Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
I took the van to our dealer and they were able to recreate the noise and stated this is a common issue with these vans from 2009. Apparently the noise is coming from the break (true, it happens when i pump (gently) the brake pedal) OK? Is there a fix? They are suppose to call Toyota corp today and check if there is a fix. or else they said they would dig and try to find an answer. They assured me this is not a safety issue.... I want to trust them but I'm not sure if i can. After the short block issue and all the repairs.... on 2009 vehicle...
Has anyone ever seen/heard this noise? Is that 'normal'? I vote for not normal but will they fix it? Should i keep this van?
Thanks!
In April 2011, we then took the advice of an auto body shop owner, contacted the "service manager" (not a "service sales consultant") at the dealership, express our disappointment in the service last February 2011, and ask for service where we could ride along with the service technician. In response to their saying the noise was normal, we were ready to demand a ride in another Toyota Sienna to accept the noise as normal. If they once again disappointed us, we were ready with trump card and would tell them that we would give them a bad rating with the ACSI - American Consumer Satisfaction Index - if they didn't fix the noise as the vehicle was under warranty (Apparently, all dealers live and die by the ACSI rating and even one bad review sends the management into a tizzy and the upper management's anger makes its way to the service manager, who is thus motivated to avoid bad ACSI reviews at all cost).
In our April service, the technician acknowledged hearing the noise and, as my wife drove, I wrote down everything he said during the ride (in case I had to file a complaint with the ASCI). The technician sat in the passenger seat and I sat directly behind him so he could not see me write. After arriving back at the dealership, we left the car there and, a few hours later, the dealer called and said the technician spent a few hours and tightened/torque every fastener in the entire suspension system (which, it turns out, were not out of spec per the dealer), drove the car, and still heard the noise. He then checked the cowl panel - a panel at the base of the front windshield below the hood. Apparently, below the plastic cowl top ventilator (part no. 55781E -search "Cowl Panel & Windshield Glass" for a 2010 Toyota Sienna at villagetoyotaparts.com), resides a metal plate. From when we bought the car to 11,000 miles, it appears that a gap developed between that metal plate and a metal stage below that plate. As we drove, those two would hit each other, causing the rattling that then would be pass into the passenger compartment both via the ventilators and through the dash material. The technician stuffed some foam insulation in the gap and the noise finally (!) was gone. Even better, all of the service was covered by warranty and we owed no money for the repairs. I haven't seen the foam insulation and the problem may have been a loose suspension system, but the noise is gone, so we're now happy.
If you open the hood and look at the engine compartment, you will note that because of the rake of the windshield the whole cowl panel extends over at least half of the engine. Per the shop manual, the first step in almost any engine service is the removal of most of what is shown in the Cowl Panel exploded diagram. A good half an hour of disassembly before you do any repairs. I can shoot you a page from the shop manual if you want to see.
Here's my theory. Among other things that might have been done underhood, there has been at least one recall involving the replacement of the VVTi oil hoses. You might see it on a service entry as "LSC 90K". I think that getting the engine shroud off requires removing the entire cowl. I'll bet that if you didn't hear this noise when the van was brand new, it's the result of a tech not reassembling it right at a previous servicing.
Consumer reports was right. Nice van, and one of their two recommended minivans (Honda the other), but definitely dropping in quality, fit, and finish. This Sienna (2011 LE) seems cheaper inside than my last one (a 2000 LE), has had more initial quality problems, and lets far more road noise intrude into the cabin. Off the lot, I actually paid $200 less for my 2011 LE than I paid for my 2000 LE. That should have tipped me. Ten years later, how can the same trim line of a car cost less? They cut quality/corners, that's how! Still the best van out there, but not as good as before.
CR dinged the new Ody as well; it also scored lower than its predecessor.
Kia just added a new powertrain, but I think when they do the full redesign they have a real opportunity to take leadership in this segment.
Right now? I'd shop pre-owned, to be completely honest.
Did you get this sound fixed? I got the same rattle. I moved the right 2nd row seat a little bit and the sound stopped for sometime before restarting. Thank you...
Hem
Did you get this sound fixed? I got the same rattle. I moved the right 2nd row seat a little bit and the sound stopped for sometime before restarting. Thank you...
Hem
On the invoice, it was
1 72170-08010 TRACK ASSY, RR SE
1 72190-08010 TRACK ASSY, RR SE
2 72129-08040-EO PROTECTOR, SEAT T
2 72129-08030-EO PROTECTOR, SEAT T
1 72129-08040-EO PROTECTOR, SEAT T
Covered under warranty, as you'd expect since the rattle was there from the day we drove it home.
Hyperbole at its worst.
Net: It's largely up to you.
I finally brought in my vehicle to a Toyota dealer today to have them take a look. I also mentioned TSB 0180-12 for this problem. Then they told me that a new seat frame had been ordered. So I'll wait to see whether this will fix the problem.
Have you got your problem fixed?