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Toyota Sienna AWD Problems/Questions

34 messages,  Last post on Sep 21, 2007 at 12:05 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Van

Messages Page 2 of 4

#5 of 34 2004 AWD MPG by loucapri

Nov 16, 2006 (8:57 am)

I know the AWD gets less than the FWD but shouldn't be that much.
We got a disappointed 16mpg in avg.
I am not sure how my wife drives the van but I will consider "normal" driving with 70% freeway. Don't know why and what to do to improve the mpg. any idea?
Maybe the run-flat tires?

#6 of 34 AWD real experience by loucapri

Dec 13, 2006 (2:02 pm)

Can anyone owns a AWD sienna shares there real experience with the van? I just want to see how they perform. Does the AWD sienna drives well on snow (that's prettly much the reason why we bought the AWD version, right?)
 
Please share your opinion.
FYI, I know AWD won't stop better so no need to talk about that part.

#7 of 34 LE AWD problem with slush freezing around drive shaft by wheels13

Apr 07, 2007 (5:14 pm)

After driving 40 miles in heavy slush the next morning I went to use the car it made a very loud sound from the drive shaft hitting the body. Drove anyway, kill or cure, and later found that the drive shaft in the center of the car was packed tight with frozen slush. Had to crawl under with a hammer to clear away the ice riding on the drive shaft. Have any other owners of this 2006 LE AWD seen this problem? The car has been around a few years? Thank you

#8 of 34 Re: LE AWD problem with slush freezing around drive shaft [wheels13] by loucapri

Apr 09, 2007 (3:41 pm)

Replying to: wheels13 (Apr 07, 2007 5:14 pm)
was it cold outside when this happened?
If you drove in heavy slush, sounds like the weather is not that cold.
I remembered I couldn't steer my car when living in eastern washington many years ago but only happened under cold cold weahter because the ice built up around the front suspension.
 
I don't think you need to worry about this because the worst case is the drive shaft got stuck and the lost of AWD for a while until everyting melt

#9 of 34 Re: AWD real experience [loucapri] by mleonardo

Apr 09, 2007 (4:03 pm)

Replying to: loucapri (Dec 13, 2006 2:02 pm)
My AWD sienna handles very well in the snow. I run studded tires on seperate wheels in the winter and the van has never broken loose. It even handles well without studded tires. I have had a few problems however with the van in general. Number one is the tires! I HATE runflats. If you get a flat on the interstate, your stuck! Those tires will not hold up at 55 mph with no air pressure And you have no spare. I went around and around with Toyota about this and got nowhere. Another problem is the fuel mileage is HORRIBLE! My window sticker said 18mpg city and 24mpg hwy. That is an all out lie! I barley get 18mpg on the highway. This thing gets the fuel mileage of a V8 with nowhere near the power. My last complaint is the quality of the interior. Mine is falling apart. The leather cover on the driver's headrest is coming off. A panel on the driver's side of my dashboard keeps popping loose and the seat release on the rear seat keeps coming out of its mount. People make fun of domestics but I had fewer issues with a GMC that I sold to buy this van.

#10 of 34 Re: AWD real experience [mleonardo] by wwest

Apr 10, 2007 (8:44 am)

Replying to: mleonardo (Apr 09, 2007 4:03 pm)
Your realization of poor FE is more the responsibility of the US Government than Toyota. Our government REQUIRES the manufacturers to test for FE under unrealistically favorable circumstances and then FORCES them to publish the results.

#11 of 34 Re: LE AWD problem with slush freezing around drive shaft [loucapri] by wwest

Apr 10, 2007 (8:52 am)

Replying to: loucapri (Apr 09, 2007 3:41 pm)
"..worse case is the drive shaft got stuck..."
 
In that case the vehicle would be entirely NO GO.
 
If the front wheels rotate but not the rear then the AWD tarction control system will apply the front brakes along with dethrottling the engine. If that doesn't work to "force" the rear driveshaft to turn you're dead in the (frozen) water.

#12 of 34 Re: AWD real experience [wwest] by mleonardo

Apr 10, 2007 (8:58 am)

Replying to: wwest (Apr 10, 2007 8:44 am)
Yeah Im sure Toyota was sick with guilt being FORCED to publish numbers so favorable to their sales. I guess thats where they get their great reputation for fuel economy.

#13 of 34 non AWD driving in Snow by lazzar

May 31, 2007 (12:18 pm)

How good is the non AWD in terms of handling and getting stuck in the snow.
 
We live in NH and not sure we can afford the AWD version.
 
Laz

#14 of 34 Re: non AWD driving in Snow [lazzar] by ateixeira

Jun 01, 2007 (8:56 am)

Replying to: lazzar (May 31, 2007 12:18 pm)
Consider snow tires as an alternative, that might be a little cheaper. You do get traction and stability control.
 
Still, I'd spring for a low mile CPO AWD model. Should cost no more than a new one, and the warranty is effectively longer in most cases.

Messages Page 2 of 4

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