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Toyota Sienna Noises, Rattles, and Squeaks

79 messages,  Last post on Jan 03, 2013 at 9:02 AM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Van

Messages Page 7 of 9

#56 of 79 Re: Rattling from the back seats of 2011 Sienna [tomjones3] by fibber2

Mar 28, 2011 (10:58 am)

Replying to: tomjones3 (Mar 27, 2011 5:49 pm)
TSB 0094-10 (issued 3/2010) describes the door latch issues. Coverage outside of the 3/36 is at dealer discretion. It could be latches, strikers or stoppers (additional parts over and above what they changed for you).

#57 of 79 2010 Toyota Sienna rattling from cowl panel by hinesredom

Apr 09, 2011 (7:59 am)

The noise in our 2010 Toyota Sienna started at around 11,000 miles. We knew the noise came from some place in front of the passenger and driver's seat from 0 to around 40 MPH anywhere from the front bumper to the dash. The noise was there every day but was inconsistent. It came as we stopped, started, turned, and traveled straight, even not over bumps. We took it into a dealer service department in Feb 2011. They denied hearing the noise. We had no idea of what to do and put up with it for the next 4,000 miles. We had spent US$26,000 for that new 2010 Toyota Sienna and it now had noise at 11,000 miles. We were a very disappointed Toyota customer.
 
In April 2011, we then took the advice of an auto body shop owner, contacted the "service manager" (not a "service sales consultant") at the dealership, express our disappointment in the service last February 2011, and ask for service where we could ride along with the service technician. In response to their saying the noise was normal, we were ready to demand a ride in another Toyota Sienna to accept the noise as normal. If they once again disappointed us, we were ready with trump card and would tell them that we would give them a bad rating with the ACSI - American Consumer Satisfaction Index - if they didn't fix the noise as the vehicle was under warranty (Apparently, all dealers live and die by the ACSI rating and even one bad review sends the management into a tizzy and the upper management's anger makes its way to the service manager, who is thus motivated to avoid bad ACSI reviews at all cost).
 
In our April service, the technician acknowledged hearing the noise and, as my wife drove, I wrote down everything he said during the ride (in case I had to file a complaint with the ASCI). The technician sat in the passenger seat and I sat directly behind him so he could not see me write. After arriving back at the dealership, we left the car there and, a few hours later, the dealer called and said the technician spent a few hours and tightened/torque every fastener in the entire suspension system (which, it turns out, were not out of spec per the dealer), drove the car, and still heard the noise. He then checked the cowl panel - a panel at the base of the front windshield below the hood. Apparently, below the plastic cowl top ventilator (part no. 55781E -search "Cowl Panel & Windshield Glass" for a 2010 Toyota Sienna at villagetoyotaparts.com), resides a metal plate. From when we bought the car to 11,000 miles, it appears that a gap developed between that metal plate and a metal stage below that plate. As we drove, those two would hit each other, causing the rattling that then would be pass into the passenger compartment both via the ventilators and through the dash material. The technician stuffed some foam insulation in the gap and the noise finally (!) was gone. Even better, all of the service was covered by warranty and we owed no money for the repairs. I haven't seen the foam insulation and the problem may have been a loose suspension system, but the noise is gone, so we're now happy.

#58 of 79 Re: Interior rattle in 2011 Sienna [spsienna] by bjapril45

Apr 20, 2011 (5:02 am)

Replying to: spsienna (Feb 28, 2011 3:19 pm)
I bought my 2011 Sienna in April 2010. After about a month, the right rear passenger door began to rattle, as well as the second row seats. I have taken the van in to two different dealerships for a total of 7 times. They say they replaced the door panel and even some parts in the door assembly, as well as tightened everything associated with the seat assembly. However, the door and the seats still rattle. Sometimes the dash rattles, and last night the AC started to whistle. I am very disappointed with Toyota. Have owned two Camrys and one Highlander without any problems. I don't have any suggestions, other than to submit a written complaint to Toyota. They recently asked if I would like to have an engineer look at the door.

#59 of 79 Re: 2010 Toyota Sienna rattling from cowl panel [hinesredom] by fibber2

Apr 20, 2011 (5:31 pm)

Replying to: hinesredom (Apr 09, 2011 7:59 am)
I'm curious as to whether this actually happened on it's own, or if it was 'helped along' by the service department. Let me explain.
 
If you open the hood and look at the engine compartment, you will note that because of the rake of the windshield the whole cowl panel extends over at least half of the engine. Per the shop manual, the first step in almost any engine service is the removal of most of what is shown in the Cowl Panel exploded diagram. A good half an hour of disassembly before you do any repairs. I can shoot you a page from the shop manual if you want to see.
 
Here's my theory. Among other things that might have been done underhood, there has been at least one recall involving the replacement of the VVTi oil hoses. You might see it on a service entry as "LSC 90K". I think that getting the engine shroud off requires removing the entire cowl. I'll bet that if you didn't hear this noise when the van was brand new, it's the result of a tech not reassembling it right at a previous servicing.

#60 of 79 loud skreaching/squeeling noise when I start by radek1974

Apr 28, 2011 (10:29 am)

Had the alternator belt replaced and this helped with the less noisy constant noise. The harsh loud noise still persists (5-10 seconds) after I start the car. It is a 2004 Sienna. Any clues?

#61 of 79 Re: 2010 Toyota Sienna rattling from cowl panel [fibber2] by hinesredom

Apr 29, 2011 (5:46 am)

Replying to: fibber2 (Apr 20, 2011 5:31 pm)
fibber2 - I don't recall having any engine service in the first year I owned the 2010 Toyota Sienna. We only had oil changes and replacement of the cab air filter. The noise just seemed to appear and then grow in frequency over time until it was constantly present. When I picked up the minivan after the repair, I opened the hood while at the dealer in front of the entrance to the repair department and tried to see where the technician made the repair. I was looking to see where the technician stuffed some foam insulation in the gap of the Cowl Panel. Well, the service sales consultant came over and I asked him if he could show me the repair. He told me to check the repair by driving the minivan and then closed the hood (!). Mind you, I had just paid for the repairs, took possession of the minivan, and the dealer no longer had authorization to touch my minivan. I'm not sure why he became annoyed. Maybe it didn't look good to have a customer looking under the hood in front of the repair department or he was annoyed at the amount of time they had to spend fixing the problem. However, they did fix the problem and so now we are back to thinking that when we replace our 2010 Sienna, we'll replace it with a 2013-2014 Sienna.

#62 of 79 Re: Interior rattle in 2011 Sienna [spsienna] by ottawa_lad

May 18, 2011 (2:50 pm)

Replying to: spsienna (Feb 28, 2011 3:19 pm)
I got my 2011 Sienna LE in March 2011. I had a rattle coming from the back since the day of delivery. It was very annoying. It was coming from the little plastic sled between the two rear seats. When my kids held their hand on it the rattle went away. Finally had the car back to the dealer for the first time today for that parking brake recall. They said I needed a new seat part and track. They will call me when the part comes in, so I can't say yet if they solved the problem. Sounds like I am not alone.

#63 of 79 Re: Interior rattle in 2011 Sienna [bjapril45] by sky1ark

Aug 08, 2011 (6:07 am)

Replying to: bjapril45 (Apr 20, 2011 5:02 am)
We have a 2011 sienna and passenger sliding door rattles. Aside from the fact that we have turned off the power door option after having them get stuck so many times, we now have this rattle coming from the door. It almost sounds like the window is loose. I'm tired of the run around from dealer. Does anyone know what this is?

#64 of 79 Rattling noise in sliding door 2011 sienna by sky1ark

Aug 08, 2011 (6:08 am)

Anyone having trouble with a rattling noise in passenger door of 2011 sienna? Sounds like the window isn't shut tight.

#65 of 79 Re: Interior rattle in 2011 Sienna [sky1ark] by tomjones3

Aug 08, 2011 (7:39 am)

Replying to: sky1ark (Aug 08, 2011 6:07 am)
We had this problem in a 2008 Sienna-Took two years of effort and finally they replaced door lock assemblies in both sliding doors and that took care of the problem. Good luck.

Messages Page 7 of 9

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