2006 Toyota Sienna Engine Problems

ONE OF THE FRONT ENGINE OIL SEALS FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN LOCAL TRAFFIC CAUSING ALL OF THE ENGINE OIL TO BE PUMPED OUT ONTO THE HOT ENGINE AND EXHAUST EMPTYING THE CRANKCASE IN LITTLE MORE THAN 1 MINUTE. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND OPENED THE HOOD TO INVESTIGATE THE SMOKE AND SMELL OF BURNING OIL. THE OIL ON THE HOT EXHAUST IGNITED AND WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED WITH THE STATIONS GARDEN HOSE.

TODAY I NOTICED A SMELL BUT THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION. LATER I NOTICED SOME LIQUID ON THE GROUND UNDER MY CAR. LATER I STARTED TO DRIVE AND HEARD A TERRIBLE NOISE. I CHECKED ALL MY GAUGES AND NOTHING LOOKED WRONG BUT THE NOISE FREAKED ME OUT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED AROUND AND WENT HOME. FORTUNATELY I HAD ONLY GONE A LITTLE WAYS DOWN THE STREET. WHILE I DRIVE MY OIL LIGHT FLICKERED ON THEN OFF. ONCE HOME MY HUSBAND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN HE TURNED THE CAR ON, OIL WAS SQUIRTING FROM A HOSE EVERYWHERE. HE CHECKED UNDER THE CAR AND OIL WAS ALL OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. THERE WAS NO MORE OIL WHEN HE CHECKED THE OIL STICK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000. UPDATED 06/10/14*LJ

ISSUE: MY 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA'S VENTILATION SYSTEM HEATS UP EVEN IF SETTING AT COLD LEVEL. IT CAUSED THE INTERIOR OF THE VAN TO HEAT UP UNCONTROLLABLY AND COULD CAUSE HEAT EXHAUSTION DURING HOT SUMMER DAYS. THE UNWANTED HEAT WAS TRACED FROM HEAT AT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENTER THE PASSENGER CABIN THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. DUE TO INSUFFICIENT INSULATED AREA AT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE DURING HOT SUMMER TIME. WE NOTICED THE ISSUE DURING ONE OF OUR SUMMER VACATION IN 2007. WE WERE STUCK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS AT A COMFORTABLE 75 DEGREE, BUT THE INTERIOR OF VEHICLE FEELS LIKE 90 DEGREE. THE AIR COMING FROM THE AIR VENT IS HOT. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE, IT TURNS OUT THAT TOYOTA FIXED THIS ISSUE ON 2008 AND LATER VEHICLES BY ADDING INSULATION PAD BETWEEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND VENTILATION SYSTEM. HOWEVER, THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO PROVIDE THE FIX TO MY VAN. *TR

DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA ON A BUSY FREEWAY WITH THREE CHILDREN AGES 1, 7, & 10 WHEN THE AIR CONDITION COMPRESSOR DECIDED TO SEIZE UP CAUSING THE BELT TO BURN AND EVENTUALLY SNAP. THE BURNING BELT RESULTED IN A LITTLE SMOKE AND A FEARFUL SMELL FILLING THE CABIN. FEARING A FIRE, I WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD PUTTING MYSELF AND MY THREE CHILDREN IN HARMS WAY. AFTER DETERMINING THERE WAS NOT A FIRE, WE CLIMBED BACK IN THE VAN AND CONTINUED ON OUR WAY. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH, I'VE LEARNED THE COMPRESSOR PROBLEMS ARE NOT UNCOMMON IN TOYOTA SIENNA. IN MY CASE OUR VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 45K MILES. SEEMS THERE ARE MANY UNSATISFIED SIENNA OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM, AND TOYOTA SHOULD CONSIDER RECALLING ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THE MINI-VAN IS CONSIDERED A FAMILY VEHICLE. *TR