2006 Toyota Sienna Suspension Problems

The rear axle mount on your Sienna broke off while you were driving in January 2023, even though you had the vehicle inspected under a 2008 safety bulletin and serviced at Toyota just weeks before. Your insurance denied the claim as wear and tear, and the repair will cost several thousand dollars. The issue involves the suspension mount that attaches the rear axle to the vehicle frame, which may need replacement or welding repair.

I WAS DRIVING MY VAN IN KINGS MTN. HWY 216, WHEN I HEARD A LOUD SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE BACK OF THE CAR STARTED FISHTAILING. I WAS NEAR A GARAGE, SO I STOPPED AND THEY TOLD ME MY REAR AXLE HAD COME LOOSE AND I NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO A MOBILITY DEALER. I CALLED ILLDERTON IN CHARLOTTE AND HAD IT TOWED THERE. ULTIMATELY THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP. I CALLED BRAUN AND THE WOMAN SAID, "THERE IS NO WARRANTY, THE CAR IS OVER 10 YEARS OLD, THEY DON'T LAST FOREVER". I PAID OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND THEN FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL. IT STATES: ON CERTAIN HANDICAPPED MOBILITY CONVERSION RAMPVANS MANUFACTURED BY INDEPENDENT MOBILITY SYSTEMS AND BUILT ON TOYOTA MINIVAN CHASSIS, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR AXLE BEAM MOUNT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY WELDED TO THE CHASSIS. THIS MAY RESULT IN A SQUEAKING NOISE, A ROUGH RIDE, OR DEGRADATION IN VEHICLE CONTROL. CONSEQUENCE: THE MOUNT MAY BECOME PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM THE CHASSIS. PASSENGERS, PEDESTRIANS, OR OTHER MOTORISTS MAY BE INJURED OR KILLED. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. SEE PHOTO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT. AFTER RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. *TT *TR

THE FRONT PASSENGER STRUTS CORRODED AND THE TOP BROKE OFF COMPLETELY AND WAS SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE . I SERVICE MY CAR REGULARLY AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN OUR AREA, AND I WAS NEVER TOLD I HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE STRUTS.

ON AUGUST 20TH, 2016 MY TOYOTA SIENNA 2006 EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE ANTI-SWAY CONTROLS WHICH RESULTED IN SUDDEN DECELERATION AND SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING, AS WELL AS THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DECELERATING INTO A TURN. ATTACHED IS A NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT AND THE ESTIMATE PROVIDED BY THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR.

THE TIRES DO NOT LAST MORE THAN 18 MONTHS ON THIS VEHICLE. THE TIRE DEALER WILL NOT WARRANTY TIRES BECAUSE IT HAS OBVIOUS MISALIGNMENT BASED ON THE TIRE WEAR. I HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED AND IT IS ALL WITHIN FACTORY SPECS. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING. I GET LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON A SET OF TIRES THAT COST $600. *TR

ON MONDAY AUGUST 4TH, 2014 AFTER A FUNERAL, I DROVE INTO THE PARKING LOT OF THE CHURCH WHERE I WAS GOING TO GATHER WITH MY FELLOW FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT LOST THEIR FAMILY MEMBER THAT DAY.. I DROVE INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE MY MINIVAN, I HAD MY HAND ON THE SHIFT CHANGE TO SHIFT MY CAR, UPON ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE SHIFTS MY CAR ACCELERATED AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING MY CAR TO GO HIT THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING OF THE CHURCH DAMAGING THE GAS TANK, AND CAUSING THE GAS TO LEAK. AT THE TIME OF THE SCENE AND ACCIDENT MY 6 YEAR OLD WAS IN HIS CARSEAT BEHIND ME AND WAS SCARED AT WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED, HE PANICKED AND TOOK OFF HIS SEAT BELT, OPENED THE DOOR, AND WENT RUNNING OUT OF THE VEHICLE.. AT THAT MOMENT TRYING TO REGROUP MYSELF TO SEE WHY MY CAR HAD ACCELERATED WITH FORCE FORWARD, I PARKED MY VEHICLE AND WENT LOOKING FOR HELP.. I CANNOT EXPLAIN HOW MY CAR GAINED SO MUCH FORCE TO END UP OVER 2 FEET IN THE AIR OVER A SMALL WALL... I DID NOTICE MY CAR HIT THE GAS TANK AND HEARD GAS LEAKING AND WENT TO CRY FOR HELP.. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALLS ON MY VAN EXCEPT FOR THE UNDERCARRIAGE TIRE, WHICH AT THIS TIME THE RECALL IS NOT COMPLETE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT FINALIZED A SCHEDULE FOR ME TO HAVE IT CHECKED... ALSO I AM UPSET THAT THE MINIVAN UPON THE IMPACT OF HITTING THE WALL DID NOT DIPLOIT THE AIRBAG... I GOOGLED SAFETY RECALL ON TOYOTA SIENNA AND CAME UPON A RECALL ON MORE THAN 615K SIENNA MODELS OVER A ROLLAWAY RISK.. THE YEARS LISTED WERE 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 TOYOTA SIENNA,AND A RECALL AFFECTING A POSSIBLE ROLLAWAY UPON SHIFT GEARS.. ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE THE SHIFT LEVER COLD BE MOVED OUT OF POSITION DEPRESSING THE THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND BECAUSE OF THIS FAULT, THE AFFECTED SIENNAS COULD ROLL AWAY WITHOUT CAUSING WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK FOR CRASH.. WELL I WAS IN A CRASH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE SUSPENSION AND FRONT STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

THE REAR GATE STRUTS / SUSPENSION HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED. THE STRUTS WILL NOT HOLD OPEN THE REAR GATE AT ALL. MY WIFE AND CHILDREN HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY (IN MANY INSTANCES IT IS IMPOSSIBLE AND / OR DANGEROUS) HOLDING OPEN THE GATE WITH ONE HAND OR HEAD AND TRYING TO LOAD OR UNLOAD SIMULTANEOUSLY. IT APPEARS THAT THERE WAS A PARTIAL RECALL FOR SIENNAS WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE A POWER LIFTGATE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE TIRES WERE WEARING OUT UNEVENLY AND STATED THE SUSPENSION WAS DESIGNED TO BE TIPPED INWARDS AND CAUSED UNEVEN WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION BUT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE OF THE SUSPENSION DESIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. UPDATED 3/15/12

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE STRUTS WERE REPLACED. A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 07/08/11*LJ THE RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINK AND STRUTS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/22/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH AT NIGHT, THE VEHICLE MOVED UP AND DOWN AND THEN CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. ONE PASSENGER WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT RIPPED OUT THE CONTROL ARM WHICH CAUSED THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 111,077.

THE VEHICLE HAS REAR ALIGNMENT ISSUES. THE CAMBER WHICH ARE SET AT A NEGATIVE VALUE FROM FACTORY CAUSED AN EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE INTERIOR OUTER LINING OF MY RUN-FLAT TIRES. WHILE ON A FAMILY TRIP, THE TIRE EXPLODED ON THE INTERIOR SIDE IN TRAFFIC. TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR NEW TIRES AND INSPECTION RIGHT AFTER THE INCIDENT, THEY RETURNED MY CAR WITH THE NEW REAR TIRE STATING IT IS IN NEED OF A PROPER REAR ALIGNMENT. UPON RESEARCH AND TAKING MY VEHICLE TO NUMEROUS LOCAL TIRE SHOP/GARAGE FOR OPINION, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE REAR WHEELS CANNOT BE ADJUSTED OR ALIGNED DUE TO THE WAY IT WAS BUILT. HOWEVER, TOYOTA INSISTED THAT THE REAR WHEELS CAN BE ALIGNED, SO WE DID ALLOW THEM TO DO A 4-WHEEL ALIGNMENT. AFTER RECEIVING MY VEHICLE BACK,IT CAN BE RECOGNIZE THAT THE REAR TIRES ARE DEFINITELY NOT "STRAIGHT" AT ALL, BY OBSERVATION THE BOTTOM OF THE WHEEL IS LEANING TOWARD THE CAR. MY CONCERN REGARDING THIS ISSUE IS THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH 4-WHEELS DRIVE SIENNA HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. IF THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT TOYOTA DO NOT FIX, WOULDN'T THAT MEAN THAT WE OR ANY 4-WHEELS DRIVE SIENNA OWNERS ARE PRONE TO MORE ACCIDENTS AND MUST KEEP GETTING NEW REAR TIRES? *TR

AT 28,400 MILES MECHANIC ADVISED THAT BOTH INNER TIE-RODS ARE SHOWING A SMALL AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT WHICH WILL CAUSE PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO PLAY AT ALL. SEEMS VERY EARLY IN THE VEHICLE'S LIFE TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA, THE VEHICLE IS BADLY ALIGN. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AND THE VEHICLE VEERS TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER HAD MADE SEVERAL EFFORTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM,(REPLACED AND BALANCED 2 FRONT TIRES, ALIGNED ALL 4 TIRES) BUT IT STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 16,700. *TR