Unsatisfied With '06 Sienna

[rodweston1]

I bought a new '06 Sienna Limited in August of last year. I was torn between it and the Honda Odyssey Touring. Bought the Sienna because I liked the interior better than the Odyssey's, the Sienna offered several other features that the Odyssey didn't offer, and the 0% financing. Five months later... there is an annoying rattling coming from the left rear sliding door. It gets worse when the sunshade is lowered. The dashboard rattles and creaks. The acceleration is very sluggish and hesitant from both a complete stop and while moving. It idles loud and rough. It is very loud during acceleration (supposedly "one of the quieter minivans" as quoted by several automotive publications). This is very disturbing to me because the '02 Chevrolet Venture that I traded for the Sienna was much quieter. After a period of time, the climate control system starts blowing cool air even when set at 80 (and not even in the automatic mode). The JBL stereo speakers are weak. The volume has to be turned up past 40 while the DVD system is in use because you can hardly hear the movie. Hearing odd noise from the rear A/C. I haven't taken it back to the dealer yet. I'm eating crow now because my wife wanted to keep the Chevy or get a Ford Expedition, and I wanted the Sienna. We had a '99 Camry LE that never gave us ANY trouble. Ended up giving it to our daughter 4 years ago and it's still running great. I can't wait to trade the Sienna this Fall on the new '08 Chrysler Town & Country Limited. Also considering leasing a Lexus RX 400h. I know that the Sienna and the RX are closely based... just hope the RX isn't as disappointing as the this Sienna.

[mgs95]

[quote=rodweston1;576076]I haven't taken it back to the dealer yet.

You really should give the dealer a chance to make it right. Go in with a positive friendly attitude and they should be happy to make it right.

Overall, the Sienna seems fairly well designed. Long term quality and reliability should be far better than the Chrysler product.

[rodweston1]

It's a beautiful van. Arctic Frost Pearl exterior with Stone interior. Waited 3 model years to get it because I was only 2 years in with my Chevy Venture when the '04 Sienna was introduced. I know Toyota has an impeccable reputation for quality, and their Lexus division takes it to an even higher level. Maybe I just unfortunately got a bad one. We'll see. It's ironic though... the Venture was a fine vehicle in my opinion and I never had any problems with it, yet, all the pubs and mags didn't seem to think too much of it. By contrast, the Sienna rates very well in all the pubs and mags, but with what I'm presently experiencing, I'm not too inclined to agree so far.

[Tennesseestorm]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. It seems like squeaks and rattles have never really been a surprise on a Sienna. I think that the 1998 models were highly plagued with them. The 94-97 Previa (the pre-Sienna) I think rates much higher in these areas, as most older Toyotas typically do. It seems that since Toyota started redesigning in the late 90s and early 2000s that they have started to decline on the interior build quality and/or build materials, but most models still can't touch them. Its not just Toyota, as many Japanese models have also declined- Honda included. I am betting that your Sienna is not the only one having this problem.

As someone mentioned- I would get it to the dealer posthaste and have these problems addressed. The squeaky and rattly dash may be a problem though. These can be difficult to track down I have heard and I have also heard (and its understandable) that when they start taking the panel apart- its surely possible to make it even worse. I think the main problem is that they have switched over to using alot of hard plastic on the interiors, as opposed to the many "padded" panels that they used in the 1990s and older models. Some models changed to all plastic later, but I think all have switched over. Not sure about the Avalon, but I do know that even those cars have had more than a few complaints of interior rattles/squeaks- even the 2006 models. I test drove a 06' Tundra 2wd truck. It had only 40 miles and already had a wretched squeak coming from somewhere. It sounded like a mouse. I ended up buying a 2000 Tundra 4wd and thank God that I do not have any interior rattles or squeaks and I have 103K - knock on wood- I hope it stays that way, because even Tundras have had issues with rattles- from the 2000-06 models. Some are so bad that some owners had to resort to stuffing foam padding between the windshield/dash. I test drove a 01' Tundra Limited 2wd and it had a horrible front center dash squeak- near the radio. So, I guess I am lucky with mine, but there are other owners that have also reported quiet Tundra interiors. Its not just Tundras.... there are Nissan Titan owners that have also complained of cheap plastic interior and lotsa squeaks and rattles. I am sure the Quest van is no exception. I have also heard of rattle problems on the Accords and Pilots- also cheap plastic. Previous Hondas/Nissans had padded dash pads as well- more padding and less rattles. I have owned 80s and 90s Accords, Camrys with well over 200K and NO rattles or squeaks. Same with my 1990 Lexus LS400. It had around 255K when I sold it- no rattles or squeaks. Dads work truck (88' Nissan) 263K- no rattles or squeaks.

Enough about that- I could write a book. lol.

Rest assured that the Sienna is a SAFE van, especially in an off-set crash. Most ALL Toyotas (at least since tested) have done very well in this test:

IIHS-HLDI: Toyota Sienna

Same could not be said for the Venture (97-05)
IIHS-HLDI: Pontiac Trans Sport/Montana
but the new Uplander was a nice replacement- scoring excellently:
IIHS-HLDI: Chevrolet Uplander

New Honda and Nissan have also done well:
IIHS-HLDI: Honda Odyssey
IIHS-HLDI: Nissan Quest

Believe it or not, the new Kia Entourage, received the highest overall rating:
IIHS-HLDI: Kia Sedona

Good luck. Keep us posted.

[printing1910]

I must say that I am shocked that your Sienna is giving you these types of problems! I would definatly take it back to Toyota & tell them everything. Toyota will make it right. I have had Ford, Dodge, GMC, and Toyota. Toyota is by far the best of all. Your Camry is a perfect example. Trading you Sienna in for a Town & Country....I think that would be a mistake. I knoe it might not seem so now, but the Crystler products are not even close to a Toyota. I am on my fifth Toyota, and not a problem at all with any of them. My first Toyota had 178,000 miles on it before I traded it in. Let me know what happens with the Toyota dealership when you tell them about your Siennas' issues.

[sooner4x4]

The dealership should be able to take care of the rattles for you. My 06 Sienna LE developed an annoying rattle in the sliding door and the dealership took care of that. No other rattles. The complaints about the engine power and sound and audio system are about things that haven't changed since the van was new. A thorough test drive should have revealed the issues that are unacceptable to you, and you could have not bought the vehicle.

I am on my fourth minivan, the other three were Dodge, Chevy, Odyssey and now the Sienna. The Toyota is by FAR the most quiet and refined of the minivans I have owned.

The rattles and squeaks in my Tundra are a whole other issue. Many problems with interior quality with the Tundra, especially the rocking chair for a drivers seat, that the dealership claims is "normal".

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[Tennesseestorm]

I know. I have read lotsa problems with Tundra rattles, but I guess I am very lucky that my 2000 Tundra has NO squeaks or rattles @ 104K miles. I hope it stays that way. I only drive it on smooth roads, so hopefully it will. I am very thankful, as I hate squeaks/rattles.

I have also heard about that wretched seat you have mentioned.... like a rocking chair. That would drive me nuts. No problems with mine (yet), but I have the split 60/40 bench seat, so that may have something to do with the difference.

I have a friend with a 06' 4-Runner and she has a "popping" seat.

Oh about the rattling doors on the Sienna... if it makes anyone feel better the sliding door panel on my aunts old 1995 Nissan Quest (Mercury Villager GS) nearly fell completely off when the van was only 3 or 4 years old. But the kids were very abusive to the van and always slammed and kicked the door with their feet when they would throw a temper tantrum. Her 99' Plymouth Voyager seemed to have taken the abuse a little better, but they were older when she bought it and was not as bad.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by sooner4x4

The rattles and squeaks in my Tundra are a whole other issue. Many problems with interior quality with the Tundra, especially the rocking chair for a drivers seat, that the dealership claims is "normal".