2001 Toyota Sienna from North America - Comments

Our Sienna had the sludge problem fixed about 2000 miles ago. I am concerned if this will be a recurring problem or if Toyota is able to permanently fix the problem. Anybody know? Has anyone had this happen several times to the same car?

I have found several posts about people having their Toyota sludge more than once. Supposedly, you are covered under the sludge policy for the full 8 years from original purchase, but have heard about people being told it is just a one-time deal.

Toyota has generally just cleaned the sludged engines, so whatever caused the sludging in the first place is still there. I heard that Toyota redesigned the PCV and engine head and puts that on some of the cleaned/repaired sludged engines. You may want to check and see if your repair included these components.

My brother-in-law had his 98 Sienna engine overhauled by Toyota due to the sludge damage. I have suggested that he use synthetic oil after about 20,000 miles on the rebuilt engine, as well as service more often than recommended. Has anyone tried using synthetic to avoid this problem?

Go to www.autosafety.org and look up complaints for Toyota. There is a recent complaint of 2003 Sienna run on synthetic oil that ended up with sludge (complaint posted around 8/20/04).

Hello, we are debating buying a 2001 Toyota Sienna this week ourselves from a Toyota dealership. They took the sienna in on a trade but the thing I am getting at is, they are completely redoing the motor with better parts to correct the sludge problem on it. And it had like 114,000 miles on it. When we purchase it it will have all new parts inside the motor the shell is the only thing that will be the same on the motor. Toyota should repair any sludge problem, nothing else call the Toyota board of directors and if needs be go over there heads. My hubby has had like 3 Toyota's and this will be our 4th one. Toyota has great performance and very reliable, but like anything that is made and sold regardless the price, there are lemons within them. Toyota will make good I hope for you all. Hope this helped out. Cause the Sienna is highly rated through the consumer reports and many others. But we have not yet tested out the Sienna van yet, but will before the purchase is complete, just waiting for them to finish correcting the sludge problem and completely redo all in the motor.

I am looking for a Toyota Van, I won't consider anything else. What is the cause of sludge? Is it town driving, The exhaust is so close to the motor I think the oil gets too hot and cooks. I live in rural midwest with long drives to town. more info on Toyota's at yotarepair.com. I think Synthetic oil is the way to go. My father runs that in his saab and has no sludge problems. keep and eye on the oil...

I have lost all faith in Toyota. After buying six new Toyota vehicles four from the current dealer, they will not stand behind their products. My 2001 Sienna just died. Regularly maintained and taken care of. I was blown off and treated like a idiot by the dealer's service manager. After an independent evaluation by Magoo the service manager contents that it's isn't sludge and it will cast $8K to replace the engine. This after two other certified techs confirmed it was sludge. The retail value is $8k so the car is totaled. I will never, even if given one take a toyota. I have two newer toyotas and I can't unload them fast enough. Honda, here I come. I can't believe toyota doesn't stand behind their vehicles. It used to be you could look at 300K miles on a toyota. What a shame!

I guess I got lucky. I bought a brand new 02 sienna in august of 01. We have not had a single issue with it over 92,000 miles. We once waited 7,000 miles to do an oil change and I don't think we've even been close to the reccomended 3,000 mile mark on any oil change, and we only use the basic cheap-o oil and filter. We have only gotten like 2 tune ups only when we really needed them. My family has abused the hell out of this van yet it has never given us a problem (other than normal things that wear). It is the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. I have been a Toyota guy all of my life and am sad to see that so many people have had problems with there toyotas.

Oh yeah, and by the way I have never gotten a letter about the sludge problems.

To the individual who says to change your oil more frequently than the engine manual states. When I buy a vehicle, maintenance frequency plays a role in my purchase. If I have to change my oil twice as often because of a manufactured defect, my cost of ownership has gone up. If the manual says 7500 miles between changes, I am within my right to expect that to be sufficient frequency. I change mine at 7500 miles, and I have had no sludge problems on our Toyota of 140,000 miles. I can tell you I have had more minor issues than I have had on the 2 previous Fords I have owned though. Lot's of body integrity issues. Impressed with the drive train, but the rest of the van is less than stellar. Not sure I would pay the extra money for a Toyota again.