Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Toyota Sienna owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
- Traction control engaged at high speed(70 mph on interstate) causing the vehicle to brake abruptly and pull the vehicle to the right. Had I been traveling in the left hand lane, I could have been forced into the right hand lane causing a collusion with another vehicle. Also occurred at lower speed(30 mph on a windy road) causing the same issue as described above, almost causing the vehicle to leave the paved surface. - Mechanic was able to duplicate the issue - Mechanic diagnosed intermittent traction control activation, scanned computer for codes. Yaw rate/steering angle correlation causing false activation ABS/traction. Replaced hub bearing and spindle. Four wheel alignment, including check castor, camber and adjust toe. Performed zero point calibration and reset ABS memory. - Traction control lights up briefly
About a year ago the Vehicle Stability Control warning light along with an audible alarm started coming on intermittently while turning on highways going uphill or downhill in dry weather and with no risk of any tire slipping. At first this only happened at higher speeds 65+mph. Over time, it has occurred more and more frequently and can occur at speeds down to 25 mph. At times, the Anti-lock Braking System is also activated resulting in jerky braking and loss of throttle. When people have been following me too closely, this has almost caused accidents. When these symptoms occur, it is always on a curve (of any degree, even slight curves) and while driving at least 25 mph, and even happens on flat turns now. The weather has always been dry with no risk of tire slippage.
The failing component is the VSC/ABS system. It puts the occupants of the van and other motorists at risk of either causing a collision or causing the driver of vehicle in question to be unable to control the vehicle . The failure appears when going in a curve in the road at low speed causing the abs to engage lock the brakes and steering wheel rapidly decelerating the car and causing the car to jerk to one side or the other and go into a skid where the driver is unable to control the wheel due to steering wheel locking up when it happens the VSC and TRAC lights come on and there is a loud and rapid beeping that can be heard inside the vehicle. The issue usually appear when going between 25-40mph in banking curves
Numerous times (too many to say), the traction control indicator sensor comes on & I am unable to control the car. Typically it lasts for 2-3 minutes and turns off. It does not depend on road conditions, weather, and or speed. I have taken the car to the repair shop and they have not been able to capture anything on the engine diagnostic system. No codes were found for them to troubleshoot this issue. I've seen this problem being reported on several posts. Yet the NHSTA has done NOTHING!! TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR THIS ISSUE. WAKE UP NHSTA. MAKE OUR TAX DOLLARS WORK!!! This poses a huge risk to my family and other drivers, not to mention impact on budget.
Vehicle often applies brakes on its own . At first it was only in turns . However now it does it when driving straight on the the freeway or just down the street at 45mph. I have fixed my alignment ,new tires, all of the front suspension and nothing prevents the car from trying to brake for me. it is a safety feature that is not safe at all. a car slamming on your brakes at any speed is dangerous in addition to that it seems to cut off your fuel , leaving you unable to accelerate until its done beeping which can take a long time. the vsc , chenk engine and trac off flash there is no crash to report I have been lucky so far
Sometimes when I take turns in my Sienna, the VSC starts going off and braking individual wheels without my control. This happens unexpectedly on highway bends at speeds of 60+ mph and it is difficult to control the car and keep from swerving into another lane. If the roads were icy when this happens, it would probably cause a dangerous accident. Toyota has a technical service bulletin for this, but not a recall - which it should since this is a significant safety issue. The TSB is BR008-04. There are many others experiencing this same issue: https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/13855/toyota/sienna/vsc-sudden-activation-2004-toyota-sienna
While driving on dry freeway or other stable road conditions, the Electronic Stability Control kicks in, braked hard, causing the van to swerve, and the lights on the dash started flashing, accompanied by a loud beeping. This has happened multiple times now. There is no reason for this to be occurring. It is involuntary, sudden, and random. If someone were close behind me, they could rear-end the vehicle. It also sometimes pulls the steering so hard that it swerves into the other lane. This is a serious safety issue that Toyota needs to deal with.
The Traction Control System commonly malfunctions while making turns on curving road sections. I will lose power through turns as the TCS light blinks on my dashboard and makes a beeping sound. On some occasions the brakes will automatically engage in the tire that the car perceives as experiencing slippage. This problem is continuously worsening and commonly endangers me and my passengers, as the car engages brakes or cuts power to the engine at unexpected and in opportune times.
Wife was in school parking lot attempting to park, traveling less than 10 MPH, applied brakes, and brake pedal went to floor/with no brake action. Vehicle hopped a curb and struck wrought iron fence. Consumer placed vehicle in reverse and got it off curb, then into park. Visible damage to front bumper & license plate, possible damage to undercarriage. Iron fence was twisted/ bent and disconnected from gated entrance. Contacted dealership and tow truck was dispatched. Tow truck driver scott"from la costa towing noted that the brake pedal was soft, and went to the floor when he started the vehicle. Traveled to dealership in second car, assistant service manager steve adams commented that because we alleged a manufacturing defect vehicle should not have been towed to their location because it might be an admission of liability. Vehicle was retained at Toyota carlsbad lot . …
1. Events leading to the failure: my wife was traveling north on peebles rd in allison park, pa in our 2004 Toyota, Sienna. After my wife proceeded through the intersection with duncan avenue the driver of the vehicle in front of my wife suddenly stopped short and that person's brake lights did not come on. When my wife realized the situation she hit her brakes hard and the pedal went quickly to the floor providing no braking and resulting in my wife?s vehicle to hit the vehicle in front of her. While all vehicles were traveling well within the speed limit the damage was extensive as the vehicle in front of my wife was a Ford explorer. 2. The failure, frequency, and consequences: I have tried to replicate this failure and can readily recreate it. In a safe environment I have tried to suddenly and dramatically hit the brakes and the pedal quickly goes right to the floor. …
Brake complaints in other Sienna years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2004 Toyota Sienna?
NHTSA has 88 complaints about the brakes of the 2004 Toyota Sienna, 4% of the model year's 2,062 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Toyota Sienna brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2004 Toyota Sienna, though it has 10 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Toyota Sienna brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 95,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 11 crashes, 0 fires and 9 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.