Toyota floormat recall, now a lovely facetious poster.

[AAA]

[wowzer]

I've been so disappointed with my 2004 Sienna. The only saving grace is that the engine and transmission hasn't died.

But there are so many troubles:
1) Paint job is paper thin...it's started to chip everywhere, including the rear of the hatch (presumably no stones will hit at high speeds there). The chipping started almost immediately after paying for the mini-van.
2) The power slide doors cost $1500-$2000 to replace the damaged motors...but actually it's not the motors, only the casing for the wound wire. The casing is made out of paper thin plastic.
3) The rear hatch struts break. Mine collapsed on top of me. I filed a NHTSA complaint agains Toyota. Toyota refused to pay for a strut, so I bought a pair online (really expensive). Toyota refused to pay for the replacement. Months later, I get a recall notice about the strut. Wouldn't you know it? I don't have a receipt to show Toyota.
4) The middle chair has a problem rotating downward--something just doesn't release. I have to slide the chair back and forward several times to magically unlock the chair. I took it to Toyota 3 times, each time they've refused to fix it.
5) The transmission jerks once in a while...it's a software issue.
6) Did I mention the horrid paint job?
7) I know there is something else, but I can't recall right now.

Do you think I'd ever get another Toyota?



































Not in this lifetime...I should've have saved the $4000 premium I paid for this minivan and bought a Chrysler...at least with that company, I'd expect to have lots of defects and problems.

[wowzer]

Oh, I recall...the battery saver to turn off the cabin lights doesn't work. Instead of fixing the problem, Toyota simply covered the driver manual with white stickers to 'hide' the text that states that the battery saver will activate if the cabin lights are left on too long. Consequently, the battery died on me about 1 year later when the kids left 1 light on. That single light can drain the battery overnight. Real bummer...good thing my Acura was able to give the Toyota a boost, as the minivan was in my driveway.

[wowzer]

I can't wait for Toyota to go bankrupt--or better yet, insolvency and liquidation!

[AAA]

I have had good luck with Chrysler vans. And average luck. One of them was darn near flawless; no problems. I had another that was a bit more problematic. The one with more bells and whistles had the most issues. But my current Toyota is pretty good.

[bwicklander]

are American workers making these Toyota products?

Just sayin...

[AAA]

USAmerican or NorthAmerican?

[testcase]

Siennas are assembled in Indiana.

[Rick-o]

Made by U.S. workers, profits sent to foreign companies.

Just sayin...

[Winston]

wowser -

We also have a 2004 Sienna. We had a problem with the motor for one of the side doors when it was repainted at a body shop. The motor wouldn't work after the body shop fixed the door.

They took it to the Toyota dealership's service department which said the motor had failed. Via Toyota's 800 number I was put in touch with the dealer's customer relations person, who got me to someone in the dealer's body shop (not the regular repair guys). He said there is a specific procedure for taking off one of the side doors, which if not followed ruins the motor. He went down to the service area and checked it for me. Turns out that my body shop had not taken it apart correctly. So my body shop had to eat the $1500 repair (which was a reduced rate they had negotiated with the dealership).

I mention this because if someone worked on the doors for you, and the motors died, they probably are responsible.

While I am sympathetic to your problems, I don't agree with what you said about getting a Chrysler van and being happier with even more problems. At the time we got our van Toyota had the latest model on the market. Honda was a year away from a new model and Chrysler at least two years. The Toyota had better gas mileage (albeit with premium fuel), more power, was quieter, and had better safety features than anything then on the market. I still believe it was the best choice at the time.

We are closing in on 100k miles on our Sienna. We have definitely had fewer problems than on our previous minivan (a 1991 Plymouth which had, among other things, the peeling paint problem of that era). There are some problems, and I am far from saying Toyota is perfect. But it has been a decent vehicle which has worked for our needs.


Good luck.

- Winston