Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 600,000 Sienna minivans sold in the United States to address potential corrosion in the spare tire carrier cable. Toyota says the recall affects the 1998-2010 model year Siennas that have been operated in cold-climate areas. The automaker says corrosion from road salt could cause the carrier cable to fail. The spare tire could become separated from the vehicle and cause a road hazard for other vehicles. The Associated Press: Toyota to recall 600,000 Sienna minivans
Any vehicle - which is usually a pickup - with the spare tire winch system can have this sort of problem What usually happens is that when you finally do need the spare tire, usually way out in BFE somewhere, not only is the spare flatter than the tire that is flat, but the winch system is so badly corroded you can't even get to it It's best to winch the tire down twice a year to spray protective oil on the cable and mechanism, and to check the spare tire pressure too
Am I noticing a trend here? The latest two Toyota vehicles to have been recalled are both vehicles sold almost exclusively in the USA & Canada? (Sienna & Lexus GX460). Are Toyota trying to make too many different models for too many different markets? I am aware that the US market is their biggest, but who is in charge of design and quality control for US only models? Should Toyota continue with single market products such as the Sienna and instead replace it with a proven model such as the Estima? Maybe Toyota should produce quality over quantity?
It is almost a shame the Sienna has no brake problems, being able to drop your spare tire like an anchor would be a 'feature'.
Around 10 years ago I was traveling to Dryden, Ontario, and came across an elderly couple on the side of the road just before Vermillion Bay. They had an early 90's GMC pickup with a flat tire. Ontario dumps a lot of salt on the roads in winter, so heavily corroded vehicles are common there. The old fellow couldn't budge the lugnuts, they were rusted on so badly. I always carry an assortment of tools, and after putting a cheater bar on an 18 inch drive handle, was able to break loose the lugnuts The spare tire carrier was totally corroded. Had to use a pair of tinsnips to cut the cable, which allowed the spare tire to drop to the ground. The steel rim was so badly corroded it was dangerous, and the tire was totally flat and off the bead area anyway So drove the several miles into Vermillion Bay and was able to scrounge an old tire and wheel that would fit. If they had had the flat in BFE they would have been in serious trouble
The hits keep coming....Its quite obvious that Toyota is being looked at under a microscope...With that, Toyota themselves are looking at their cars under a microscope....With all these revelations its fair to assume that all Automobile companies will be looked at more carefully and they will look at their cars more carefully....This all in the end will be wonderful for the consumer down the road... Its reaching a point, that when you turn on the news,that it would be news that Toyota didn't have a new problematic headline .
If it's any consolation ... it's the Sienna's running around "up north" ... because of the road salts. They are particularly suseptable to corrosion in the nasty frosty environments. so if you're out there in the desert ... no worries.
Toyota has been using cheaper and lesser quality materials inside and outside to reduce cost since the last two or three model years. More recalls are evident of this practice.
So has every other major car maker out there. Step 1: Use cheaper parts Step 2: ??? Step 3: PROFIT!!!
True, but Toyota suppose to be the quality leader and will not need to do this but to maintain its reputation on quality and reliability. They just failed us.
They still are as far as I have seen. High end parts built a little more cheaply are better than medium end parts built a little more cheaply and even more so than crappy parts built even more cheaply. before, X > Y. now, X - Z > Y - Z => X > Y
I just traded in the 09 Sienna and of course I'm getting all the jokes for buying another Toyota. Even the bank lady when getting the check to pay for the Prius asked what are you buying from a Toyota dealer, Prius, what are getting rid of, 09 Sienna, OMG aren't you scared of getting the Prius. People are dieing in that car. Oh boy...nah I'm fine.
