2002 Toyota Sienna Suspension Problems

Your Sienna's passenger-side rear shock absorber has a lower mount that has cracked over time due to its thin, hollow metal construction. This mount has internal threads and cannot be replaced separately—you'll need to buy the entire shock absorber assembly, which costs around $1,688. Fixing this will require replacing the complete rear shock absorber unit rather than just the damaged mount.

1:40 PM, JAN 20, 2007, I WAS DRIVING MY SEQUOIA N/B ON SIERRA HWY IN THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA. I WAS TRAVELING APPROX 40-45 MPH. I NOTICED A SLIGHT STIFFNESS IN THE STEERING. A SHORT TIME LATER THE LEFT FRONT OF MY VEHICLE VIOLENTLY FELL TO THE GROUND. THERE WERE VEHICLES BEHIND ME AND WITH DIFFICULTY I STEERED TO THE CURB. WHEN THE VEHICLE FELL TO THE GROUND, I HEARD A LOUD 'BANG', AND I FELT THAT I LOST SOME OF MY BRAKES. ONE OF THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME TOLD ME SHE SAW SPARKS COMING FROM UNDER MY VEHICLE. I LOOKED AT THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. I SAW THE LEFT FRONT TIRE, WHEEL & HUB (ALL STILL ATTACHED) FOLDED UNDER THE LEFT RUNNING BOARD PREVENTING THE FRONT FENDER AND BUMPER FROM FALLING DIRECTLY TO THE ROADWAY. I SAW THAT THE BRAKE LINES APPEARED TO BE BROKEN. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO TOYOTA ON MON, JAN 22, 2007. I WAS TOLD THAT IT APPEARED THE LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT HAD BROKEN CAUSING THE WHEEL TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED THEIR SERVICE DIRECTOR TO DETERMINE WHAT REPAIRS SHOULD BE MADE. I WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT TOYOTA HAD 'NO LIABILITY' TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AT THEIR EXPENSE. REPAIR ESTIMATE IS APPROX $5,000. + THE RENTAL VEHICLE THEY ARRANGED. I WAS TOLD A REGIONAL SERVICE INSPECTOR WOULD LOOK AT MY VEHICLE. I TOLD THEM THAT I WANTED THE OLD PARTS IF REPAIRS WERE TO BE MADE. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. I WENT TO THE TOYOTA WEB SITE AND NOTICED NUMEROUS RECALL NOTICES FROM TOYOTA FOR FRONT BALL JOINT FAILURES ON MY TYPE OF VEHICLE. I RECEIVED NO RECALL NOTICES FROM TOYOTA. TOYOTA STATED MY VIN WAS NOT ON THE LIST FOR ANY RECALL NOTICES. THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPT STATED THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED 'NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR' THAT WOULD REQUIRE ME TO HAVE THIS ITEM CHECKED DURING ALL OF MY REGULAR MAINTENANCE SERVICES. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY TO MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. AS OF THIS DATE I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE REGIONAL INSPECTOR HAS INSPECTED MY VEHICLE. *JB

DT: 2002 TOYOTA RUNNER. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR LOWER BALL JOINT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE WHEELS WERE CUTTING THE TIRES ON FRONT WHERE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS LOCATED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED TOYOTA, WHO SAID IT IS NOT RELATED TO LOWER BALL JOINT, AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE CONSUMER. THIS HAS BEING HAPPENING SINCE THE CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE. IT HAS 30,000 MILES , AND NEEDED NEW TIRES.*AK

THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW TIRES DUE TO FRONT END BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION ABOUT THE PREMATURE TIRE WEAR PROBLEM ON LATE MODEL TOYOTA SIENNA. *BF *SC

A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE SLIDING DOOR. THE CAR VIBRATED WHEN DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE OWNER WAS FRUSTRATED WITH ALL THAT WAS HAPPENING WITH LITTLE OR NO RESULTS. *AK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FRONT END WAS UNSTABLE. *SC *JB

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE VEERS TO LEFT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT, TOOK IN CAR TODAY AND TOLD THEM TO ADJUST ALIGNMENT AND HAVE OIL CHANGED, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED BACK AND SAID THEIR WAS A MANUFACTURE RECALL AND THE CAR HAD TO STAY OVERNIGHT. IF IT HAD A RECALL NO NOTICE WAS SENT OUT THIS IS WHAT I'M UPSET ABOUT. CONSUMERS ARE SOPOSED TO BE NOTIFIED IF THERE IS A RECALL NOT FIND OUT AFTER THEY DAMAGE OTHER COMPONENTS AND FIND OUT WHEN THEY TAKE THEIR CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGES.*AK