Comments: 1-15, 16-30
The most significant problem has been engine sludge, which developed at 17,000 miles. My Toyota dealer said that the engine would need to be rebuilt at a cost of $3,300 and it would not be covered under warranty since the only cause that they will admit to for for sludge is lack of oil changes. I produced receipts for three oil changes all less than or within the owner's manual recommendation of every 5,000 to 7,500 miles.
Since having the engine rebuilt, the van is making a rumbling noise on idle. I will be taking it back in to check that out.
The van is very jerky on acceleration. I fear a transmission problem is brewing, since I have read much about this being a problem with the Sienna, also.
There is frequently a musty moldy odor although there are no visible leaks in the van.
Before buying the Sienna, I owned a 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan. The Caravan was a lemon - in the four years that I owned it, I replaced the AC evaporator twice, transmission, tensionometer, brakes, and the power window mechanisms, to name a few. These problems, encountered over a four year period, barely add up to the cost I have had to pay on my Sienna in one year.
If you have this problem with your vehicle, post your complaint at http://www.nhtsa.gov and at http://www.ftc.gov.
I certainly don't believe what this owner says... I believe this owner DID NOT change the oil ever. I personally have seen Toyota step up and pay for catastrophic failures long after the warranty has expired. If you were truly diligent in your maintenance, then why don't you take your "receipts" and your dealer to court?
The Toyota Sienna manual states that oil should be changed between 5,000 miles and 7,500 miles. If the vehicle is used for deliveries, is driven on dirt roads, or used to carry or tow heavy loads, this is considered severe driving conditions and the recommended service interval is 5,000 miles. The manual states that the 7,500 mile interval applies to all other driving conditions. If oil is changed within this interval and the engine develops sludge, then Toyota should cover under warranty, but it is not. Check www.edmunds.com Town Hall "engine sludge" site -- nearly every vehicle reported on this site is a Sienna or one that has the same V-6, 3.0 liter engine as the Sienna (Lexus RX-300, Toyota Camry, Toyota Avalon, or Toyota Solara).
I have a 2000 Sienna that has 25,000 miles on it. I recently found sludge in the engine and can't understand why. I use synthetic oil and change it regularly.
I also get a LOT of white smoke from the exhaust long after warming the engine.
I hope my dealer doesn't give me the same runaround...
We were going to buy a 2000 Toyota Sienna XLE with only 31,700 miles until I checked under the oil fill cap and discovered black gritty/sludge. The engine seems to run fine, but after all the comments we have read I decided to not take any chances and took the car by a Toyota dealer to check it out. This dealership is not the one selling the car and they quickly said it is sludge. They said that it "probably" would be covered under warranty, but their district manager would have to approve the repair. Now understand that we had proof that the car had oil changes at every 5000 miles (found all the documentation the previous owner left in the glove box). Some of the oil changes were even done by the Toyota dealer that said it is sludge and would need repair.
Needless to say, we promptly returned the van to the dealer trying to sell it and told them everything the Toyota dealer had said (the dealerships are across the street from one another).
We loved the van, but are scared about possible future sludge buildup even if Toyota repairs the engine this time.
I own a Toyota Sienna CE 2000. I had receive a notification about the problem of possible oil sludge in the mail. It is true that Toyota recommends oil change every 5,000 miles on this particular model. I have a lifetime oil change from the dealer, so I get the oil change every 3,000 miles. Toyota is a very reliable company and make excellent vehicles. This is my third Toyota. Previously I had an 83 Toyota Corolla which had 185,000 miles on it, it got into an accident and was beyond repair. I have an 91 Corolla with 280,000 miles on it. If you perform the regular maintenance on the vehicle, you should not have problems.
I found my Sienna to be the most unreliable auto I have ever owned. The engine was sludged, the ABS did not function properly, the sliding doors stuck and Toyota blew me off on all of these problems. I dumped it before I was out of warranty. Traded it. Check out used vans carefully. Go to a mechanic that will pull the valve cover for you first if you really want it.
I bought my 2000 Sienna CE brand new, around at 5500 miles my right window switch went out, took six trips to a local dealer to get it replaced, at around 32000 miles Cd player started skipping occasionally, brought to the same dealer, they said it might be due to dust, but if it gets worse let us know. This event they did not document. At about 38000 miles the CD player stopped working, I brought the van back to same dealer, they said you are out of warranty, can't help. Talked to corporate Toyota, they were nice to talk to, but no help.. I think they make the products so they start falling apart right at or after warranty expiration.. wish you all Toyota owners the best.
I own a 1999 Toyota Sienna with 89,500 miles on it. I bought it new. I change the oil every three months and the average mileage in that time is 5,000 miles. When I was younger, I changed the oil on my cars myself and always did it at 1500 miles so I was a little hesitant going to 5,000 between changes. But, it has worked out fine. My engine runs as strong as new and I don't have sludge problems. I always go to the dealer and they use Toyota brand oil. I would think that sludge problems are a function of the type of oil used and not the engine itself.
My dealer says to change the oil in the Sienna every 3000 miles unless you are going with synthetic oil which can withstand high engine temperatures better, then he says 5000 is OK. He says in no condition should you go to 7500 miles like the manual says you can with these engines, no matter how you drive. I have heard that the 2004 models have eliminated the 7500 altogether and are going with a straight 5000 mile interval.
I read a report from Amy. Engine Rebuilders Assoc. that says once an engine has sludged and been cleaned you need to change oil every 1,000 miles to prevent it from happening again. Be careful if buying used. You don't know if it sludged. Will vin. records show this?
Many of these are not made in Japan. The Sienna was made at the Kentucky plant and now is made in Indiana. There are also US locations for the Camry and other models.
Typically the engines are made in Japan and installed in US factories.
Toyota engines built in U.S.
http://www.aiada.org/article.asp?id=22423.
Sludge can be built in any engine at anytime. It is under the conditions in which one drives, and the maintenance one provides. When one drives ones car at high RPMs oil is rushed to various mechanics of the engine, i.e. cam shaft, pistons...etc. Oil works like batter, the more it is mixed the thicker it gets. All oil eventually becomes think resulting in sludge. Check the Internet, and you will find that majority of cars have a sludge problem, because you must consider the driver not the car. A Van is not meant to be floored and driven at high RMPs. Use the car for its purpose, and drive it for what it is made for and you will not have these problems. I have a 2000 sienna LE with 99,000 miles, and it runs superb. the engine runs like it is new, I have no sludge problems, nor do I have any significant problems. The van runs great if you drive it the way you are suppose to just like any other car. In sienna's defense, I strongly recommend it.
I too had an issue with a 2000 Sienna. I am a mechanic and also ASE certified, so I got less than the runaround that most had. After speaking in detail to the Toyota Tech, the conclusion is that the wrong temperature thermostat was installed. They installed a lower temp version in order to lower the emissions for the engine to pass US EPA for this year. It had to do with the NOX's. Lowering the engine temp caused the oil to stay cool enough and not allow the moisture to burn off the oil. Toyota rebuilt the engine and also installed a hotter thermostat and I have been watching the engine. I have also switched to Mobile One also.