Any positive qualities are moot without an engine, but hey!, I can have a $25,000 clubhouse for my kids in the yard!

Engine smokes like a 69 Buick LaSabre with bad rings!

This vehicle is horrible! After driving for a few minutes, you can fry an egg on the hood. Four hours later you can bake a cake under the hood. After 12000 miles we must use this vehicle as a smokescreen generator! All the cars behind us on the road are cursing at us and giving us the finger! I say give Atlanta Toyota the finger! Give Toyota''s home office a big fat lawsuit and the finger too! This engine needs to be replaced and the dealer and the corporate office is a bunch of crooked liars, saying it is my fault for not using the correct oil! I feel they deserve the worst karma available. Let us pray for God-punishment! I deserve a new engine without defect at Toyota''s expense! My car smokes like an industrial smokestack! This is a common problem worldwide, does Toyota think they can lie to us all? Do they think they can pee on us and tell us it is raining? Let''s join the class action and rip them a new one!

Similar Products Used:

Honda CRV, Toyota Celica

Buy something else!

If you got burned, join the class action suit!

This experience was a 48 hour nightmare. Fortunately, we awoke before it was too late. We drove this new vehicle home and immediately noticed a problem with engine heat. Three hours after driving, the hood was still extremely hot. (Sludge maker) We returned the vehicle to Mall of Georgia Toyota the following day, where they refused to acknowledge the problem and refused to accept the return stating that there is no law of rescission in Georgia. The service manager said we had to keep it, and he was glad that he didn''t have to pay our mortgage. A total lack of professionalism at every level was shown. Threats to damage our credit were made by several managers. Finally, when we met with the General manager, asserting that we would file a lawsuit for violating our right to rescind the contract, he feigned ignorance, voided the sale, and took back the defective vehicle.

Similar Products Used:

None

Who cares?

Oil sludge problem at 20,000 miles and tire pressure light that will not go out.

Just got back from mechanic who told me I needed a new engine because of sludging. I was confident that this would be under warranty but now after reading this board I realize I will be in for a battle. Tire pressure light has also been consistently on even though the pressure checks out OK.

Similar Products Used:

none

It doesn't matter any more.

SLUDGE!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, not to mention the power sliding door sticking, power windows sticking, seat belts jamming, tape/cd player going out, and whatever else I'm forgetting about.

Please e-mail @ Mooper2@aol.com if you've had the sludge problem. It would be great to come up with a solution. We changed oil every 3000-5000 miles. At 34,000 miles (20 months after purchase) the oil light flickered on/off while decelerating. Took into MidCity Toyota and were told we have sludge due to lack of maintenance or poor oil. That is ridiculous!!!! $3000 for a used engine plus labor. Later noticed white smoke and major oil usage. We called several mechanics and took it into another shop knowing we couldn't have sludge. All agreed if we've done those changes there should not be sludge unless coolent is getting in the system somehow. After several tests for leaks, the end result was sludge. We are baffled and so are all the mechanics we have seen or spoken to. We were also told by an ex-Toyota mechanic that there were several sludge problems in the 3.0 engines...which must be something new. We are now using an additive for the next three early oil changes to delay the engine failure. There is no cure and Toyota will not cover it under warranty. We did not even try arbitration since the customer service people told us they rarely will even take a sludge case. and we, like idiots, did not keep our oil receipts. (I've noticed others that have receipts are not getting any better results from Toyota anyway) We have owned four Toyota's since 1980, all of which have had over 100,000 miles with no problem. There is definitely a problem here and the only way to get it resolved is through those of us with the problem banning together. Please e-mail if anyone has any suggestions or is interested in trying to do something as a group. Those of you considering this vehicle....DON'T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Similar Products Used:

No comparison to this piece of junk!!!!!! Anything would be better.

Smoothness and Quality

Small 3 row, No auto leveling rear suspension, HID head light, No DVD for the entertainment center.

Smooth Ride, Excellent JBL System, Powerful Engine, Entertainment System is execellent. good screen. Fun To drive. Drive like my sister Toyota Camary.

Similar Products Used:

Oldsmobile Silhoutee, Toyota VAN and Mitsubishi Van.

Powerful Engine, Smooth Quite

Small rear interior Space, Expensive for a minivan but worth it

Smooth,quiet Excellent JBL System. I keep my finger cross that i don't have the sludge problems ( Maybe change ur oil every 2500miles or less and don't put in 87octane gasoline in ur car. 89 or 92octane

Got our Sienna XLE
with
Desert Sand Mica
Oak Interior

LL XLE Lexury Package
UF XLE Towing Package
BE Side Air Bag
VD Vehicle Stability Control
Rear Bumper Protector
Center Console Box

Price $29,919.00
From Melody Toyota
Contact Jeff Wong
650-825-5218

Buy it cheaper from him or u can go to Autobytel.com

Similar Products Used:

97 Oldsmobile silhoutte GLS...Oldsmobile no engine problem or tranmission. We only sold it back to the dealer because the floor board had a crack and they were unfixable so dealers didn't replace are car they gave us a bluebook value but after weeks of weeks talking to the GM California Regional Manager we were able to get 20,000 for the Silo 97. So now we got a TOYOTA Sienna

This van drives like a car. I previously owned a 1994 Ford Aerostar. It
definitely had the "van" feel. Reliability on that vehicle was horrendous. I was never stranded but put lots of money into exhaust, radiator, brakes, water pump. It probably will need new suspension and transmission in the next year. It had barely 70,000 miles. Once my wife and I drove the Sienna, we were sold. We have only had this less than one week but are extremely satisfied. I am not willing to subsidize the American Auto manufacturer anymore. I used to be ultra "Buy American" but will not go back to the Big 3 until they improve. The new car rates are appealing but I am keeping the Sienna for at least 6 years and don't want to shell out the thousands of dollars I would need to to keep a Ford/Chrysler/GM product on the road.

The Sienna is not as wide as what I would like but makes up for it with the comfort and ride. I narrowed my choice between the Sienna and Odyssey. Both are solid. As for major weaknesses, I do not see any as of yet. The sludge problem that is showing in other posts concerns me a bit.

The salesperson at Germain in Columbus was probably the final point that caused me to purchase this vehicle. He went out of his way to have minor blemishes fixed inside and out of the vehicle. He scouted quality vehicles for me for 3 weeks. I have never felt a lack of pressure to buy a vehicle from a car salesperson before. He stressed quality and satisfaction over getting a car off the lot.

Similar Products Used:

No comparison to the Ford Aerostar.

Quiet, plentiful power. Smooth ride, easy access to third row seating which are comfortable and split 60/40. Everything I expected is standard on this car -- no paying extra for floor mats and CD players (are you listening, Honda?). Standard V6. Precision fit and finish. Stereo controls on the steering wheels, daytime running lights, Auto light on feature. Full-size spare. A dream on long trips. Consumer Reports #1 predicted reliability for Minivans, IIHS Best pick for safety.

Cupholders are low, and the third row seat is really meant for two (but then again, all the minivans I tried have the same problem). Seats are very heavy... could be a problem for some. Interior needs to be about an inch wider to lay plywood sheets flat. Spare mount is outside the van.

Not a cheap van, but the safety and reliability were far ahead of the pack. Choice was between the Honda and the Toyota, and the Toyota won out. Actually got it cheaper than the Ody, and with more features. Paid $24K, and not sorry at all (Well, actually, the 2001 Siennas will have the 210hp Avalon engine, I might have waited for that one :)

One more note about price... Even though the Sienna starts out more expensive than most, even the Dodge and Olds vans get up there once you add the features you want. I think the Sienna is an excellent value.

Having never owned a van before, I found the Sienna's ride very pleasant and car-like.

Similar Products Used:

Caravan, Odyssey, Silhouette. Only the Ody came close, and even then the Sienna was much quieter and smoother. Sienna even had better acceleration with the (slightly) smaller engine. Decided the Sienna's third row comfort was better than the Ody's "magic seat" convenience. The Honda sounded like a truck, and looked like the boxy old Dodge Caravan (IMHO).

None

None

Now have 43,000K. No problems whatsoever. Rides like a car.
Most surprised with the comments about sludge. Regardless, I highly recommend using synthetic oil, as I do.

Previously owned a Previa, traded and 185,000 K. Original battery, muffler and rear brakes. No problems at all, only regular maintenance.

For my books, you can't beat a TOYOTA.

Similar Products Used:

None

Very quiet engine and Camry-like ride. Good acceleration.

Small cargo space, exterior door handle erratic, ineffective backup lights, some rattles, AND THE FAMOUS, AND REAL, SLUDGE PROBLEM!

We have a 1998 Toyota Sienna XLE with about 50,000 miles on it. It is our fifth Toyota, and, it appears, it will be our last. Between 1983 and 2000, all motor vehicles we purchased were Toyota products. We have an extended warranty. And an unresolved SLUDGE problem - something that has never occurred on any of the vehicles I have owned in the past forty (40!) years. It is comforting to discover that we are not alone, and that some of you sludge veterans made suggestions as to where to turn. Because we are not about to pay the $3,000 Toyota estimates it will take to dismantle and repair the engine, we are now renting a car in hopes of a resolution.

My wife heard loud valve clatter on the morning of May 24, 2001, and we immediately drove the vehicle to Lou Fusz Toyota, in Kirkwood, a suburb of St. Louis, MO. Mike Wolz, Assistant Service Manager, called next morning to verify that there was a problem. He found sludge in the tubing that constricted oil flow to the valves. Mike said it would be OK to drive it, although best not on a long trip. On advice of my wife's brother, a mechanic, we decided not to drive it at all.

On Tuesday May 29, I had Dobbs Auto Service, which had done most of our oil changes, print out a detailed list of service performed on the vehicle. I gave the list to Mr. Wolz, together with a table we drew up, based on receipts in our possession. These indicated that on average we had oil changes every 4 months, at approximately 4,000 mile intervals. Mr. Wolz told us that Charley Epp, regional service manager for the Kansas City region (which includes St. Louis) would be in town May 31, and that he would inspect the car and make a determination. On May 31 Mr. Wolz informed us that Mr. Epp had looked at the engine that day and determined that, because there was sludge, the vehicle must not have had frequent enough oil changes. He was shown the record of our oil changes, but nevertheless determined that Toyota had no responsibility in the matter.
I then asked to speak to Mr. Epp, but was told that he had already left the premises. I spoke to the Customer Relations Manager at Fusz Toyota, Mr. Tom Coats, who said there was nothing he could do in the matter. I asked him what the next step would be for a complaint, and he said I could request an "arbitration package" from the national customer service office, at 800-331-4331.

I phoned that number and spoke to Bob Squibb, a customer service representative. He said that normally he advised taking three steps before resorting to arbitration, but that evidently I had taken all three already. (These included speaking to customer relations at the dealer and having a regional representative come out to inspect the vehicle.) He initiated an application for an arbitration package to be sent to me within 2 weeks. He told me that Toyota will settle the claim within 40 days of receipt of the completed forms.

Sweet of them. I hope we can do better. I will look carefully at what has been written on the topic in this forum, but any further advice would be greatly welcome.

Similar Products Used:

Rides vastly better than the early Ford Windstar we rented.