1. Toyota Sienna
  2. Problems
  3. 2004
  4. Automatic Transmission

2004 Toyota Sienna Automatic Transmission Problems

42
Owner complaint records in our dataset

Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.

Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.

Among these 42 stored complaint records:

  • 1 indicate a crash
  • 0 indicate injury
  • 0 indicate fire

What owners report

  • problem transmission · 5 records
  • accelerator pedal · 5 records
  • automatic transmission · 4 records

Mileage in stored records

BandRecords
1–30k mi17
60–100k mi6
100–150k mi2
30–60k mi2
150–400k mi1

Complaint records

Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.

  • August 15, 2011 · 92,000 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    After years of dealing with this issue toyota has yet to provide a reason or solution. When traveling at lower speeds the transmission disengages and when you need to accelerate there is a 1 to 2 second delay before the transmission re-engages. Toyota made me service the transmission...no help....then they claimed i needed a software update...which they charged me $80 ...to update their software design flaw.…

    ODI 10419513

  • January 15, 2011 · 60,000 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    Tl* the contact owns 2004 toyota sienna. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle would not accelerate further. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, where the technicians stated that the transmission fluid needed to be flushed and recalibrated. After the repairs, the failure continued. The vehicle was taken to the dealer a second time and the technicians stated that the…

    ODI 10418026

  • July 15, 2010 · 80,000 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    A 7-year old boy was climbing from the back seat to the drivers seat of a 2004 toyota sienna minivan. He was the only person in the van at the time, the van was not running, there were no keys in the ignition.. Yet somehow, the van's transmission was taken out of park and put into gear. As the parking brake was not set, the van rolled backwards down the driveway, through a fence and into a ravine with the child…

    Crash reported

    ODI 10344322

  • May 1, 2010 · 175,000 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    While merging onto a hwy i was leaned forward looking through the side rear view mirror with my right hand beside the seat hanging down. I raised my hand to place it on the steering wheel and my fingers caught on the shifter. The gear shift slid without resistance into reverse and the transmission shifted to reverse and started trying to go backwards. The transmission is completely wrecked and needs to be replaced.…

    ODI 10328933

  • February 19, 2010 · 70,000 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    I have a 2004 toyota sienna, with only 70,000 miles. I suddenly and intermittently lost power steering. It was not total loss--that i could have handled, but it would come and go, even within a single turn. When i turned the wheel, i could not predict how the car would respond. No accident, fortunately, but a couple of close calls. I drove immediately to a t dealer, and they diagnosed a failed u joint and replaced…

    ODI 10313405

  • January 8, 2010 · 96,000 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    2004 toyota sienna xle . When accelerating the van hesitates. Have to press the accelerator harder to force a hard downshift. This is very dangerous when a predictable acceleration is needed specially merging highway. *tr

    ODI 10304910

  • November 13, 2009 · 140,000 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna .the contact stated while driving 10 mph or more the transmission would hesitate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The current mileage was 140,000. Updated 11/05/10. *lj

    ODI 10348426

  • October 10, 2008 · 145,000 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    I always took my 2004 toyota sienna in for maintenance. The maintenance was performed by midas or toyota. I took the vehicle in for brakes august 2008 and was told a timing belt was needed along with driving belt. I was never verbally told of a problem with the transmission. I took the vehicle back in for service to replace the timing belt, driving belt, and thermostat; still no mention of a problem with the…

    ODI 10249730

  • June 11, 2007 · 39,000 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    I've seen other complaints about the transmission being hesitant and the car surging and slowing unexpectedly. I've had these problems, too. The dealership told me i needed a flash to the computer that would give the car a shift enhancement. They said it wasn't part of the powertrain warranty, but then agreed to do it for the $45 i initially paid them to look the car over. It shifts more aggressively now, but it…

    ODI 10192998

  • December 26, 2006 · 25,000 miles

    Automatic Transmission · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

    Vehicle hesitates when accelerator is pressed. Vehicle 'surges' at times when brake is depressed. Similar to other complaints noted in this section, my sienna has a rough transmission, tires occasionally spin out with normal acceleration from a parking lot, toll booth, etc. Repeated trips to dealership bring no satisfaction: response from dealer is that vehicle is operating within standards. *nm

    ODI 10176990

  • September 30, 2006

    Automatic Transmission

    There is 2 to 3 seconds delay and slight acceleration lag even when taking off from a stop. Couple of times i was close to run into accident. *jb

    ODI 10206840

  • September 9, 2006 · 63,000 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    Delay 2-3 seconds when press gas pedal. I though i am the only one have this problem. I hope soon toyota can solve this problem because if i will get into and accident with this van i am going to hire a lawyer to sue the toyota. *tr

    ODI 10219644

  • January 7, 2006

    Automatic Transmission · Engine

    Toyota sienna 2004, 19,000 miles not even 2 years old. 1. Valves making noise when driving up hill at slow speed or when start driving. 2. Wind noise is unacceptable. Problem begins at the very first day of driving the car. 3. One big knocking noise when the vehicle is moving , only when shift from park to d4 and starting to drive. *ak

    ODI 10148727

  • October 1, 2005 · 8,248 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    Delayed engine power while turning, then sudden surge of power. Dealership response is: working as designed - drive-by-wire causes the delay. *nm

    ODI 10138319

  • August 1, 2005

    Automatic Transmission

    Transmission hesitation and lurch forward. Dealer says this is characteristic of transmission. Also, rear ac not cold - dealer says this is normal performance. *jb

    ODI 10144710

  • August 1, 2005

    Automatic Transmission

    Vehicle hesitates and lurches forward on acceleration. Driver gets jerked forward at an abnormal rate. After acceleration upon leaving a stoped state vehicle does not respond and/or hesitates for a second then lurches forward. Dealer has been notified many times and they tell me this is a characteristic with the new fly wheel design in the toyotas. They agree it is not right but tell me there is nothing i can do…

    ODI 10133677

  • May 15, 2005 · 7,000 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    The transmission has a delay when running at low speeds and when having to change gears up or down under a change of load condition; like going uphill or passing. Very noticeable when you take your foot off of the gas for a moment, like turning into a street or driveway. The van will jump into a gear like if someone had popped the clutch on a manual transmission. I have had this problem since i have owned the van. I…

    ODI 10359895

  • April 1, 2005 · 13,000 miles

    Automatic Transmission · Tires

    Problems with the dunlop run flat tires and the transmission on the 2004 toyota sienna.*mr during a 3000 mile service the technician notice that on or more of the tires was balding. All four tire were replaced. A few day after the 3000 mil maintenance the vehicle would not move because there was no transmission fluid. *nm

    ODI 10132343

  • April 1, 2005

    Automatic Transmission

    2004 toyota sienna experiencing hesitation when trying to accelerate. *mr the problem would occur when starting to move the vehicle, when the consumers removed his foot and placed it back on the throttle, severe hesitation would occur. *sc

    ODI 10119253

  • March 4, 2005

    Automatic Transmission

    I have a 2004 toyota sienna with a transmission hesitation problem. (a problem toytoa denies but there are thousands of complaints about it to dealers) it is dangerous in snowy conditions as the 2 second hesitation results in a slowing down before an abrupt upshift/power surge that breaks the wheels loose in the snow. This then causes the traction control system to engage. I was stuck repeatedly and in many…

    ODI 10112635

  • December 1, 2004 · 15 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    There is a slight, but annoying and unsafe, hesitation with the transmission when accelerating from a turn or from stopping. I have brought it back to the dealer for numerous tsb upgrades, including replacing of a new transmission. However, nothing has changed !!!!!!

    ODI 10112084

  • September 13, 2004 · 12,000 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    While merging onto another lane transmission down shifted on its own. Consumer applied the accelerator pedal and vehicle would not accelerate. Then, consumer noticed that the rpm gauge registered high on the dashboard. Consumer took vehicle to dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that transmission fluid was leaking from underneath, and needed to be replaced. The other problem could not be duplicated by the…

    ODI 10091969

  • September 6, 2004 · 2,000 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    When slowing to make a turn the transmission will on occasion hesatate and then surge. *ak

    ODI 10093610

  • August 24, 2004 · 17,320 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    I could not shift out of park upon starting the engine and the vsc and abs light came on, i had to set and release the emergency brake and the brake pedal randomly then re-attempt to shift out of park which would then enable me to shift into drive or reverse. *ak

    ODI 10088589

  • August 2, 2004 · 28,500 miles

    Automatic Transmission

    2004 toyota sienna xle van. When accelerating from a coast the van hesitates. Have to press the accelerator harder to force a hard downshift. This is very dangerous when a predictable acceleration is needed. It seems like the transmission control gets confused on when to downshift. Probably a result of what toyota has to do to keep the mileage rating up. The number of times this happens are to numerous to count. *nm

    ODI 10131484