Toyota Sienna problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 603 owner complaints and 17 safety recalls for the Toyota Sienna. That averages 28.8 complaints per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical (index 0.68 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Minivans segment it ranks #1 of 4 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 52.1.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Across eight model years from 2018 to 2025, the Toyota Sienna has logged 603 owner complaints and 17 safety recalls, averaging 28.8 complaints per year which is fewer than typical at an index of 0.68 against all tracked vehicles. While the 2025 model year shows the highest rate at 158.4 complaints per year and runs at least 50% above the model's own average, earlier years like 2022 recorded only 3.2 complaints per year. The most common problem area is Other accounting for 35.2% of complaints, followed by Body & structure at 13.8%, with recurring terms including "seats", "row", "hybrid", "remedy" and "recall". Owners report 32 injuries and 1 death across all model years, while the last 12 months saw 346 complaints versus 75 in the previous year indicating a rising pace.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 163% above the 2018 and 2019 models (41 early complaints per model year versus 17).
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (158.4 complaints per year) and the 2022 model year the lowest (3.2). The 2025 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average — the one to research most carefully. Model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 sit well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Other (35.2% of complaints), followed by Body & structure (13.8%) and Interior & equipment (11.9%). Other complaints are 19.4 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “seats”, “row”, “hybrid”, “remedy” and “recall”. 25 complaints (4.1%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 32 injuries and 1 death.
In the last 12 months owners filed 346 complaints versus 75 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising. The 2025 model year generated the most recent reports (247). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 13 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 17 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2019 (6). 1 NHTSA defect investigation has covered this model; the latest is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).
It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Minivans, including Kia Carnival, Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 69 | 8.0 | 0.19 | 17 | 0.19 | 6 | 7 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2019 | 45 | 5.9 | 0.14 | 18 | 0.22 | 6 | 7 | Fuel system | View › |
| 2020 | 38 | 5.7 | 0.14 | 13 | 0.23 | 7 | 2 | Engine | View › |
| 2021 | 40 | 7.1 | 0.17 | 7 | 0.11 | 16 | 4 | Airbags & seat belts | View › |
| 2022 Fewest complaints | 15 | 3.2 | 0.08 | 0 | 0.0 | 15 | 4 | Brakes | View › |
| 2023 | 66 | 18.0 | 0.43 | 39 | 0.47 | 18 | 2 | Brakes | View › |
| 2024 | 65 | 24.3 | 0.58 | 43 | 0.61 | 31 | 3 | Brakes | View › |
| 2025 Years to research carefully | 265 | 158.4 | 3.76 | — | — | 247 | 5 | Other | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 346 · Previous 12 months: 75 Rising
Problem areas
Other
212 · 35.2% · 19.43 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- seats168
- row74
- recall173
- remedy76
Airbags & seat belts
36 · 6.0% · 1.56 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- air bags13
- bags recall9
- notification air9
- srs7
Transmission / powertrain
34 · 5.6% · 0.48 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- transmission22
- whining9
- whine5
- van7
Electrical
31 · 5.1% · 0.33 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- keyfob3
- vans3
- sale4
- seats5
Fuel system
30 · 5.0% · 1.16 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- fuel24
- gasoline14
- confirms available10
- received notification12
Engine
25 · 4.1% · 0.19 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- gas7
- pump6
- accelerator6
- hesitated3
Wheels, tires & suspension
12 · 2.0% · 0.8 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tires8
- wear5
- size4
- inspection3
Driver-assist systems
7 · 1.2% · 0.2 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
3 · 0.5% · 0.32 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
3 · 0.5% · 0.08 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- seats193
- row99
- hybrid109
- remedy99
- recall255
- available176
- seat rails32
- transport47
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 13 months
What owners report
Three (3) separate systems failed. 1. Upon seeing cars ahead of us slowing down, my husband pressed the breaks to slow down to avoid collision.
Moving about 55 miles per hour on right lane of I-95 the Jeep in front of me braked abruptly. I braked hard but as my Sienna was quickly slowing down to stop, the brake pad felt spongy when it was slower and as I pressed even harder, it seemed to have stopped…
The electronic driver's seat motor and track assembly failed completely on my 2021 Toyota Sienna (VIN: [XXX]) at less than 18,000 miles. The seat is permanently seized in a fixed position.
My liftgate has been making loud noises upon closing. The dealership checked it and diagnosed that the trunk door is mis-aligned, leaving a gap so that the door WOULD NOT SECURELY CLOSE. I was referred to the body shop to have the shocks and hinges changed.
Power sliding door on driver side cable snapped. After closing door and trying to use the door without power unable to open or close the door at all. Passengers forced to use alternate door for exit of vehicle.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Minivans
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota Sienna | 603 | 28.8 | 0.68 | Worsening | Rising | 17 | Other |
| 2 | Kia Carnival | 433 | 44.0 | 1.05 | Improving | Steady | 6 | Electrical |
| 3 | Chrysler Pacifica | 2,650 | 54.3 | 1.29 | Improving | Steady | 35 | Engine |
| 4 | Honda Odyssey | 3,165 | 77.1 | 1.83 | Improving | Rising | 27 | Electrical |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 17
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (7) · 2019 (7) · 2020 (2) · 2021 (4) · 2022 (4) · 2023 (2) · 2024 (3) · 2025 (5)
Investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Sienna model year has the most complaints?
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (158.4 complaints per year) and the 2022 model year the lowest (3.2).
Is the Toyota Sienna getting better or worse?
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 163% above the 2018 and 2019 models (41 early complaints per model year versus 17). In the last 12 months owners filed 346 complaints versus 75 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising.
What are the most common Toyota Sienna problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Other (35.2% of complaints), followed by Body & structure (13.8%) and Interior & equipment (11.9%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “seats”, “row”, “hybrid”, “remedy” and “recall”.
How does the Toyota Sienna compare with other Minivans?
Within the Minivans segment it ranks #1 of 4 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 52.1. It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Minivans, including Kia Carnival, Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey.
Does the Toyota Sienna have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 17 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2019 (6). 1 NHTSA defect investigation has covered this model; the latest is “Pedestrian alert sounds” (opened 2023-01-27, closed 2023-08-07).