Toyota Sienna Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Toyota Sienna options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Toyota Sienna has 754 owner complaints and 34 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is SEATS. 2017 drew the most complaints; 2022 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Toyota
- Model
- Sienna
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 754
- Safety recall campaigns
- 34
- Crash-related complaints
- 35
- Fire-related complaints
- 6
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2017 (152 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2022 (13 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- SEATS
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Toyota Sienna: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe TOYOTA SIENNA has 754 NHTSA complaints and 34 recalls on record. 35 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 754 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 34 federal recall campaigns
- 35 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
34 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
STEERING
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
STEERING
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
STEERING
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHEELS
STEERING
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 754 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
754 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
We had our van parked on a driveway with a front facing slope, we had hard rains went we where going away there was water coming out of the seat belt on the passenger side and the panel above the window was stained down to the window support where the air bag is. I've been reading reports as far back as 2008 we have a 2020, went taken to the dealer they want 1000 to 2700 to remove the head liner and try to fine the problem, which what was reported didn't help. The dealer recommended to not park with the front of the van facing down hill if rain is forecast, my problem is that Toyota has not been required to fix the leaks. I'm calling my local dealership tomorrow about are leak.
My Toyota sienna is a 2020, has 83,000 miles and has recently been squealing when I accelerate. I took the van to a local body shop and they said it seems to be my transmission. I called Toyota immediately and they knew that the transmissions were faulty and that they would try to work with Toyota to get it fixed. There is no way I can pay 9k for a new transmissions because they put in faulty ones.
The vehicle is a 2020 Toyota Sienna. While driving, the engine suddenly shut off without warning, creating a dangerous situation and loss of power. This occurred while transporting children, increasing the safety risk. A mechanic inspected the vehicle and diagnosed a failure of the low-pressure fuel pump. The problem appears intermittently — sometimes the vehicle runs normally, and other times it stalls or loses power. The check engine light has turned on and off. This issue matches the known defect related to the Denso fuel pump recall affecting many Toyota vehicles from similar model years. However, my VIN is not included in the recall. This is a serious safety concern because the engine can shut off unexpectedly while driving, which could lead to an accident. I believe this vehicle may have the same defective component as those included in the recall, even though it is not currently listed. The issue has been confirmed by an independent mechanic and the vehicle is available for inspection if needed.
cable broke on sliding door and unable to open or access cabin on that side. turned off power to door and still unable to force door open making it difficult to unlatch car seat on that side. safety hazard in accident or rollover
The power sliding door assembly failed, and the driver side rear sliding door was bound shut, and could not be opened. Disabling the power door system did not resolve the issue. The cable for the power door mechanism was hanging below the rear vent windows; but for some reason the door still would not open. I ultimately with a lot of gentle force was able to get the door open enough to see the retract side of the cable was bound up, and was able to cut it with wire cutters, and ultimately get the door to work normally as a non-powered manual sliding door. Since the original NHTSA BULLITIN on this was published in 6/2019 before my 2020 Sienna was manufactured, and Toyota did not change the mechanism until the 2021 model redesign, I believe that RECALL should be extend to all 2019 and 2020 vehicles. This seems dangerous that the door does not default to manual operation in error.
"I've owned the vehicle for five years, and recently I started hearing a whining noise coming from the transmission. After doing some research, I discovered that I'm not alone in experiencing this issue. The dealer told me that the transmission itself is the problem and recommended replacing the entire transmission. However, a second opinion suggested that this kind of noise isn't normal. I'm worried about safety because, although it's just a whine right now, I fear it could fail unexpectedly. I have a child in a wheelchair, and ensuring my vehicle's safety is very important to me."
Read 14 more owner reports
A catastrophic failed automatic transmission; UA80E of Toyota Sienna 2020 at 85,000 miles. It occurred while I've been driving downhill. No warning lights, not overheating, no diagnostic ODB code, no other indications prior to the failure. Failure created a substantial safety risk for myself, my four passengers and other road users. Sudden loss of transmission function could lead to potential dangerous situation. Minivan was towed to the nearest Toyota dealer where transmission assembly was confirmed for replacement.
In August of 2024, we noticed the drivers side rear view mirror had come loose from it's external housing and was only tethered by wiring that was for mirror movement, defrosting and blind spot awareness. In order for it to be safe to use, we had to duct tape it so that it would not move. Unfortunately, the mirror continues to loosen and has to be retaped frequently. We took it to our dealer (McGovern Toyota) in Portsmouth, NH 0n 23 September 2024 and were told that it could not be fixed but had to be replaced and were quoted an amount of $2025.29 .We were also told that the part was on national backorder and may take a few weeks to arrive. Due to the astonomical cost of replacement, I tried to find other solutions and contacted other dealers and body shops but was told it had to be replaced and could not be fixed. I brought the car into another dealer, nearby (Ira Toyota) in Saco, Maine and they also said it had to be replaced and quoted an amount of $1937.70.I asked them to order the part, which they too, said was in national backorder. I contacted our automobile insurance company (AMICA) who agreed to cover the part and labor and issued a check for $1,420.60. Every month, I would call the dealer and every month I was told that Toyota estimated a delivery within a month, but that month would come and go with no part. For the last several months, I have been in touch with TOYOTA and their "brand engagement advocate" named Julie has reviewed our concern and also has stated that the part will be available by the end of the months of February, March, April, May, June and now July. I have written emails to TOYOTA expressing my dissatisfaction and now have a vehicle which is unsafe to drive due to the instability of the mirror and a vehicle which will not pass inspection (according to the dealer). I feel TOYOTA is lying about the parts actual availability and being disingenuous to what was a loyal customer. I am at a loss what to do next.
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the pre collision, lane assist, and air bag warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and a fuse in the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) was replaced; however, the contact stated that approximately 10 days later, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the vehicle remained for almost two weeks. The contact was informed that the wiring harness needed to be replaced; however, the wiring harness was on backorder. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no additional assistance was provided. The contact was provided a case number. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Hinge rust on fuel door causing it to break and not let rear passenger door auto open (because switch won't make up) hinge is very weakly built
Sun roof leaking or clogging causing water to get inside vehicle. Causing extensive damages and malfunctions
Spontaneous and random: Blinkers come on, radio volume goes up or down when turning the other way, CarPlay USB shuts off and on, hiccups when accelerating (when ECO kicks on/in)…everything points to an electrical/computer issue. Purchased used from a dealership and noticed these issues after the 3-day return window.
Speakers make an ear piercing loud noise that lasts about a second. If this sound were to occur during travel, could cause distraction leading to harm, or with young kids in the car, possibly damage their ears. This problem has been random and not experienced by a dealership. No warning messages or symptoms to the problem. Problem first appeared 6 months ago.
The passenger side rear door unlocked and opened by itself in the middle of the night, no warning messages were given previously, doors were locked that night. Keys were not accidentally pressed on. It seems that others have had similar problems with Toyota Siennas in the past as well.
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering assist. Additionally, the "Check Vehicle Stability Control System", "Pre-Collision System Malfunction", and "Lane Departure Alert" messages were displayed. The vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic where the rack and pinion was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was then notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no open recalls on the VIN. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V532000 (Steering) which he linked to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
The brake peddle is too small, it feels like my foot is going to come off of it or miss it. Some time's I lose a second or two trying to locate it with my foot, very frightening, and dangerous Every vehicle I have ever owned had a brake peddle twice that size. Yes it's a mini van, but the brake peddle does not need to be mini. This vehicle can carry 8 adults with lots of extra room, it should not even be classified a mini van. The brake peddle is less then 4 inches wide. Please look into this dangerous issue. Photos attached.
I came to sellers home to look at his van. His ad said mileage was 77k and odometer also read 77k. When I ran the Carfax, I noticed CA DMV registered title at 143k. Seller admitted to replacing dashboard when confronted. Address of seller is [XXX] . I don't have a name. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH and making a turn, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle skidded. The ABS warning light was illuminated. There was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was a speed sensor short circuit on the front passenger’s side, and that the brake actuator was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts not being available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000. The VIN was not available.
My car was not shifting gears, and it would go into brief periods of erratic acceleration. I took it to the dealer service dept. The transmission went bad. It had metal pieces broken off inside it. The car is 3 years old and only has approximately 70,900 miles on it. It was dangerous to drive. It put me, my kids, and other drivers at risk due to the erratic shifting it would do while driving. The issues started slowly on 6/23/23. The check engine light was on by 6/24/23.
For a month prior, there were intermittent incidents of the van shuddering and the RPM needle jumping upon ignition. Sometimes the van would have a hard time accelerating before jerking and driving normally. No issues before this started in late July and no indication when/where would occur. •September 15: drove the van all day running errands. It drove normally. Filled up the gas tank (Gulf gas station), then continued errands. About a half hour later, while at a stop sign, a notification appeared that the “Traction Control System has been turned off” and the check engine light came on. Tried to move through the stop sign, but the van would barely go. Applied the gas, but no results. Able to turn onto a side street and had to have it towed to Toyota of Irving. The Service Advisor stated the issue was due due to bad gas and indicated the van needed to be flushed and the fuel injection system cleaned. Paid $725 for these repairs. •September 17: Started van in driveway. Shuddering and RPM needle jumping again. Drove normally. •September 21: Same as above. •September 25: Drove the van all day with no issues. Filled up with Valero Plus gas. As we pulled out of the gas station and sitting at the light, the Traction Control message and check engine light again appeared. The van would barely go to get us through the traffic light and into a nearby parking lot. Once we parked, the screen displayed the following message:"A malfunction in the electronic control of the engine, throttle, or automatic transmission has been detected." Had the vehicle towed to Toyota of Irving. The service advisor called 2 days later to say they cannot detect any issues.
Showing 20 of 754 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Toyota Sienna
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Toyota Sienna, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Toyota Sienna has 754 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Toyota Sienna has 34 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 35 of the Toyota Sienna's 754 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Toyota Sienna vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Toyota Sienna vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Toyota Sienna has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Toyota Sienna reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Toyota Sienna reliable?
Poor. The Toyota Sienna has 754 NHTSA owner complaints and 34 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is SEATS. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Toyota Sienna years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2017 (152 complaints), 2018 (69 complaints), 2019 (45 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Toyota Sienna problems?
Top reported issues: SEATS (235 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (119 complaints); POWER TRAIN (77 complaints).
Does the Toyota Sienna have recalls?
Yes — 34 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Toyota Sienna. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.