2001 Toyota Sienna Engine Problems

Your engine is producing heavy smoke from the exhaust pipe, and you can see oily sludge buildup under the oil cap. This indicates your engine oil is breaking down and not circulating properly. The issue may require an engine flush, oil change, and inspection of internal components to determine if there's underlying damage.

Your engine is burning oil, which causes white smoke from the exhaust when you start the car that may improve while driving. You're losing about a quarter quart of oil per week. A mechanic suspects the head gasket or engine seals may be leaking, which would require a major repair costing $2,000 or more to fix.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART SO IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD-UP AND OIL JELLING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 134,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I HAVE A SIENNA LE 2001. 118,000 MILES. WE HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNERS SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. WE HAVE NO PERFECT RECORD OF OIL CHANGES BUT WE HAVE DONE IT PERIODICALLY. ABOUT 3-4 MONTHS AGO, IT WAS RUNNING OK, BUT IT BLEW OUT WHITE-ISH/ BLUE-ISH SMOKE OCCASIONALLY (USUALLY WHEN FIRST STARTING, IT DIDN'T SEEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF IT WAS HOT OR COLD). IT ALSO HAD LITTLE AND OCCASIONAL POWER LOSS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT IT, AND THEY SAID THEY JUST TOOK OFF THE TOP COVER OF THE ENGINE AND IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GUMMED UP WITH OIL. I HAVE CHANGED THE PCV VALVE, I TOOK IT TO A PLACE FOR AN OIL AND OIL FILTER CHANGE, I AM CONCERNED THE DAMAGE WILL CONTINUE TO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER SAID I NEED A NEW ENGINE, COSTING AROUND $8000. I ASKED A SECOND OPINION OF THE MECHANIC THAT HAS WORKED ON OUR CARS, AND HE THINKS HE WOULD NEED TO TAKE APART THE ENGINE AND FIGURE OUT HE PROBLEM, COSTING AROUND $2000-$3000, HE ALSO MENTIONED THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW MOTOR. HONESTLY, I DO NOT RECALL RECEIVING INFORMATION ABOUT THE "SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT" FROM TOYOTA OR DEALER REGARDING CHECK-REPLACE THE ENGINES THAT ARE OR COULD BE DAMAGED FROM SLUDGE. I WILL APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT AND SUPPORT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, MOMENTS LATER THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE ENGINE SLUDGE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

THE ENGINE FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $5,000 DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILDUP. TRAVELING ON I-4 FROM TAMPA TO ORLANDO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED THEN WE HEARD A TAPPING FROM THE ENGINE,. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND AAA TOWED THE VEHICLE AND A RENTAL CAR COMPANY PICKED US UP. I HAD TWO ELDERLY PASSENGERS (IN THEIR 80'S) WITH WALKERS WHO HAD TO TRAVERSE THE GRASS ALONG THE INTERSTATE TO GET TO THE RENTAL CAR AND WERE NEARLY BLOWN OVER BY PASSING TRUCKS. TOYOTA REFUSED TO HONOR A CLAIM FOR REPAIRS ALTHOUGH THEY HAD AGREED IN A RECENT LOUISIANA LAWSUIT TO COVER SAID REPAIRS FOR 8 YEARS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. MY FAILURE WAS 8 YEARS AND 10 MONTHS FROM PURCHASE. THE SLUDGE TOOK MUCH LONGER THAN 8 MONTHS TO BUILD UP BUT TOYOTA REFUSED TO HONOR THEIR STATED COMMITMENT TO ASSIST ALL AFFECTED BY OIL SLUDGE DAMAGE (OVER 3,000 COMPLAINTS). THEIR PRODUCT WAS DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS AND THEIR DENIAL TO ASSIST WAS DISHONORABLE. *TR

ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE SHUT OFF, NO OIL PRESENT IN ENGINE. *TR

AT 54,525 MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS "REPLACE AIR/FUEL SENSOR B1 S1." FAILURE CAUSED EXCESSIVE DAMAGE BECAUSE THE SENSOR FUSED INTO THE REAR EXHAUST MANIFOLD. DIAGNOSTIC TESTING $ 49.00 SENSOR REPLACEMENT PART 227.52 " " LABOR 150.00 REAR EXHAUST MANIFOLD 154.21 REAR EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET 29.27 REPAIR WAS NOT DONE AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I AM REPORTING THIS SO THAT TOYOTA WILL CHANGE THE DESIGN. FAILED PART SHOULD NOT DAMAGE SURROUNDING STRUCTURES. SUGGEST RECALL ON THIS PART IF TOYOTA CONTINUES TO USE THIS DESIGN. *NM

2001 TOYOTA SIENNA LE, PURCHASED NEW, STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON WHEN VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 25,000 PLUS/MINUS MILES. UNDER WARRANTY, TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR WITHOUT A CHARGE. HOWEVER, DURING THIS PROCESS, THE "BEEP" SIGNAL YOU HEAR WHEN LOCKING-UNLOCKING THE VEHICLE WITH REMOTE KEY WAS DISAPPEARED. THIS IS ALSO FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 35,000 MILES. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID IT IS DUE TO A DIRTY VACUUM HOSE, THEY CLEANED IT WITH A CHARGE LITTLE OVER $100.00. THE NEXT DAY THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, THIS TIME THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE CHARCOAL CANISTER (PARTS FREE, BUT WE HAVE TO PAY LABOR--ABOUT $100.00). THIS THING CAUSES EXTREME MENTAL DISTRESS, TIME, MONEY, SECURITY ETC.*JB

THE ENGINE OF MY TOYOTA SIENNA 2001 WITH AN IDENTIFIED OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM SEIZED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED AND MY TODDLER THREW UP IN FEAR AS WE TRIED TO AVOID BEING SMASHED INTO WHILE THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP. MECHANIC REPEATEDLY SAID CAM SEIZED, METAL FILINGS FOUND, AND "COULD NOT THINK OF ANY OTHER REASON BUT THE SLUDGE PROBLEM." TOYOTA REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER UNLIMITED MILEAGE, 8-YEAR WARRANTY. CAR IS PRESENTLY WITH DEALER AND MAY BE EXAMINED BY ENGINEERS FROM NHTSA (DEALER AGREED ON 12/22/05). THIS FAILURE WAS PREDICTED BY ANOTHER DEALER. CAR ALWAYS SMOKED--BLAMED ON "NEW ENGINE BREAK IN", "LACK OF MAINTENANCE", ETC. LATER TOYOTA SENT LETTER ABOUT THE ISSUE. THIS TIME DEALER AGREES MAINTENANCE WAS EXCELLENT. *NM

WE OWN A 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN, WE PURCHASED IT IN 2001 BUT IT WAS USED WITH 18,000 MILES ON IT. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, SEVERAL THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG. #1- PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW HAD A DEFECTIVE MOTOR AND WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, SO WE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THAT REPAIR. #2- DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH SHUT. THE BUTTON GOT STUCK FROM THE INSIDE WHICH PREVENTED THE DOOR FROM LATCHING SHUT. THIS HAD HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE BUTTON POPPED OUT AND THE DOOR WOULD SHUT. BUT ON ONE OCCASION THE BUTTON POPPED OUT AND THE DOOR STILL WOULD NOT SHUT. WE HAD TO DRIVE HOME HOLDING THE DOOR SHUT THE ENTIRE WAY! OF COURSE, THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WITH OUR 2 YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AT THE DEALER (AGAIN NOT UNDER WARRANTY), BUT THE DOOR STILL CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE, OR THE BUTTON GETS STUCK IN. #3- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS- IDLE AIR CONTROL, BANK 1 SENSOR (MOST LIKELY OXYGEN SENSOR), LEAKY CHARCOAL CANISTER. WE FIXED THE IDLE AIR CONTROL SINCE THAT WAS CAUSING THE VAN TO NOT START AND STALL. THIS REPAIR WAS ALMOST $700, AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE WE HAD GONE OVER 36,000 MILES. WE DID NOT FIX THE OTHER TWO PROBLEMS LAST MONTH DUE TO COST. THE VAN OVERHEATS AND CAN NOT BE DRIVEN. WE WROTE A LETTER TO TOYOTA AND TALKED TO THEM VIA PHONE. THEY TOLD US THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE OUR VAN IS NOT A LEGAL US VAN- IT IS WAS BUILT IN CANADA. WE BOUGHT IT AT A TOYOTA DEALER IN ROCHESTER, NY AND WERE NEVER TOLD IT WAS CANADIAN. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT NO WARRANTY WOULD EVER BE COVERED IN THE US BECAUSE IT IS CANADIAN. CARFAX.COM SAYS IT WAS BUILT IN THE UNITED STATES HOWEVER. WE TRIED TO GO THE ROUTE OF THE LEMON LAW, BUT COULD NOT. *NM

CONSUMER STATED ENGINE SENSOR LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT ENGINE WILL FAIL WHILE DRIVING. *AK *JB

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND FELL ASLEEP.. AFTER WAKING UP THE VEHICLE WAS IN A DITCH, AND ALL THE OCCUPANTS WERE ASLEEP IN THE VEHICLE. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS TO BE INSPECTED.*AK

I AM SENDING THIS LETTER TO EXPRESS CONCERN RELATIVE TO THE SAFETY AND USABILITY OF OUR 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA MINI VAN. WE HAVE HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN THAT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THE DEALER (KENNY KENT TOYOTA IN EVANSVILLE, IN) AS WELL AS TOYOTA. THE ENGINE IS OUR BRAND NEW VAN HAD GELLING ISSUES TO DUE MANUFACTURE?S DEFECTS. THE PROBLEMS ARE CONTINUING TO DATE. IN THE MANUFACTURE?S RESPONSE IT STATES THAT TOYOTA OFFERED GOODWILL ASSISTANCE TO US FOR THE ENGINE GELLING. (THIS HAPPENED TO A BRAND NEW VAN). IT ALSO STATES THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. TOYOTA SAID THAT THIS WAS A WARRANTY ISSUE AND IT IS ALSO LISTED AS WARRANTY IN TOYOTA DOCUMENTATION. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER?S WARRANTY INFORMATION BOOK, THE BASIC WARRANTY IS 36 MONTHS OR 36,000 MILES AND THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY IS 60 MONTHS OR 60,000 MILES. THE DEFECT WITH THE ENGINE BASED UPON THE WARRANTY AS STATED IN TOYOTA?S WARRANTY INFORMATION BOOK STATES THAT ALL REPAIRS AND ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED TO CORRECT DEFECTS IN MATERIALS AND WORKMANSHIP OF ANY PART SUPPLIED BY TOYOTA IS COVERED. IN THE MANUFACTURE?S RESPONSE IT STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT EXHIBITING ANY WARRANTABLE NONCONFORMITIES THAT SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIR THE USE, VALUE OR SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY THIS STATEMENT IS NOT TRUE. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE EXTREME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN. THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONTINUING TO DATE FOLLOWING TOYOTA?S ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE ENGINE. ON ONE OCCASION MY WIFE AND MY SIX-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WERE IN THE VAN ALONE WHEN THE VAN REFUSED TO START. IT WAS A 90+-DEGREE DAY. TOYOTA SERVICE CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE AND PROBLEMS CONTINUE. THE ENGINE DOESN?T HAVE THE POWER IT DID PRIOR TO THE REPAIRS, THE VALVES CLATTER VERY LOUDLY AND THE ENGINE MAKES A CHUGGING SOUND WHEN IT IDLES. WE NOW HAVE A NEW VAN THAT FOR LACK OF ANY WORD HAS BEEN BUTCHERED. THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRASTICALLY DIMINISHED. NOBLE JONES 801 S. PARKWAY HENDERSON, KY 42420 270-826-2801

I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2001, USED AT 18,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE DONE. ON AUG 8TH I HAD AND OIL CHANGE AND BY SEPT. 17 THERE WAS NO OIL , ANOTHER OIL CHANGE WAS DONE. BY SEPT. 22 THERE WAS NO OIL. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO STEVENSON TOYOTA IN JACKSONVILLE, NC, WHERE THEY TOLD ME I HAD AN OIL GELLING PROBLEM. THEY ARE KEEPING MY CAR FOR 1-2 WEEKS, WITHOUT THE USE OF A LOANER CAR. THEY STATE THAT TOYOTA WILL CLEAN THE PARTS ONE TIME AS A GOOD WILL GESTURE AND POSSIBLY PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR 3 DAYS. THEY ALSO SAID THAT MY WARRANTY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS. MY CAR HAS APPROX 55,000 MILES. I AM TRULY AFRAID TO TAKE THIS CAR BACK FROM THEM AS I AM UNSURE OF IT'S RELIABILITY OR THEIRS.

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALER, HAD TO REPLACE VACUUM SWITCH. 2 DAYS LATER, SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. *AK

MECHANIC FOUND SIGNIFICANT SLUDGING OIL. DEALER STATED NEEDED TO FLUSH AND CHANGE NEW OIL. *AK

THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO AN OIL SLUDGE BUILD-UP. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN OIL LEAKED. *JB

AFTER MY ENGINE REGISTERED "LOW OIL", THE MECHANIC FOUND SIGNIFICANT SLUDGING. IT WAS FLUSHED AND CHANGED AND THEN IN <1000MI THERE WAS NO OIL AGAIN. NOW TOYOTA SAYS THE LEAKS AROUND THE VALVES ARE DUE TO MY "NEGLECT" IN CHANGING OIL. I HAVE THE RECEIPT FROM 4 MOS AGO FOR OIL CHANGE. I ALSO WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT CONSIDER PAYING FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS MY LACK OF OIL CHANGE THAT "CAUSED" THE SLUDGING (DESPITE MY RECEIPT) AND THAT I NEEDED ALL MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS FOR THEM TO CONSIDER A CLAIM (2 1/2 YEAR OLD CAR.)

DEFECTIVE ENGINE DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *AK

INITIALLY OIL LEAK AFTER OIL CHANGE. WAS TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION PAN WAS LEAKING AND PAID FOR REPLACEMENT. TRANSMISSION FLUID THEN STARTED LEAKING. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER; TRANSMISSION PAN WAS TIGHTENED. NOTICED FLUID STILL LEAKING; RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETECT SOURCE OF FLUID LEAK; PLACED DIE IN OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUIDS; ASKED TO RETURN VEHICLE IN A FEW WEEKS. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP; WAS TOLD THERE WAS A LEAK SURROUNDING ENGINE SEAL AND SEAL WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED.

CONSUMER STATES THAT AN INDICATOR ILLUMINATED STATING THAT THERE WAS AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION WITH TRANSMISSION AND STATED CONSUMER NEEDED TO STOP DRIVING IMMEDIATELY, DEALER REPLACED THE VEHICLE WITH A NEW ONE. *SLC

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR A OIL CHANGE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC DICOVERED A OIL LEAK UNDERNEATH VEHICLE OIL PAN GASKET AND A LEAKING BOLT AND SEAL. ENGINE NEEDS A SEAL REPLACEMENTS. ALSO, THERE IS A TRANSMISSION LEAK. FRONT BRAKES ARE GRINDING METAL TO METAL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS.*AK

WHILE TRAVEL NOTICE INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHED DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND DEALER REPLACED VEHICLE WITH NEW MODEL. NEW VEHICLE HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WITHIN ONE WEEK OF OWNERSHIP, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO BOG DOWN WHEN MAKING A TURN FROM A DEAD STOP. A DAY LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION AND THE REPLY WAS THAT; "WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG, WHEN WE FIND OUT WE'LL LET YOU KNOW...UNTIL THEN, BE CAREFUL" THAT WAS OVER A MONTH AGO AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM. I CALLED TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY STILL DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT WAS WRONG. THE VEHICLE IS UNPREDICTABLE WHEN TAKING OFF AND HAS ALREADY RESULTED IN A COUPLE OF CLOSE CALLS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THE GENERAL ATTITUDE IS NONCHALANT AND NOBODY HAS MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO NOTIFY ME OF ANYTHING. FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP. ALL THE 2001 HIGHLANDERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM.