2007 Toyota Sienna Suspension Problems

Your van's VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) or traction control light is coming on and triggering an alarm while simultaneously applying the brakes without your input. This happens randomly on dry pavement at speeds between 30-70 mph, whether driving uphill, downhill, or around curves. The sudden braking prevents you from accelerating, which creates a dangerous situation where you lose control of when your vehicle slows down.

Your VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) warning light and traction control system are engaging randomly at normal driving speeds, even during gentle turns on the highway. This has been happening since around 110,000 miles, and while your suspension components and CV shafts have been rebuilt and inspected, the warning lights and VSC engagement continue without any stored diagnostic codes. The system appears to be malfunctioning and creating a safety concern by unexpectedly intervening in normal driving situations. The fix will likely involve diagnosing the VSC system's sensors or electronic control module to identify why it's triggering without a valid reason.

OUR SIENNA IS A WELL MAINTAINED, LOW MILEAGE (JUST OVER 66,000 MILES) VEHICLE. AS OF AUGUST 30 OF THIS YEAR, THE TRANSMISSION PLANETARY GEARS HAVE TOTALLY FAILED, LEAVING THE VEHICLE AND US STRANDED OVER 100 MILES FROM HOME. THE ESTIMATE FOR A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILD FROM A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION SPECIALTY SHOP IS $4500, WHICH IS MUCH LOWER THAN THE ESTIMATE OF $6500 THAT OUR TOYOTA DEALER GAVE US TO INSTALL A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ABOUT ON THE INTERNET, THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS WITH EARLY FAILURES AROUND THE 65,000 MILE MARK. THIS REPAIR IS ON TOP OF A $1000 REPAIR JUST A MONTH AGO TO REPLACE BOTH OF THE REAR COIL SPRINGS. BOTH SPRINGS FAILED AT THE SAME TIME, WITH THE BOTTOM COIL RUSTING THROUGH AND FAILING AT THE BOTTOM SPRING SUPPORT. AS A MATERIALS ENGINEER MYSELF, I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN OR PRODUCTION ISSUE WITH THESE SPRINGS, FOR BOTH TO FAIL IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT ON THE SAME COIL AT THE EXACT SAME TIME. (AND IT IS WORTH POINTING OUT THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS SPENT ITS LIFE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, A PLACE THAT DOES NOT HAVE MUCH SNOW, OR EXTENSIVE USE OF ROAD SALT.) ALSO, JUST ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WE HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING RACK REPLACED AT THE DEALER'S RECOMMENDATION, WHICH WAS ANOTHER $1000 REPAIR. SO IN A PERIOD OF JUST OVER A MONTH, THIS VEHICLE IS GOING TO HAVE ALMOST $6000 OF REPAIRS TO IT (NOT INCLUDING THE STEERING RACK REPAIR.) THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY FOR A TOYOTA, WHICH ARE NORMALLY HIGHLY RELIABLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY A REPUTABLE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, SO ALL OF THE RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND A COMPONENT FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND, AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,700.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V273000 (TIRES) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

RECALL OVER A YEAR AGO TO HAVE CABLE HOLDING SPARE TIRE REPLACED. CALLED DEALER OVER THREE TIMES,CALLED TOYOTA AND NTSB,NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE,BUT SPARE TIRE IS NOT INSTALLED BACK IN ITS PROPER PLACE AFTER A YEAR. *TR

DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE 3/4 TURN OFF THE BOTTOM, VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVABLE - WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ONE YEAR LATER PASSENGER SIDE SPRING BROKE IN SAME FASHION - HAD TO PAY THIS TIME. IN MAY 2013, REPLACEMENT DRIVER SIDE SPRING BROKE AGAIN IN SAME WAY. IN ALL CASES, EXAMINATION OF THE BREAK SHOWED RUSTY VEIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COIL WIRE. *TR

FRONT COIL SPRINGS CORRODED BADLY, WHICH CAUSED THEM TO BRAKE. VEHICLE OWNED AND OPERATED IN NORTH EAST REGION OF THE UNITED STATES. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT. THE BOTTOM COIL OF THE SPRING SNAPPED OFF. APPEARS SOME OF THE SPRING COATING WAS MISSING PRIOR TO THE BREAK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE HAVING THE REAR TIRES REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE REAR AXLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT, CAUSING THE REAR TIRES TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. THE REAR AXLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BUT THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE REAR TIRES HAVE SINCE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 06/30/11*LJ UPDATED 2/29/12 *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION. HE WOULD LIKE THE MANUFACTURER TO AUTHORIZE HIS LOCAL DEALER TO TOW HIS VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED. THE RECALL NOTICE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT REFUSES TO PLACE HIMSELF AND HIS EMPLOYEES IN HARM'S WAY. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000.