I am reporting that the small ground clearance of 2004 toyota sienna with tow hitch receiver is a safety concern that needs investigation by nhtsa and rectification by toyota.*ak the ground clearance is insufficient even with no load in the back. the tow hitch receiver hits the ground frequently while going in and out of driveways. i have complained to 2 toyota dealerships and complaints were ignored. this issue absolutely needs the attention of toyota and traffic safety offices nationwide and the nhtsa. not only is it creating a lot of anxiety on us and other sienna drivers but also it is a serious safety matter. we have to bring the vehicle to an extremely low speed and at an acute angle with the driveway to avoid the tow hitch from hitting the ground. it isn't always possible to wait for sufficient headway when turning into main stream traffic. drivers following us have been honking and yelling while we wait for good headway. slowing the vehicle down a lot or sitting in driveway to wait for sufficient headway provoke restless drivers that are following. on occasions, vehicles following didn't slow down or barely slow ...
I own a 2004 toyota sienna xle that includes a towing package. the trailer hitch for this vehicle is a safety hazard because it hits the ground going over any small bump when there is no trailer attached, and it is only inches off the ground when a trailer is attached, constantly scraping and causing sparks. this can be especially hazardous at gas stations where there are any flammable substances if it is necessary to go over any small bumps and there are sparks.*ak
I bought a 2004 toyota sienna van, put a hitch on it and it scrapes the ground going over speed bumps, steep driveways, etc without any load on the hitch mount. the vehicle should be equipped with air shocks if toyota wants to advertise that the van can tow trailers. this is a design flaw due to the trunk space required for stowing the rear folding seats. a hitch can not be mounted any higher or closer to the bumper because of the seat storage area. *jb
Towing package/trailer hitch installed by toyota dealer consistently scrapes the road with and without a light load. when hauling a light load, load is approx one half of the stated towing capacity (3500 lbs). the hitch scraping the road causes difficulty when driving and multiple "collisions" between the hitch and the road. this problem has been reported to the local dealer (jay wolfe toyota) and corporate toyota (case # 2007-08020957). even thought the problem is document on several forums, toyota has failed to provide air shocks or any other means to correct the problem. am seriously concerned what will happen when i attempt to tow a pop-up camper that is twice the weight i am towing know, but still under the stated towing capacity. i have snapped on set of safety chains due to the chains getting smashed between the road and the hitch when it bottoms out. *jb
This complaint is related to the hazards of towing with the 2004 toyota sienna which i own. this model is advertized as towing ready without any additional equipment except a hitch and has a towing capacity of 3500 pounds. when the hitch is installed on the vehicle the clearance of the receiver is dangerously low to the ground without a trailer attached. once the trailer is attached with a tongue weight less than maximum, the receiver sits 3 inches above the ground. this extremely low clearance provides very dangerous driving conditions on a vehicle that is advertized as suitable for this type of use. the hitch bounces and bangs of the road surface and negatively effects handling. in order to correct this problem an airlift system was installed in the rear suspension to elevate the rear end while towing. this is suitable as it stiffens the rear suspension when a load is applied. however, without a load the rear suspension is too stiff with the air bags inflated, yet the rear end is too low with a hitch and th ebags deflated. according to the local toyota dealer, they are aware of the problem but do not have any solutions.
Design flaw in 2004 toyota sienna. the trailer hitch scrapes ground; too low to safely tow. *nm