an extremely busy roadway. The next time, Multiple people had to push me out of the car wash and the last time I was forced to sit at gas pumps waiting for help. I stop filling my tank to full and take the van to Toyota. They confirmed the fuel pump was the issue and fixed it.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, after coming to a complete stop and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle suddenly stalled. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The traction control warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V682000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000.
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004 avalon vehicles; 2004 and 2005 camry, camry solara, highlander, and sienna vehicles, 2006 highlander hybrid; 2004 and 2005 lexus es330 and rx330; and 2006 lexus rx400h vehicles manufactured from june 1, 2004 through march 31, 2005, equipped with the 1mz-fe or 3mz-fe engine. The amount of adhesive agent applied between the outer ring and the torsional rubber damper (inner ring) in the crankshaft pulley may be inadequate. If the adhesive is insufficient, there is a possibility that the outer ring may become misaligned and it may not properly rotate with the inner ring, causing noise and/or illumination of the battery discharge indicator light.
- Risk
- In some cases, the belt for the power steering pump may become detached from the pulley which could result in a loss of power steering and a sudden increase in steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will check the crankshaft pulley to identify whether it was produced by the u.s. Supplier. If so, the dealer will replace the pulley with a new one at no charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during early january 2012. Owners may contact toyota at 1‑800‑331‑4331.
Recall number 11V539000 · Recall details
Questions about the Toyota Sienna stalling
Which Toyota Sienna years have engine stalls while driving problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2004 (10 complaints), 2011 (10 complaints) and 2017 (10 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix engine stalls while driving on the Toyota Sienna?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $3,600 (median of 5 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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