2008 Toyota Sienna Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The head gasket that was repaired failed and the radiator system also failed. Im not sure if these issues are dealer related or manufacture related as i spoke to the previous owner and they stated they had the vehicle serviced at a manufacturer prior to doing a trade in with the dealer
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated while pulling into a grocery store, he heard an abnormal ticking sound. The contact stated upon parking and inspecting the outside of the vehicle, he noticed that engine oil was leaking onto the ground. Additionally, the oil dipstick was dry upon inspecting the oil level. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys where oil was added in the vehicle and the contact drove to his residence. However, the failure persisted while driving. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the exhaust cam gear had fractured, causing damage to the engine and other unnamed components. The dealer diagnosed that the engine, the exhaust cam gear, and the timing chain needed to be replaced, and additional unknown repairs were also needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown Toyota Extended Warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist due to the vehicle manufactured date. The failure mileage was approximately 204,000.
LOWER OIL COOLER LINE DEVELOPED HOLE AND LEAKED ENGINE OIL WHILE IN MOTION ON COUNTY HIGHWAY.
VVTI OIL LINE HAS LARGE HOLE ALL OF A SUDDEN, CAUSED VERY QUICK LOSS OF ALL OIL IN CAR. I WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY, AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR PULLED OVER AND STOPPED. IF I HAD BEEN IN A WORSE POSITION, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED ENGINE SEIZURE. THERE IS A LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN ON THIS, MY VEHICLE HAD IT REPLACED IN 2014, AND IT FAILED AGAIN BECAUSE THEY PUT THE SAME FAULTY PART WITH RUBBER HOSE CONNECTOR. IN 2010 THEY ACTUALLY RELEASED SAME ENGINE WITH AN ALL METAL OIL HOSE, BUT THATS NOT WHAT THEY REPLACED IT WITH ON THE TECHNICAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN.
THIS VEHICLE HAS 3 OPEN RECALLS ON IT I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN WOOSTER OHIO AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME IT WOULD TAKE A FEW HOURS TO DO ALL THE REPAIRS AND ID HAVE TO WAIT OR DROP IT OFF I AS A CUSTOMER FEEL ITS UNFAIR FOR TOYOTA TO MAKE A CUSTOMER WAIT FOR HOURS TO FIX REPAIRS THAT ARE FAULTS OF THE CAR MANUFACTUER I ASKED FOR A LOANER CAR WHILE THE WORK IS COMPLETED THEY REFUSED SAYING THE ONLY WAY A LOANER IS GIVEN IS IS THE RECALL IS DOOR RELATED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE HESITATED AND SHUDDERED BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF ORLANDO (3575 VINELAND RD, ORLANDO, FL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CAMSHAFT WAS FAULTY AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE IN 2011 AND THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT. FURTHERMORE, IN 2016, THE CAMSHAFT WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
CAR COMPLETELY STOPED WITHOUT ANY WARNING ON AN EXTREMLY BUSY ROAD. EXTREMELY LOUD NOISES ARE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND CAR WILL NO LONGER MOVE. STILL CLUESSLESS ON THE ISSUE AT HAND.
UPON EXITING THE INTERSTATE, WE BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING SMELL AND THE LIGHT FOR THE A/C STARTED FLASHING AND WOULDN'T TURN BACK ON. WE DROVE ABOUT A MILE THINKING THAT THE SMELL WAS ROADWORK, BUT THEN WE DECIDED TO STOP AND CHECK IT UNDER THE HOOD. ONCE WE OPENED THE HOOD, WE WERE HIT WITH A PLUME OF SMOKE, AND REALIZED THERE WAS A POOL OF OIL UNDER THE VAN. WE BEGAN TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET FOR CAUSES, WHERE WE CAME ACROSS SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THE OIL HOSE BLOWING AND THE VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL. THEY DIDN'T KNOW OF ONE, BUT STATED THAT THEY'D FIXED SEVERAL VEHICLES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS VERY ALARMING SINCE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, OIL LIGHT, ETC DIDN'T EVEN TURN ON. HAD WE DRIVEN ANOTHER MILE, WOULD THE VAN HAVE CAUGHT FIRE? WE HAVE A VAN FULL OF CHILDREN, AND IT'S FRIGHTENING TO THINK THAT THIS COULD HAVE ENDED MUCH WORSE.
VARIABLE VALVE TIMING OIL SUPPLY LINE SPRANG A LEAK AT BEND ON RUBBER TUBING. TOYOTA HAS A NEW REPLACEMENT TUBE ,BUT NOT PAYING FOR TUBE OR LABOR. *TR
2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR CONDITION WAS NOT COOLING THE VEHICLE, AND SHE THOUGHT IT JUST NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. AFTER TWO HOURS OF DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. BY THE TIME SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, THE ENGINE WAS RUINED, THE DEALER STATED THE ENGINE WATER HOSE AND OIL HOSE HAD MALFUNCTIONED. *JB
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE MINIVAN WITH BOTH KIDS IN THE CAR AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING AND PICKING THEM UP FROM THE PRESCHOOL. WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE SHE SMELLED AND SAW OIL FUME COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. SHE THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GOING TO CATCH FIRE AND GRABBED THE KIDS AND GOT OUT OF THE VAN AS QUICKLY AS SHE CAN. I GOT HER CALL AND RUSHED HOME FROM WORK. IT TURNED OUT THERE WAS A SUDDEN FAILURE OF A OIL COOLING PIPE ON THE ENGINE. ALL OF THE ENGINE OIL HAD ALMOST LEAKED OUT (THERE WAS MAYBE ABOUT QUARTER OF INCH SHOWING ON THE DIP STICK). AFTER WE TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WE FOUND OUT THE OIL HAD LEAKED FROM AN ENGINE COOLER PIPE WHICH WAS POORLY DESIGNED AND OVER TIME IT COULD DEVELOP A SLOW SEEP LEAK OR IN OUR CASE FAILED IN A SUDDEN BURST AND CAUSED THE OIL TO LEAK OUT LIKE A RUNNING FAUCET. WE WERE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE BECAUSE IT OCCURRED JUST WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING THE VAN IN OUR SUBDIVISION. TOYOTA HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE LAST SUMMER BUT DIDN'T HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS. IF IT HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND WE DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE ENGINE LIGHT, THE ENGINE MAY BURN OR WORSE IT COULD SEIZE AND CAUSE ACCIDENT. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE WEB, I FOUND OUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. TOYOTA ACTUALLY HAD A RECALL OTHER MODELS OF CARS FOR THE SAME ISSUE SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I WONDER WHY THEY DIDN'T RECALL THE 2008 SIENNA AND THEY SHOULD HAVE. I WANT TO REPORT THIS AND HOPEFULLY FORCE TOYOTA TO START RECALL ON THIS ISSUE FOR ALL IMPACTED MODELS SO OTHERS WON'T HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS AND AVOID POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS. THANKS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO MAKE A STRANGE KNOCKING SOUND AS I ACCELERATED. I HAD BEEN DRIVING AROUND TOWN FOR SEVERAL HOURS THAT MORNING. I PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE ENGINE, AND SAW SOME TYPE OF FLUID ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND WALL. I PULLED THE OIL DIPSTICK OUT AND THERE WAS NO OIL ON IT AT ALL. COMPLETELY DRY! I HAD SOMEONE BRING ME SOME OIL AND I DROVE MY CAR UP TO THE REPAIR SHOP JUST A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY. THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE LINE -VALVE COVER VARIABLE TIMING-ON TOP OF MOTOR TO RIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE HAD BURST. PART OF THE LINE IS RUBBER AND THAT PART HAD RUPTURED AND ALL THE OIL HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE. MY OIL LIGHT DID NOT COME ON AT ANY TIME NOR DID MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. EVEN AFTER I STOPPED IT DID NOT COME ON. *TR
TOYOTA KNOWN DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN GASKET. LEAKING OIL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHITE SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, BUT NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT OIL SPILLED ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY, HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE OIL COOLER SUPPLY LINE BURST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
VVT-I HOSE BROKEN, RAPID OIL LOSS AND ALMOST NO OIL LEFT IN ENGINE WHEN PROBLEM WAS SPOTTED. OIL SPILLED TO THE BELTS AROUND THE VVT-I HOSE. WHEN TURN STEERING WHEEL, NOISE HEARD. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE TO THE OTHER RECALLS BUT NOT APPLICABLE TO TOYOTA SIENNA. HTTP://TOYOTANEWS.PRESSROOM.TOYOTA.COM/ARTICLE_DISPLAY.CFM?ARTICLE_ID=1906 I WAS TOLD MAY CAUSE PROBLEM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, OR ACCIDENT. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO FILE THE CLAIM TO YOUR OFFICE. THANKS. *TR
THE RUBBER PORTION OF THE OIL SUPPLY HOSE FOR THE WT-1 ACTUATOR FAILED RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF SEVERAL QUARTS OF OIL. THIS OIL WAS CARRIED ALONG THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND SPRAYED A FINE MIST OF OIL ON THE WINDSHIELDS OF THE CARS BEHIND THE VAN. LUCKILY THIS OCCURRED CLOSE TO HOME AT A LOW SPEED. IF THIS WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IT COULD HAVE CAUSED SUDDEN REDUCED VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVERS BEHIND THE VEHICLE AND COULD HAVE LED TO AN ACCIDENT. I AM SORRY BUT USING A RUBBER HOSE ON AN OIL LINE IS ONE OF THE DUMBEST THINGS I HAVE HEARD OF. FORTUNATELY FOR US, NO ONE WAS HURT AND NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAS NOT TURNED INTO A RECALL. THIS WAS A BIG MISTAKE ON TOYOTA'S PART. *TR
UPON EXITING FREEWAY IN BUTTE, MT, AND SLOWING DONE FOR RED LIGHT AT BOTTOM OF RAMP, HEARD TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. DROVE ONE BLOCK TO GAS STATION, AND WHILE PUMPING GAS, NOTICED LARGE QUANTITY OF ENGINE OIL PUDDLING UNDER THE ENGINE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT OIL COOLER HOSE HAD RUPTURED. FORTUNATELY, NO APPARENT ENGINE DAMAGE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ON SIENNA OWNERS' FORUM, LEARNED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON CERTAIN TOYOTA MODELS IN CERTAIN YEARS, INCLUDING THE 2008 SIENNA WITH TOW PACKAGE LIKE OURS, AND THAT TOYOTA HAD PUT OUT A TSB ON THIS, BUT APPARENTLY HAD NEVER INFORMED OWNERS. IT TOOK 4 DAYS FOR THE REPLACEMENT HOSE TO ARRIVE, AND THE REPAIR COST $520. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE MY FAMILY WAS FAR FROM HOME (SILVER SPRING, MD) ON A CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP AND THUS FORCED THEM TO CANCEL PART OF VACATION AND SPEND EXTRA $$ ON HOTELS AND A RENTAL CAR. BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE - THE OIL COULD HAVE DRAINED WHILE AT SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY, RUINING THE ENGINE, STRANDING MY FAMILY IN AN ISOLATED AREA OR CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OR ENGINE FIRE AND POSSIBLE INJURIES. GIVEN THAT TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, IT COULD HAVE INFORMED US SO WE COULD HAVE HAD THE HOSE REPLACED BEFORE IT FAILED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 80,000.
THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE ODOUR OF SOMETHING BURNING ENTERED THE CABIN. NO LIGHTS ON THE DASH APPEARED AND DROVE TO THE NEXT PARKING LOT TO FIND A TRAIL OF OIL BEHIND THE VEHICLE AND A POOL OF OIL UNDER THE ENGINE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER TO FIND OUT A 'PIN HOLE' WAS FOUND IN THE OIL COOLER HOSE. THIS IS NOT THE SAME HOSE AS THE VVTI THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED ALREADY. THE DEALER INFORMED ME IT'S LIKE THE TWO OTHER RUBBER HOSES CARRYING OIL ON THE ENGINE BUT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. THE COST TO HAVE IT REPLACED WITH A STEEL LINE IS $429 CDN. THIS VAN WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2009 AND BROUGHT INTO MANITOBA, CANADA FROM THE US. *TR
THE RUBBER IN THE OIL COOLING LINE BROKE DOWN AND DRAINED MOST OF THE OIL FROM THE ENGINE. FROM LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT BOARDS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS HOSE. TOYOTA EVEN RE-DESIGNED THE HOSE WITH A METAL SLEEVE BECAUSE OF THIS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY SIENNA AC QUIT & FEW MILES LATER I SAW WHITE SMOKE COME FROM UNDER THE VAN IN MY MIRROR. I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN & BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. I TRIED TO PULL OVER & POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS. AFTER I PULLED OVER, I WALKED TO THE BACK TO SEE WHAT THE WHITE SMOKE WAS. I NOTICED THAT THE BUMPER COVER HAD MOTOR OIL DRIPPING DOWN FROM THE BUMPER & TAIL PIPE. I NOTICED THE WHITE SMOKE WAS ACTUALLY COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE VAN. I RAN TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF BUT I COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOORS. LUCKILY WINDOWS WERE OPENED DUE TO THE AC NOT WORKING. I TOOK THE KEY OUT THROUGH THE WINDOW & PULLED THE HOOD LATCH. BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE HOOD FLAMES WAS COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE. I COULD NOT OPEN THE HOOD, IT WAS TOO HOT. THIS HAPPENED IN MATTER OF SECONDS. BE AWARE THAT ALL THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING SOUND?S OR LIGHT?S. I CALLED 911. JUST IN MINUTES, THE VAN WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES & I HAD NO CHANCE TO SAVE ANYTHING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE TRUCKS ARRIVED ABOUT 9 MINUTES, BUT BY THAT TIME THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT OF MY VAN. THE FIREMAN POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THERE WAS AN OIL TRAIL BEHIND THE VAN. THE OIL TRACE WAS VISIBLE FOR FEW MILES. AFTER THEY FINISHED PUTTING OUT THE FIRE THEY SHOWED ME WHERE THE FIRE STARTED ON THE VAN. IT WAS THE AREA ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE AROUND THE BELT. THEY SAID THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM AN OIL LEAK ON THE ENGINE AND WAS STARTED BY THE BURST OF OIL SPRAYING DOWN ON THE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. ONLY TWO SECONDS OF SEARCHING ON GOOGLE, I FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA IS WELL INFORMED OF THE HAZARDOUS DEFECT. THE RUBBER OIL SUPPLY LINE UNEXPECTEDLY BURST OPEN AND SPRAY?S THE ENGINE OIL OUT IN LESS THAN FEW MINUTES. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALLS OR NOTIFICATION ABOUT THIS SERIOUS DEFECT FROM TOYOTA. LUCKILY NONE OF MY THREE KIDS WAS NOT IN THE VAN WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND SAW SMOKE ROLLING OUT OF ENGINE. BY THE TIME I PULLED OVER I NOTICED OIL LEAKING OUT EVERYWHERE. IT WAS THE ENGINE OIL COOLER LINE AND I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE RUBBER HOSE TWICE AND HAS RUPTURED TWO MORE TIME SINCE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I LOST OVER 12 QUARTS OF OIL IN THE LAST MONTH.
I HAD A OIL HOSE IN MY VAN GET A HOLE. WHEN IT HAPPENED IT SPILLED OIL ALL OVER AND IN MY OPINION COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE.THE HOSE IS CONNECTED TO A PIPE AND THE HOSE CANNOT BE REPLACED. THE WHOLE PIPE HAS TO BE REPLACED AND I REPLACED MINE. MY RESEARCH REVEALED THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS A TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT IN THE BULLETIN THEY CLAIM IT'S FOR SEEPAGE OF OIL. OBVIOUSLY TOYOTA KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM AS THE NEW PART I ORDERED IS COMPLETE PIPE WITH NO HOSES. THE PART NUMBER FOR THE PIPE IS 15767. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE FURTHER LOOKED INTO AS TO WHY THIS IS NOT A RECALL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD PROPERLY FIX? *TR
AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE FOR APPX. 15 MINUTES THEN PARKING, THEN COMING BACK TO VEHICLE 5 MINUTES LATER I FOUND A POOL OF OIL UNDER THE HOOD OF VAN AND CALLED FOR TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. ROB FROM THE TOYOTA REPAIR SERVICE, CLAIMS I HAD BAD LUCK REGARDING THE OIL COOLER LINE RUPTURING. IT WILL COST ME $442.00 TO REPAIR/REPLACE AND CLEAN THE VEHICLE. AFTER HEARING THIS I CHECKED ONLINE AND OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH SIMILAR VEHICLES THAT HAVE A V6 ENGINE WITH TOWING PACKAGE FROM TOYOTA. THE SERVICE PERSON CLAIMS ITS NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. HE ALSO CLAIMS THAT IT WASN'T DAMAGED ACCIDENTALLY NEITHER.
WHILE DRIVING HOME THE OIL LINE RUNNING FROM THE OIL COOLER ON THE RADIATOR EXPLODED. OIL WAS SENT OVER THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND DRIPPED OVER THE ROAD LEAVING A TRAIL THE BLOCK LEFT GOING TO MY HOUSE. THE HOT OIL SPRAYING OVER THE HOT ENGINE WAS A DANGER TO CATCHING THE VAN AND THE GARAGE IT WAS PARKED IN ON FIRE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF YET HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THESE VEHICLES. I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS HAPPENED SO CLOSE TO MY HOME. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2008 Toyota Sienna has 40 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.