Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
PG0170009/01/2000614966Some model year vehicles are equipped with a compass in the rear view mirror. this bulletin provides procedures to complete initial calibration of the compass during the road test section of pre-delivery service (pds). *tt12/18/2000

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
07/26/2005111/20/2001
 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
02/18/200542001
 Passenger front power window motor assembly failure causing inability of window to go up.*ak
03/15/20030
 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
05/01/2001
 Side power window has a automatic feature which allows the window to go up or down with a single touch of the button on the door. a child can inadvertenly hit the button and could become trapped by the window goint up. the force of the window can sufficiently crush a child.
VISIBILITY - SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY
08/02/200565300201/28/2001
 When driving on highway i-87 our moonroof in our minivan started to blow off. luckily my husband was in the passenger seat and could hold the glass while i pull off. we immediately called toyota of clifton park to tell them and took it there the following morning. they gave us two options, one full replacement at a cost of approx 1,340 + tax or to have them attempt to replace the glue and we would have to let it cure for a few days. we didn't drive it for approx 8 days and two days after driving it, it flew off again, this time i was alone an couldn't grab it and it blew out and hit another vehicle causing property damage to that car. we told toyota originally that it had to be a manufacturing defect, you don't drive around and expect the windows to blow out of your car. they said because we were over our 50000 miles they wouldn't be responsible. now in addition to them not taking responsibility for a defective moonroof, they also gave us bad advise on fixing it. they told us only one very expensive option and then one very cheap. nothing in between was offered and after talking to our insurance adjuster, there was many other ways to fix the vehicle (only replace the glass, get one from a junk yard etc) but they didn't offer those less expensive repairs so of course we tried the glue. after metlife sent an engineer from an independent company did we find out they used an appoxy that isn't meant for fixing sunroof's or cars. *jb
06/01/2001104/01/2001
 Sunroof ripped off drivers side of car after it was opened on highway. sunroof remained attached on passenger side causing broken glass to shower into car and providing unsafe driving conditions at 75mph. toyota refuses to acknowledge it is a factory defect even when one of their dealers has evidence that sunroof glass was never properly adhered to sunroof mounting brackets.
VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD
09/23/2000109/23/2000
 Right hand side of windshield is distorted. this causes poor visibility. *ak windshield was deformed but the manufacturer declined to replace it. *yh