1999 Toyota Sienna Engine Problems

Your check engine light is on and your engine is smoking. You discovered that your engine oil has turned into sludge, which is a thick, dirty buildup. You believe this is a manufacturing defect and are asking if Toyota will fix it for free. Addressing this will likely require an engine flush or oil system cleaning, and possibly engine component inspection or replacement.

I AM REPORTING ANOTHER TOYOTA STICKY ACCELERATOR PEDAL. OUR 1999 SIENNA MINIVAN HAS HAD 3 INCIDENTS OF STUCK ACCELERATOR, THE MOST RECENT WAS JAN. 21, 2010. I BELIEVE IT HAS BECOME "STUCK" BETWEEN 40 AND 45MPH. OTHER INCIDENTS WERE IN SUMMER (CANNOT REMEMBER DATE) AND OCTOBER 2009. THE 1ST INCIDENT WAS BRIEF AND CORRECTED QUICKLY BY PUSHING DOWN ON THE PEDAL TO "FREE IT", THE 2ND INCIDENT REQUIRED BRAKING AND PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND SHOVING THE PEDAL WITH MY FOOT TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT TO FREE IT UP. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN THE PEDAL SEEMED TO WORK OK, ALTHOUGH A BIT SLUGGISH RESPONSE. OUR MECHANIC FIXED THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE CAR HAS NOT HAD ANOTHER INCIDENT UNTIL LAST WEEK. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS MORE HARROWING IN THAT THERE WAS NOT MUCH ROOM TO MANEUVER THE CAR SINCE WE WERE HEADED FOR LOTS OF CARS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I TRIED TO SLOW THE CAR BY BRAKING HARD WITH THE LEFT FOOT AND SHOVING THE ACCELERATOR. PEDAL DOWN AND SIDE TO SIDE WHILE IN NEUTRAL BUT THIS DID NOT WORK QUICKLY LIKE THE OCTOBER INCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A SHOULDER BEFORE CRASHING BUT IT TOOK MUCH LONGER FOR THE CAR TO STOP THIS TIME, AND I ACTUALLY THREW THE CAR IN PARK TO STOP THE CAR! I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, WAS COMPOSED ENOUGH TO DRIVE IT. OUR DEALER WILL CHECK THE CAR JAN 29. THE FLOOR MAT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE INVOLVED JAMMING INTO THE PEDAL, SO IT IS PROBABLY A MECHANICAL "CATCH" THAT IS GETTING HUNG UP WHEN THE PEDAL IS DOWN A CERTAIN DISTANCE. WE THOUGHT THE SAFETY GURUS WOULD WANT TO KNOW. LUCKILY NO CRASHES HAVE OCCURRED YET! *TW

1999 TOYOTA SIENNA ENGINE FROZE UP UNEXPECTEDLY. WAS ADVISED IT WAS POSSIBLY A SLUDGE PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED - USED - IN 2002 FROM A LOCAL DEALER WHO WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ESTIMATED $6850.00 ENGINE REPLACEMENT COST, EVEN THOUGH TOYOTA CHANGED THE ENGINE WARRANTY TO 8 YEARS/UNLIMITED MILEAGE.*JB

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE WITH OUR SONS (AGES 3 AND 1) IN THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE DIED. SHE COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE STAYED IN VEHICLE AND KEPT THE BOYS IN THEIR CAR SEATS AS SHE WAS ALONG A MAJOR HIGHWAY. A ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE VEHICLE PULLED UP BEHIND HER WITHIN A MINUTE OR TWO. HE ASKED MY WIFE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. SHE TOLD HIM AND HE ASKED HER TO POP THE HOOD. SHE DID. HE OPENED IT AND FLAMES CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NEITHER HE NOR MY WIFE KNEW OR SUSPECTED A FIRE. NO FLAMES. NO SMOKE. NO SMELL. NO HEAT. HE YELLED TO MY WIFE TO GET HERSELF AND THE KIDS OUT OF THE CAR. SHE DID AND THEY WERE ALL UNHARMED. HE PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. OBVIOUSLY, MY WIFE AND CHILDREN PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD THAT ROAD SIDE ASSISTANT NOT BEEN THERE. FL HIGHWAY PATROL ARRIVED. THE FHP OFFICER FILED INCIDENT REPORT # FHPK05OFF042549. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT, TOYOTA OF ORLANDO (3800 W. COLONIAL DRIVE ORLANDO, FL 32808 407-298-4500) I VIDEO TAPED THE BURNED ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE FROM HEAD TO TOE AND WILL BE HAPPY TO SUBMIT A COPY TO YOU. I WAS CALLED BY A MR. MANNY COLON OF TOYOTA OF ORLANDO. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT SLUDGE BUILD UP WAS FOUND AND SAID THAT WAS PROBABLY THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. I HAVE RECORDS (WITH A DIFFERENT SHOP-GOODYEAR) SHOWING THAT THE OIL WAS CHANGED REGULARLY AND NOT TERRIBLY LONG AGO. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN EXTREMELY WELL DOCUMENTED (AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY TOYOTA) SLUDGE PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA'S - INCLUDING THE 99 SIENNA. I HAVE FOUND MANY ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET AND I AM COLLECTING THEM. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS ISSUE BY ANYONE. IF THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE, WHY ARE THESE VEHICLES BEING ALLOWED ON THE ROAD WITH FAMILIES AND CHILDREN RIDING IN THEM? MY ENTIRE FAMILY ALMOST DIED YESTERDAY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS. I DON'T WANT OTHERS TO DIE IF IT CAN BE AVOIDED. *NM

THE CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT OIL WAS IN THE PAN. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TC

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, AND TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. AFTERWARDS, DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

OIL SLUDGE (GELLING) DEVELOPS IN ENGINE RESULTING IN THE NECESSITY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT GREAT COST. TOYOTA STATES THAT THEY WILL PAY FOR THE REPAIRS IF ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED, BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO SO AND HAVE REFUSED TO LET US SPEAK WITH ANYONE WITH THE AUTHORITY TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY. *JB

MY VAN HAD FIRST ENGINE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM AT 32782 MILES IN MARCH 2003. FINALLY TOYOTA PAID THE REPAIR COST AFTER MANY PHONE CALLS. ONE YEAR LATER, ON JULY 5,2004, I FOUND THAT THERE IS NO ENGINE OIL LEFT AGAIN DURING THE MIDDLE OF OUR FAMILY VACATION TRIP (AT 46000 MILES). AND BLUE SMOKE COMES OUT FROM EXHAUST PIPE AGAIN. TOYOTA COULDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM BY CLEARING CHANGING SOME PARTS. I REQUEST TOYOTA REPLACE THE DEFECT ENGINE.*AK

1999 TOYOTA SIENNA IS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY FOR PAST 2 MONTHS WITH SEIZED ENGINE DUE TO THIS "OIL SLUDGING" PROBLEM. COST TO REPAIR OVER 6000 FROM DEALER. CERTIFIED MAIL SENT 2/18/04 TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES IN TORRANCE, CA., WITH COPY OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWING OIL FILTER & OIL CHANGES.*AK

LIGHT BLUE SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE .OIL CAP DARK BROWN

WAITING TO HEAR FROM TOYOTA ON OUR OIL SLUDGE ENGINE FAILURE PROBLEM. WE ARE GATHERING THE OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS AND WERE 1ST TOLD WE DID NOT MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE. NOW SEEING THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE WITH THIS ISSUE.

ENGINE OIL GELLED/BECAME SLUDGED IN JULY 2002, OIL PUMP FAILED IN NOVEMBER 2003

OIL SLUDGE.STARTED BLOWING AT STOP LIGHTS AND ALL STARTUPS.CALLING TOYOTA THIS WEEK. THIS SIENNA IS IN MINT CONDITION.WE BOUGHT IT FOR SAFETY AND DEPENDABILITY FOR OUR 7 WEEK OLD SON.NOW WE'LL SEE IF TOYOTA STANDS BEHIND IT.THIS IS OUR 1ST TOYOTA,BUT THERE ARE 7 LEXUS/TOYOTAS' WITHIN OUR FAMILIES.THIS ENGINE IS DAMAGED AND FROM WHAT WE HAVE READ,EXPECT A COMPLETE NEW ONE.

MY 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA'S ENGINE SUDDENLY FROZE UP WITH SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 72,000 MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE IS TOTALLY GONE WITH ESTIMATES CURRENTLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $8,000. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AS STATED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. THE COMPLAINT IS THAT TOYOTA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH SIENNA'S AND HAS FAILED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT NOTIFYING OWNERS THAT OIL CHANGES NEED TO BE AT 3000 MILE INTERVALS AND THAT VALVES NEED TO BE CHECKED VERY REGULARLY. SINCE SLUDGE BUILD-UP IS OBVIOUSLY OCCURRING IN THEIR VEHICLES, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER. *LA

ENGINE OF 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA (VAN) HAD SLUDGED ENGINE OIL IN JULY 2002, DEALER REBUILT ENGINE. IN NOVEMBER 2003, OIL PUMP FAILED ON SAME VEHICLE. DEALER CONTENDS THE FAILURE OF THE OIL PUMP IS NOT RELATED TO THE ENGINE OIL GELLING/BECOMING SLUDGE. SINCE ENGINE WAS REBUILT, OWNER HAS CHANGED OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES AND HAS RECEIPTS TO PROVE IT. *LA

OIL BURNS AT HIGH HEAT WHICH CAUSES THE OIL TO DEVELOP INTO A GEL. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE FAILS PREMATURELY. *AK

THE CONSUMER BELIEVED TOYOTA WAS NOT HONORING THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM AS REPORTED BY OWNERS, IN REGARDS TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP IN ENGINES. *AK *JB UPDATED 05/04/10.*JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CONSUMER STATES" NOTICED BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM EXHAUST. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A ENGINE OVERHAUL. CONSUMER FEELS ENGINE MAY SEIZE UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING HOME ON INTERSTATE 75. WE HAD JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED BEFORE LEAVING ON VACATION. TOYOTA SAID THAT WE DID NOT SERVICE THE VEHICLE PROPERLY DESPITE OUR HAVING PROVIDED PROOF OF OIL CHANGES. TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER REPAIRS OF $6200. THE FINANCE COMPANY REPOSESSED THE CAR BECAUSE WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED.*AK

SIENNA ENGINE SEIZED WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 75. WE HAD JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED PRIOR TO LEAVING TO GO ON VACATION. TOYOTA BLAMED US FOR THE PROBLEM: SAID IT WAS DUE TO LACK OF VEHICLE MAINTENANCE DESPITE OUR FURNISHING PROOF OF REGULAR OIL CHANGES. COST OF REPLACEMENT ENGINE WAS ESTIMATED @ APPROX. $5000. WE COULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER THEM. VAN WAS REPOSESSED BY OUR FINANCE COMPANY. WE HAD TO TAKE OUT A HOME EQUITY LOAN TO PAY OFF THE BALANCE OF $6,000 OWED TO OUR FINANCE COMPANY.*AK

WE FEEL THAT KINGSPORT TOYOTA (KINGSPORT TENNESSEE) DID NOT WANT TO BE BOTHERED WITH THIS ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT THAT PROBLEMS WERE STARTING TO ARISE AND CONSUMERS WERE QUESTIONING TOYOTA ABOUT SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINES.*AK

AT 44,000 MILES WE HAD TO HAVE OUR CYLINDER REGROUND AND THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN. WE CHANGED OIL EVERY 5,000 MILES LIKE THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAID. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT IT SHOULD HAPPEN AT ALL! THIS IS A FAULTY ENGINE. WE SHOULD HAVE RECIEVED A NEW ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY, NOT HAD THE DAMNED CYLINDERS REGROUND. NOW, THEY'RE TELLING US TO CHANGE OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES! WHAT IS GOING ON? WE'VE OWNED TOYOTAS SINCE 1969 AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THEM--AND CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THIS IS POOR QUALITY OF THE ENGINE AND TOYOTA SHOULD GIVE US A NEW AND IMPROVED ENGINE TO REPLACE THIS ONE.*AK

ALL THE OIL PORTS WERE COMPLETELY PLUGED AND THERE WAS NO WARNING EITHER TIME. IT IS A WONDER THAT WITH ALL THE PORTS PLUGED AND THE ENGINE BOTH TIMES NOT GETTING ANY OIL TO THE UPPER ENGINE THAT IT DID N OT FREESE UP AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCADENT. *AK

DIAGNOSED AS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE DUE TO "OWNER NEGLIGENCE"; OWNER HAS PROOF OF REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE; OWNER ACCUSED OF "NEVER CHANGING THE OIL"--NOT TRUE; TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN THEIR SIENNAS AND AVALONS, SAYS WE ARE INELIGIBLE FOR "ASSISTANCE" BECAUSE WE ARE OUTSIDE OF THE 60000 DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY; PROPERLY MAINTAINED ENGINES DON'T SEIZE UP AT 64K MILES!! WE ARE OUTRAGED!!*AK

DRIVING TO PHOENIX, ENGINE WENT IN OGDEN UTAH, SAID SLUDGE IN ENGINE, ALTHOUGH HAVE OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS, TOYOTA UNINTERESTED. CLAIMS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE SO NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. *AK

TITAN CHECKUP ENGINE ANALYSIS OIL SAMPLE RESULTS REVEALED EXCESSIVE FUEL IN THE ENGINE'S OIL AFTER 6700 MILES OF DRIVING. OIL NOTED TO BE TOO THIN AND SOME LEAD FROM BEARING SCUFFING NOTED. SILICON ALSO PRESENT IN TWO OIL ANALYSIS SAMPLES TO DATE. POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD WITH REDUCED FLASH POINT. FULL INVESTIGATION NEEDED ON 1998-2001 MODEL SIENNAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH CURRENT ENGINE FIRE INVESTIGATION ON THE 2002 MODEL. *AIK

THE ENGINES IN 1999 SIENNA VANS ARE POSSIBLY HAVING EARLY FAILURE OF THE CRANKECASE VENTILATION SYSTEM THAT CAUSES OIL TO SLUDGE UP AND THE ENGINE BEGINS TO BURN OIL AT A VERY EARLY AGE. I RECENTLY DE-SLUDGED MY VAN'S ENGINE AND NOTED THAT THE CRANKECASE VENT BAFFLES ARE VERY NARROW AND HAD LIKLEY BEEN STOPPED UP FOR A LONG TIME. FROM THE AMOUNT OF POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. *AK

CAR USING OIL SINCE 20000MI. 9/01 DEALER FOUND SLUDGE IN ENGINE AND CLAIMED IT WAS MY FAULT AND WOULD NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

PURCHASED A MANUFACTURER-CERTIFIED SIENNA AND IT SPEWED BLUE SMOKE ON THE FIRST COLD START. ENGINE SLUDGE WAS BLAMED FOR THE PROBLEM AND THE MANUFACTURER COVERED THE ISSUE UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS CERTIFIED AND RECENTLY PURCHASED. *AK

AT 30,874 MILES OUR VAN STARTED BLOWING BLUE SMOKE. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD US THAT THE ENGINE HAD "SLUDGED UP" AND WOULD REQUIRE AT LEAST $3,000 TO FIX. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT IT WASN'T COVERED BY WARRANTY (3 YEAR/36,000 MILES). WE ASKED WHY AND WERE TOLD THAT THE SLUDGE COULD ONLY BE CAUSED BY LACK OF MAINTENANCE (OIL CHANGES). WE PRODUCED RECEIPTS SHOWING OIL CHANGES WERE DONE, BUT THE COMPANY STILL WON'T COVER THE WORK UNDER WARRANTY. WE HAVE SPOKE TO THE TOYOTA'S REGIONAL CUSTOMER RELATIONS ADMINISTRATOR AND GONE THROUGH THE TOYOTA PROVIDED ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS TO NO AVAIL. WE WENT TO THE INTERNET AND SEARCHED UNDER "TOYOTA SIENNA SLUDGE" AND FOUND DOZENS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR SIENNAS AND WARRANTY COVERAGE. WE BELIEVE THE IS A DEFECT IN THE SIENNA V6 ENGINE CAUSING THE SLUDGE BUILD UP.*AK

BLUE SMOKE IS COMING FROM TAILPIPE OF VEHICLE. THERE IS SLUDGE BUILD UP IN ENGINE. DEALER CLAIMS THIS WAS CAUSED BY NON CHANGING OF OIL. CONSUMER STATED THAT OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE. CURRENTLY, NEW ENGINE IS MAKING A RATTLING SOUND INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM WITH ENGINE. ALSO, POWER LOCKS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, SOMETIMES IT TAKES 3 OR 4 TIMES BEFORE DOORS WILL OPEN. *AK

EXCESSIVE SLEDGE BUILD UP IN ENGINE WHICH CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DEVELOP SLUDGE, THIS IS WHEN THE OIL TURNS INTO A THICK TAR LIKE GOOP THAT CLOGS THE ENGINE A OIL SYSTEMS, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS STATED THAT THE ONLY CAUSE WAS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE WHICH VOIDS THE CUSTOMERS WARRANTY, THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT THE ENGINE AS ABOUT TO BE DAMAGED, THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED IN THEIR NEW VEHICLE. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. OXEGEN SENSOR FRIED 5 TIMES. *AK

NO SUMMARY.