What 182 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota Sienna

The 2GR-FE engine on my Sienna has experienced a front timing cover leak. It's slowly leaking oil out of my vehicle and I'm afraid it will get worst over time. My vehicle has less than 100K miles and if the leak persists, I down want my vehicle breaking down and leaving me stranded.

NHTSA ODI 11509227

Anyone: In 2013 I bought a new Toyota Sienna from Fiore Toyota in Hollidaysburg, PA. It was advertised with a lifetime engine and powertrain warranty. I thought that I had made a wise purchased. Fast forward to 2022. In early June I noticed a loud humming from the rear differential area and since I had a family vacation planned with my son’s family I decided to take it in for diagnosis to my local dealer, Colonial Toyota of Indiana, PA. They said that it was the electromagnetic control unit but could not get me in for over a week and that it was not advisable to drive long distance. This resulted in my rented a replacement vehicle – an unanticipated expense. When I returned I took the vehicle into Colonial on July 7th and asked if the part would be covered under the lifetime warranty. They said they would check it out. There were several slow responses between the garage and the warranty company. Requests for additional service records, VIN numbers and what not. Meanwhile I am without a vehicle. Colonial had said that the part should be covered under the contract. Also Colonial’s lifetime warranty was a different company than Fiore’s insurer. Who knew? I had assumed that it was all a Toyota thing. Meanwhile after 8 days of no vehicle and another trip to Colorado approaching, (Granddaughter living alone while her husband is deployed in Poland.), I pulled the trigger and said fix the vehicle as I needed it. My thoughts were that it was a Toyota vehicle, serviced by Toyota “certified” techs at a Toyota garage what else would I need? The day after repairs were initiated, the warranty company says that they will need a 3rd party inspection to verify the defect. Just reinstall the broken part so they can hear it and then reinstall the new part or no coverage. Also this was to take place after I should have been half way across the country. Needless to say I didn’t do it. What good is a warranty that doesn’t trust Toyota techs? Out over $2500

NHTSA ODI 11476647

Grinding noise began from the rear of the vehicle increasing as acceleration increased. Took to the shop and found at the Rear Differential failed at 75,000 requiring replacement for thousands of dollars. The same year RAV4 has been recalled for this already - the Sienna should have a recall also. The dealership had the part on the shelf, surprise surprise.

NHTSA ODI 11425917

I have been notified by my Toyota dealership that the rear viscous coupler on my Sienna has failed and that the RAV4s have been recalled for this same part as a safety issue ( years ago). This part is a known manufacturing defect. Forums are wallpapered with complaints about this for years, I've already lodged a complaint with Toyota but they are doing nothing. Customers should not be on the hook for a $2500 repair that is a known manufacturing defect. The coupler recall should be extended to the Siennas!

NHTSA ODI 11424102

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS CAUSING A WHIRLING SOUND. THE SOUND ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON DRIVE. I DON'T HEAR THE SAME HIGH PITCHED WHIRLING SOUND WHEN THE CAR IS IN REVERSE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS GENERATION OF SIENNA. TOYOTA HAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON THE RAV 4 BUT NOT THE SIENNA.

NHTSA ODI 11365562

VAN STARTED HAVING A PROPANE/MUSTY SMELL INSIDE CABIN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. VAN JUST HAD CABIN FILTERS REPLACED AND AUTO SHOP STATED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND COUPLER WERE BLOWN AND TO GET A USED PART AND REPLACE IT WOULD BE $4300. THE VAN IS A 2013 WITH 86,000 MILES ON IT. THE RAV-4 HAS THE EXACT SAME PART UNDER A RECALL. HOW DIFFERENT COULD THE PARTS BE IN THE SAME COMPANY FOR 2 VEHICLES LIKE THIS? IT SEEMS LIKE TOYOTA SHOULD BE ISSUING A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS I JUST READ ABOUT 6 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS ALONE ALL WITH VEHICLES WITH RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. THIS IS A DISSERVICE TO LOYAL TOYOTA CUSTOMERS AND A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE TO PEOPLE DRIVING THEIR FAMILIES IN THESE MINI-VANS.

NHTSA ODI 11339314

REAR COUPLER FOR REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEARINGS ARE GRINDING CREATING WHIRRING NOISE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327971

NOISE FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL. BEARING IN THE VISCOUS COUPLER APPEARS TO BE BAD AND A COMMON ISSUE-TOO COMMON FOR THIS TO NOT BE A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11325848

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING WAS WORN ON MY CAR. THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE RAV-4 BUT NOT ON THE SIENNA. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. I WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP AND QUOTED ME $2,500 FOR MY SIENNA WITH ONLY 40K MILES ON MY CAR THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM TO GET INTO WITH THIS LITTLE MILAGE ON IT. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CAUSED A VERY LOUD NOISE IN THE CAR THAT MADE IT

NHTSA ODI 11311311

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING WAS WORN ON MY CAR. THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PET ON THE RAV-4 BUT NOT ON THE SIENNA. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CAUSED A VERY LOUD NOISE IN THE CAR THAT MADE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION FROM THE THIRD ROW TO THE FRONT SEAT.

NHTSA ODI 11309678

REAR DIFFERENTIAL- VISCOUS COUPLER MAKING A WHIRRING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. TOYOTA RAV4 WAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA SIENNA NEEDS ONE AS WELL. IT IS A COMMON FAILURE OF THE BEARING PARTS.

NHTSA ODI 11301269

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEARING STARTED MAKING A GREAT DEAL OF NOISE PROPORTIONAL TO SPEED OF VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. PART MUST BE REPLACED AT COST OF NEARLY $3,000. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES AND IS ONLY 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. RESEARCH I HAVE DONE REVEALS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAD THE PART IN STOCK, WHICH ALSO SUGGESTS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. A RECALL WAS DONE FOR RAV4. A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE FOR THE SAME ISSUE FOR THE SIENA.

NHTSA ODI 11290907

REAR DIFFERENTIAL MAKING A GROWLING NOISE. WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT THE VISCOUS COUPLER BEARING IS BAD. COST TO REPLACE COUPLER IS FROM $1900.00 TO $3000.00 DOLLARS. CAR ONLY HAD 115000 MILE ON IT WHEN IT STARTED TO MAKE NOISE. BOUGHT A USED REAR END WITH 69000 MILES ON IT AND AGAIN IT TO IS STARTING TO MAKE THE SAME NOISE AT JUST OVER 100000. WHAT IS UP WITH YOUR REAR ENDS. I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER ONE. IS THERE A RECALL?THAT REAR END IS ONLY 1YR. OLD. OUT OFF WARRANTY

NHTSA ODI 11278123

THE VISCOUS COUPLING ON THE REAR AXLE OF MY AWD SIENNA STARTED MAKING NOISE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THE RAV4 FOR THE SAME PART, BUT NOT THE SIENNA. MY AUTO SHOP HAS TOLD ME THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. THE BEARINGS IN THE COUPLING FAIL AND START TO MAKE A VERY LOUD WHINE. TOYOTA SAYS THE BEARINGS CANNOT BE REPLACED AND MUST BE SERVICED AS A UNIT... TO THE TUNE OF $2300 PARTS AND LABOR.

NHTSA ODI 11251834