Toyota Sienna Run Flat issues?

[Fly Rod]

Grandma bought a fully loaded AWD Sienna in '07. It came with the run flat tires and tire pressure system. Around four months after she bought it the tire pressure light came on and I added air in one tire. Two months later it came on again and I added air again. Two months later on again. This time she took it to the dealer to check it. The light went out on the way to the dealer. They shrugged thier shoulders added air in one tire and sent her off. This happened twice more before she insisted they start documenting her visits. So that is 5 times that the warning light came on before they started documenting the issue.

Now the car has been in 8 more times with no resolution. Two months ago they replaced the low pressure "system brian." Three weeks ago I took it in for her when the light went on again. Two tires were over pressure and two were low. The service rep leveled them out at 33lbs and reset the system. The light came on again today. Took it in and all tires were low. Filled them up, reset the system and shrugged thier shoulders. The service rep said the tires may be bad and she should consider changing them. there is 24,000 miles on the car and the rep told her she should get about 20,000 miles on a set of these tires!

So now the check tire light has come on 13 times in two years. The rep says the f'n expensive run flat tires are only good for 20,000 miles. The Toyota dealer is being nice but have no clue what is causing the issues. My mom is 70+ years old and is not the type of person who does well when a warning light comes on. She is pissed off at Toyota and thier inability to fix the problem.

Anyone here familiar with lemon laws? Anyone able to call BS on the 20,000 mile expectations? Is there a history of these pressure systems leaking down?

Any input appreciated.

 

[Koffer]

My mothers old corrola had problems with the factory installed brigestone tires on it always loosing pressure . When it was time for new tires she replaced them all and never had a problem since after that 1st set .
As for run flats does she really need to put another set on ? Does she park by braille and poss making them leak past the bead ? or maybe bad valve steams?
just some thoughts
Check out this link
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2007/03/toyota_sienna_a.html

 

[raydouble]

OE tires suck (majority) either, make Toyota make it right (still OE crap tires) or bite the bullet and get a good set of tires.

2cents

 

[jjbodean1970]

my wife has an 06 sienna ltd awd with run flats. they suck, will be getting them replaced soon. theyre dunlops, which enhances the amount they suck. they wear out on the outer edges first and cup out all over. harsh, noisy, etc, i could go on. i will be getting non-run-flats and a aaa policy in case of a flat, since theres no spare.

 

[Fly Rod]

No she does not park by brail.

This has been going on since the car has had 2,500 miles on it. The dealer keeps pushing off any decisive desision probably hoping she will buy new tires and the issue will go away. There is no way I will let her buy run flats again if they are going to get 20,000 miles!

My concern is the low pressure system. If we buy normal tires why should I expect the constant leak down in pressure to end?

 

[Koffer]

My concern is the low pressure system. If we buy normal tires why should I expect the constant leak down in pressure to end?

I dont know how the system works on the Sienna works The wifes Scion uses the ABS sensors to tell if the tires are low (faster the wheel spins = lower the pressure)
If the tires are loosing air then the system is working right If the tires just stink and are loosing air then replacing them should fix the problem . As for whos going to pay thats something else .

 

[raydouble]

My concern is the low pressure system. If we buy normal tires why should I expect the constant leak down in pressure to end?

Could be the valve cores but I doubt it's all four of them.

 

[Fly Rod]

Toyota stepped up and replaced all four tires for my mom. The leak down issue has not reappeared, yet. It sucks for Toyota that the tire mfg, Dunlop, made such POS tires.

 

[raydouble]

Toyota stepped up and replaced all four tires for my mom. The leak down issue has not reappeared, yet. It sucks for Toyota that the tire mfg, Dunlop, made such POS tires.

Or that Toyota put Dunlop's on there in the first place.

Good to hear they stepped up.

 

[d0ubledown]

our tire light goes on as well. not the oem tires on there now. not an awd LE though..just a CE. checked the pressure and they all seem fine and consistent. i just ignore the light...kinda like the P0401 induced cel on the 80.