2000 Toyota Sienna

BOTH PROBLEMS/INCIDENTS OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER ARE TIED TOGETHER. THE TOYOTA SIENNA WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND HAD 9,900 MILES ON IT. CRUISING AT 70MPH THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED AND THE ENGINE RACED TO 7,000RPMS. PULLING THE SIENNA OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN ANY OF THE FORWARD OR REVERSE GEARS. THE SIENNA HAD TO BE TOWED TO DUBLIN TOYOTA FOR WARRANTY REPAIR ABOUT 65 MILES AWAY. DEALER CANNOT TELL ME WHAT FAILED, THEY WERE INSTRUCTED TO SEND PARTS INTACT BACK TO THE FACTORY FOR POST MORTEM DIAGNOSIS. I HAVE OPENED A REPORT WITH THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER ON 8/31, #20000-8311289. ALSO HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO THE DUBLIN TOYOTA CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER, JANET FRASER ABOUT FINDING THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO THESE DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENTS. IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS WITH NO RESPONSE.

ACCORDING TO AN EMPLOYEE OF THE GLENDALE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TORQUE CONVERTER. MANY CARS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIR. THE PART WAS MANUFACTURED TO BE PLACED IN THE SMALLER TOYOTA CAMARY, AND APPARENTLY CAN NOT TAKE THE SIZE/WEIGHT OF THE LARGER VAN. IT SEEMS THAT THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME NOW - BUT THEY CONTINUE TO SELL THE VEHICLE WITHOUT NOTIFIYING POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS; AND CUSTOMERS WHO BOUGHT THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM BECOMING KNOWN.*AK

SEVERE LEFT PULL INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. RELEASING THE STEERING WHEEL FOR 1.5 SECONDS IS ENOUGH FOR THE VEHICLE TO DART INTO THE ONCOMING LANES OF TRAFFIC. TOYOTA ATTEMPTED REPAIR 4 TIMES AND THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THREE COMPLETELY NEW SETS OF TIRES. VEHICLE STILL PULLS LEFT. THIS VEHICLE IS HAZARDOUS TO OCCUPANTS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 50 MILES, WE WERE TOLD CAR NEEDS A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER AND THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR WHILE THE PART COMES IN. SIX WEEKS LATER AND 2400 MILES ON THE CAR WITH ENGINE LIGHT ON AND OFF THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. WHEN CAR WAS RETURNED TO US IT SHIFTED WITH A JOLT. BACK IN THE SHOP WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. NOT ACCEPTABLE ON A NEW CAR. *AK

ON JULY 22ND I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 4 YOUNG CHILDREN WHEN VERY SUDDENLY I ALMOST BLACKED OUT. I WAS ABLE TO CALL 911 AND PULLED OVER SAFELY. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE BLOOD TESTS SHOWED NOTHING OBVIOUSLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE EXTREME LIGHTHEADEDNESS AND DISORIENTATION I EXPERIENCED. ON MY 3RD TRIP I HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE AND CONCLUDED IT WAS MY MINIVAN.IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND A TEST DRIVE LEFT 3 MECHANICS WITH SIMILAR EFFECTS.THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE AND CO2 AND FREON READINGS WERE NEGATIVE.THEY STEAM CLEANED THE ENGINE AND STATED THE PROBLEM WAS NO LONGER PRESENT.HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT GONE AWAY AND OUR FAMILY CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE VOMITING, HEADACHES, DIZZINESS, LIGHTHEADEDNESS AND DISORIENTATION WHENEVER TRAVELING IN THE VAN.WE CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THE VAN FOR FEAR OF HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES.WE BELIEVE THIS VAN IS DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS.