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The Toyota Sienna, now in its 4th generation, was launched more than two decades ago, in 1998. Produced at Toyota’s assembly plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, this stalwart minivan gets an all-new look for 2021. It also gets a new hybrid powertrain. It has a reputation for reliability and is highly regarded as a family vehicle, but it has problems too.
Sienna owners of the 2021 Toyota Sienna have lodged 26 complaints with the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Nearly a third of these relate to seat issues, with third-row seats not locking securely into place.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2018 2019 2020 2022
Contents
- 1| NHTSA Complaints for the 2021 Toyota Sienna
- 2| Most Common Problems with the 2021 Toyota Sienna
- 3| 2021 Toyota Sienna Seat Problems
- 4| 2021 Toyota Sienna Brake Problems
- 5| 2021 Toyota Sienna Visibility & Wiper Problems
- 6| What to do if Your 2021 Toyota Sienna is a Lemon? Your Lemon Rights
- 7| Complaint Data
Don’t be stuck with a lemon. You have legal rights to cash, return or buyback.
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NHTSA Complaints for the 2021 Toyota Sienna
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Seats | |
| Electrical System | |
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Structure:body | |
| Seat Belts | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Power Train | |
| Exterior Lighting |
Most Common Problems with the 2021 Toyota Sienna
The most common problem, with 8 complaints, is the seat issue. Following these are 5 service brake complaints and 5 visibility/wiper complaints. These are in 2 different NHTSA locations:
- 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid has 6 complaints lodged between 3 December 2020 and 11 May 2021
- 2021 Toyota Sienna has 20 complaints lodged between 21 May 2021 and 24 January 2022
In total, there are 3 reports that sunroofs exploded, and 2 each about exterior lighting and structure problems. Several other components or systems each have 1 complaint. These are airbags, electrical system, engine, forward collision avoidance, land departure, structure, tires, and vehicle speed control.
2021 Toyota Sienna Seat Problems
Most problems are with the third-row seats that fold flat into the floor but can’t be latched in place while folded. Complaints describe how the seats pop up if the driver brakes suddenly or goes over bumps in the road.
In one incident, a passenger’s arm was injured when a stowed seat flew up into the upright position. This car owner was told by the dealer that “there is no issue with the seat.”
Another car owner was told the manufacturer acknowledged the failure but also that “there was no fix currently available.”
2021 Toyota Sienna Brake Problems
One of the 5 complaints about service brakes reports an injury when their Sienna lost electrical and engine power and the brakes stopped working. The hazard lights also stopped working.
Others simply describe how they malfunctioned and/or failed.
One complaint says that while driving on a highway, the brakes “became extremely touchy” and “seemed to utilize the emergency brake as a backup. This extreme braking is hazardous and could result in an accident caused by braking too quickly.” Within a week of Toyota not being able to identify the issue, the driver had the same experience, again on a highway. “Van is currently with the dealer and the Brake Booster and Brake Master Cylinder will be replaced.” Read our post on Toyota Sienna brake problems.
2021 Toyota Sienna Visibility & Wiper Problems
The biggest issue is that when the entertainment system is in use, the screen blocks the driver’s line of sight. This is a long-standing problem, with the first complaint to NHTSA made in April 2021.
What to do if Your 2021 Toyota Sienna is a Lemon? Your Lemon Rights
Any persistent defect that makes a substantial impact on the use, safety, or value of a vehicle may be defined as a lemon. A good lemon lawyer can help you reach a solution with the manufacturer without you having to fight for your rights.
We may be able to get you a cash settlement, a buy-back deal, or a replacement vehicle. It will cost you nothing because the law makes Toyota cover the legal bills. Call our Helpline today so that we can evaluate your case.
Complaint Data
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | Mar 04, 2023 |
| State | FL |
| Description | While braking the brake pedal pressure on the brake pedal and the brakes themselves will lose pressure and you have to suddenly press harder on the pedal to keep stopping distance it happens randomly, and without warning I've had it into the dealer. They replaced the brake antilock pump for an unrelated reason as they say, there are no recalls I explained the problem to them. Several times before the brake pump was replaced. They said they know of the problem but don't know of a fix, it's quite dangerous when it happens |
| Category | Service Brakes, Hydraulic |
| Date | Feb 02, 2023 |
| State | PA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 toyota sienna hybrid. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, there was a three-second delay before the brakes would respond. Additionally, the brake pedal was difficult to depress, creating an extended stopping distance. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who adjusted the brake stroke sensor and recalibrated the braking system; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was later taken to a second dealer who bled the brake lines, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 30,800. The vin was not available. |
| Category | Seat Belts |
| Date | Jan 10, 2023 |
| State | VA |
| Description | Hi, I complained many time about seat belt sign of front passenger side and rear passenger right side. While driving expect me no one in the car but still I get seat belt sign. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine, Service Brakes |
| Date | Jan 06, 2023 |
| State | CA |
| Description | I would like to make formal complaint in regards to a manufacture defect. I purchased my toyota sienna xse brand new in august of 2021 at cerritos toyota in california. On december 24th at approximately 1:30 p. M. On christmas eve, after filling up gas at sam's club in fountain valley, ca. I pull out on to the street heading northbound on warner approaching intersection as I come to complete stop on red. All of a sudden, my sienna completely shut itself off and the engine light came on. I put it back on park and restart the car. As I attempt to accelerate forward. The car jerk and the brake didn't work and the engine light came on. Fortunately, I was able to make a u turn and pull into a gas station near by ( shell) and I thank the lord almighty there was no car right behind me. I could of gotten rear ended. It was the most terrifying moment of my life. My wife and I was in the car at the time of the incident. We waited patiently over an hour for triple aaa to have it tow the nearest dealership next to my house in long beach, ca. My 2021 toyota sienna currently has 52,023 miles and sitting at the dealership to be repair at long beach west coast toyota. I have contacted toyota of this incident and they refused to fully covered repair instead they offered me 700 payment assistant the rest would come out of my pockets. I believed the car should be part of the campaign recall and nothing should come out my expense. I would like you you guys to investigate the incident and look into this matter as soon as possible because there thousands like my mind that could there have the same issue but was not part the campaign recall. A bulletin was published on april 13, 2022 affecting 2021 -2022 toyota sienna. Production period march 3rd, 2020 through april 7th 2022. Manufacture's campaign number: toyota: 22tb03 |
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | Dec 23, 2022 |
| State | TX |
| Description | The breaking system failed to stop the van. |
| Category | Service Brakes, Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Dec 13, 2022 |
| State | TX |
| Description | When braking the car lunges forward on its own. This has happened multiple times and others speak of it too |
| Category | Electrical System, Service Brakes, Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Dec 03, 2022 |
| State | TX |
| Description | The vehicle gets a jolt of power or speed while braking slowly or coming to a stop. This could result into an accident. This was addressed to multiple toyota dealers and the problem was unidentified or undetectable to the technician multiple times. The problem is reported by several sienna forum users but it is not being fixed by toyota dealers. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Oct 17, 2022 |
| State | VA |
| Description | The rear climate control unit has fallen out of the headliner several times. The climate control unit then dangles from the headliner, obscuring the vision through the rear view mirror and poses a potential safety risk as it could hit a passenger in the event of an accident or abrupt stop. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other, Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly |
| Date | Oct 16, 2022 |
| State | CO |
| Description | While slowing down from highway speed 55mph to about 30 mph preparing to turn right, I heard a huge explosion (sunroof). Thinking it was overhead, I slowly pulled back the sunscreen which blocks out the sun from the roof, realized it was full of broken glass and immediately closed it. This was a terrifying event and could of easily caused serious injury or worse. My dog was riding in a secured dog crate in the rear of the van. The van was taken to the dealership for investigation and repair. ( mcdonald toyota, greeley, co 80634) although the dealership is still investigating and agreed to follow up with toyota, they are currently denying warranty. ( this report was written by [xxx], for wife [xxx] who was driving solo during this incident ) information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6). |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Oct 10, 2022 |
| State | NY |
| Description | My car became inoperable because hybrid/ev battery voltage system isolation fault:internal electronic failure. Code p0aa6-49.. Well known problem to toyota about corrosive electrical connections(cables).. Which needs to be replaced under hybrid system warranties.. But dealership and toyota refusing to replace it under warranties.. Even they know some owners started class action against toyota |
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | Oct 09, 2022 |
| State | PA |
| Description | I currently have 35,000 miles on my 2021 toyota sienna. Ever since I passed 30,000 miles I've noticed a difference in the braking. When I start to brake it feels normal and then all of a sudden it feels as if there's no braking and the van surges forward for a fraction of a second before the brakes engage again. I've experienced this on highway exit ramps, braking before turning into parking lots and while coming to a stop at traffic lights. It usually happens around 40 mph & 20 mph. It does not happen every time I brake but it happens multiple times every day. I took it to my toyota dealer but they told me they could not replicate the brake malfunction. There are a number of other sienna owners who have documented their same experiences with surging brakes on an online toyota sienna owners forum. I have not had an accident yet but I find this brake surge very concerning. |
| Category | Tires, Tether, Lower Anchor (on Car Seat Or Vehicle) |
| Date | Oct 08, 2022 |
| State | MD |
| Description | None |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Oct 08, 2022 |
| State | MD |
| Description | Non |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Oct 07, 2022 |
| State | MD |
| Description | Good condition |
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | Sep 21, 2022 |
| State | NJ |
| Description | Occasionally when we hit the brakes the car surges forward ever so briefly and then the brakes finally catch. So far this has only lasted for a second or so, but we are concerned that it could get worse or not stop at all. My car is at the dealership now. They were unable to duplicate the issue. It has been happening mostly while driving at higher speeds (45-55 mph) and then needing to stop for a traffic light or similar. They were not testing it in this same situation. There were taking it out in stop and go traffic. They kept it overnight to try again tomorrow, but the tech didn't seem to be taking it very seriously saying he wasn't get paid for it since it's still under warranty and he's not seeing the issue. They checked the computer for error messages and said they found none. I haven't noticed any warning lights turn on. This is very disconcerting. It has happened multiple times since we purchased the car in sept 2021. |
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | Sep 12, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | When slowing the vehicle to come to stop the brakes feel as if they release. Have to give more pressure to the pedal for a confident stop. It is intermittent. Dealer unable to duplicate. Others on forums have same issue. |
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | Sep 08, 2022 |
| State | SD |
| Description | When braking under a load - such as braking while descending a hill - the vehicle will be slowing as anticipated when the brakes are applied, and then for a split second the vehicle feels like the brakes disengage. The pedal pressure doesn't change. The vehicle may not actually speed up, but it definitely feels like it's no longer decelerating. Then a split second later the brakes kick in again and the car responds as expected. This happens nearly every day I drive the vehicle and has since it was new. I've got 28000 miles on it now. I've not hit anything as a result, but it makes for a stressful few seconds - even though I now anticipate it will happen. The explanation I've been given is that the sensation of momentary brake failure is the vehicle transitioning between regenerative braking and mechanical braking. However, this definitely doesn't seem like a normal and acceptable way for a vehicle to function. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Sep 03, 2022 |
| State | TX |
| Description | The navigation/touch screen has turned off and on during driving. The navigation, audio system, backup camera view were unable to be used. The next available appointment is on september 15th, 2022 and it has not been inspected by anyone. There were no warning signs prior to the incidents. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Aug 31, 2022 |
| State | NY |
| Description | Automatic sliding doors and tailgate opening by self when parked at home and 4-5 locations in canada (during 1 week visit). Host in canada (20 yr volvo exec) independently observed and took car to canadian dealer. Condition not duplicated at their dealership. However,they submitted report to toyota canada. Return to new york,took car to dealer westbury toyota on 8/30/22. Dealer observed car onite-no door opening found. 8/31/22-westbury toyota returned vehicle to lessee with the information that they are filing a pass case with toyota corporate and advised lessee to return to westbury toyota if problem recurs |
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | Jul 20, 2022 |
| State | MN |
| Description | At 7:35am on 7/20/2022, I was traveling south on clementa ave sw in monticello, mn. The conditions were dry and the sun was out. As I approached the intersection of 127th st nw, I began to slowly press the brake pedal. The vehicle started slowing down, but approximately 5 seconds after pushing the brake, the vehicle automatically let off the brakes, the vehicle lunged forward for about 1-2 seconds, even though I was continuously pushing on the brake pedal. The vehicle's brake system then re-engaged and the vehicle stopped. This is not the first time this issue has happened and the dealership does not have any resolution to this issue. They attempted a software update, even though my vin is not included in previous brake issues. This issue happens daily and poses a safety risk if I were attempting to brake behind other vehicles. The release of the brakes and lunging of the vehicle should not happen and feels like the vehicle is out of control. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jul 18, 2022 |
| State | OH |
| Description | Van was struck from behind. Van was still moving and was pushed to the left facing opposite direction in other lane. Van caught fire within a minute and became totally engulfed. Van was a total loss. Occupants were able to exit vehicle unharmed. Other car involved was also a total loss but did not catch on fire. |
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | Jul 17, 2022 |
| State | AZ |
| Description | When breaking on a flat dry level road the car accelerates for a split second. Has happened multiple times with different drivers. |
| Category | Electrical System, Structure:body |
| Date | Jun 22, 2022 |
| State | OH |
| Description | I went on a trip to missouri to visit my son and family. When going through st. Louis on 5/18/2022 I ran through a thunderstorm with a lot of rain. After I stopped, I noticed a puddle of water between the front seats. I could not find out where it came from. Later that same day I went through another storm. Again I found a puddle of water between the seats. This is a vehicle that was modified by vmi into a handicapped accessible van. Water coming in is concerning due to all the electrical components that could be shorted out. I don't want to find out later that there is rust damage nor damage to the electrical systems because of water entering the vehicle. |
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | Jun 22, 2022 |
| State | OH |
| Description | After the vehicle has been parked for a while, after starting the car the brakes give the following intermittent behavior. When releasing the brake pressure gradually, the vehicle will not move until the brake pedal is fully released. The vehicle then lurches and rolls backward quickly. Additional pressure then must be applied to stop the car. The car should start to move when the brakes are gradually released and not wait until the brakes are fully released. This happens almost every time I start the car. It is a recurring problem. |
| Category | Suspension |
| Date | Jun 22, 2022 |
| State | OH |
| Description | While driving approximately 70 mph the vehicle tends to "float" or wanted to change lanes on me. The vehicle would jerk to the left or to the right requiring corrective action on my part. At first I attributed the problem to the windy conditions, but later decided the wind was not the cause. It appears that when driving less than 40 mph, there is no problem. This problem continued for my entire trip (about 1400 miles). This is a vehicle that was modified by vmi into a handicapped accessible van. I don't know if regular toyotas do this or not. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jun 22, 2022 |
| State | OH |
| Description | I have a toyota van which has been converted to a handicapped vehicle by vmi. On june 14,2022, I took it to a local toyota dealer to have the recall notice taken care of. (recall no. 22ta03). After an hour and a half I was told the dealer could not do the reprogramming because their computer would not communicate with my computer. They said they called three different dealers who could not tell them how to solve the problem. My selling dealer said to take it to another dealer but I haven't been able to do that yet. I believe any dealer should be able to perform recall reprogramming efforts. |
| Category | Power Train, Service Brakes, Steering |
| Date | Jun 21, 2022 |
| State | PR |
| Description | En ocasiones el vehÃculo no frena adecuadamente, tiene ruido en la parte delantera y se aselera bruscamente cuando está en descenso por aproximadamente 5 minutos |
| Category | Tires |
| Date | Jun 13, 2022 |
| State | NC |
| Description | While traveling in the far left lane of a four lane highway with a speed limit of 70 mph my car started to fish tale but I was able to control it. The cars behind me saw the blowout of my rear passenger tire and slowed down so that I could move to the far right breakdown lane. No warning light came on at any time to alert me of any problems with any of the tires. I always maintain the correct tire pressure. I had a tire company replace all four tires because I was afraid of the other three tires doing the same thing. When I picked up my car the next day the service dept said the brakes didn't work. I had to have the sienna towed to a toyota dealer to repair a crushed brake line caused by the blowout. We kept the tire and have taken many pictures. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jun 06, 2022 |
| State | IA |
| Description | My husband and I were pulling out of a parking lot, and needed to cross two lanes of south bound to end up in one of the two lanes of north bound traffic. Upon pulling out, the van stopped accelerating. We were stopped, sideways in the two lanes of southbound traffic. My husband checked to make sure the van was in drive, and it was. He tried accelerating a few times, and nothing happened. Finally, after about 10 seconds, the van began to accelerate once the accelerator was pressed again. He didn't have to turn the van off or restart it or anything. This was absolutely terrifying. Before he pulled out, he checked to make sure there was no traffic coming from either side. Thankfully, the vehicles approaching noticed us sideways in the road and were able to slow down in time, as to not hit us. I know this vehicle has many safety features and when those go off, we're given a warning whether it be a brake warning across the dash, or other alerts. Not a single thing alerted us during this incident, and I have no idea why the van just stopped accelerating. The next day, toyota inspected it (coincidentally we were told a regional toyota manager was there that day and looked at it as well) and said the low voltage needed updated and that could possibly be the issue, but they weren't sure. In looking at the paperwork from that day, they noted we said the battery wouldn't hold a charge. We never said that. What we said was our van stopped accelerating as we were pulling out of a parking lot. This could have ended up very badly. We could have been hit. We have 3 children and I'm terrified this might happen again. |
| Category | Service Brakes, Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal |
| Date | May 25, 2022 |
| State | MI |
| Description | Our sienna has had incidents of unintendedly accelerated a minimum of 25 times. I have been unable to stop the vehicle several time to the point where I have had to go through a lighted stop intersection. There have been numerous "close calls†where I have nearly hit the vehicle in front of me. My wife, while driving to pick up my 4 children, actually bumped into a vehicle in front of her. It is a serious risk to expect that I drive the vehicle with my wife and 4 kids inside, yet toyota expects I will drive the sienna for over a month while they wait to get the report back about the vehicle. I am not willing to put my life at risk along with my wife and four children while we wait for toyota to address the issue. We brought the sienna in after the initial few close calls (march 14, 2022), and they were unable to find anything wrong. After receiving the vehicle back, the issue continued. Once my wife was in an accident with the sienna, we have decided we will not be driving it until we are assured it has been resolved. It was brought back to toyota on april 19, 2022). At this point and I not confident toyota will be able to fix the issue. Toyota has deemed the car safe to use; even though they have not received back the report. It's reckless and immoral to knowingly place someone in a vehicle that has already caused 1 accident (although thankfully very minor) and something I am unwilling to do. Meanwhile toyota has offered nothing to keep me safe or offered a vehicle in the meantime. The forward collision does not work. The entire vehicle is available for inspection. I am not certain what toyota has inspected, but an inspection was performed on may 10th and the results will not be available until june 13th. Problem is not able to be reproduced as the car has not been driven. The warning sign prior to the accident was numerous other near misses. |
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | May 19, 2022 |
| State | NC |
| Description | Braking is slow or non-existent on random occurrences. Although the car is automatic, it feels like you are pushing in the clutch when brakes are needed. At times when braking too, it feels as if the car lunges. On two occasions, I narrowly missed hitting an object. Its as if the braking hesitates. The dealer said that this is the design based on the vehicles software. They asked us to call toyota's customer service to complain. |
| Category | Seats |
| Date | May 17, 2022 |
| State | NC |
| Description | 3rd row seat components in 2021 toyota sienna 60/40 configuration. Both portions of the seats do not stay in the stowed position. Initially I assumed it was user error such as not pushing them down all the way or something not latching. After evaluation, the 2021 sienna 3rd row seats do not have a way to latch down. When stowed and in motion the back portion of the seats begin to lift and when breaks are engaged, the car turns or slows down each section of the seats will thrust forward and lock into the seated position. The back being loose and starting to rise seems to give the bottom portion momentum to pop up quickly. This has caused multiple objects flying if they are not heavy enough and are resting on the seat stowed. Additionally, the reason to bring real awareness is that my son was sitting in the single seat and the other side had been placed in the stowed position, while driving the seat lunged and caught my son's elbow. The dealership evaluated and stated they do not see a definitive cause, they are replacing all parts related under warranty to trouble shoot and hopefully find an issue. The fact that there is no latching mechanism to hold them down is a hazard altogether. This needs to be addressed for the safety of passengers. All that went through my head when my son was hit was “what if his arm was down, it would have gotten his fingers or caused serious damage |
| Category | Seat Belts |
| Date | May 12, 2022 |
| State | VA |
| Description | the contact owns a 2021toyota sienna hybrid. The contact stated that while her son was occupying the passenger side in the third-row seat, the seat belt locked and failed to release. The occupant was unable to get out of the seat belt. The occupant sustained marks on his stomach but no medical attention was provided. The contact had to cut the seat belt to release the child from the seat. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 13,000. Consumer's son sustained injuries from a faulty seat belt in 2021 toyota sienna van. Manufacture refuses to fix the cut belt. The contact has mailed toyota corporate office as well but with no reponse. |
| Category | Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch, Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices |
| Date | Apr 12, 2022 |
| State | AR |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 toyota sienna hybrid. The contact stated that the passenger's side rearview mirror detached and the rear liftgate door inadvertently opened while parked in the garage. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000. The vin was unavailable. |
| Category | Structure:body |
| Date | Mar 08, 2022 |
| State | OH |
| Description | While driving during snowy weather suddenly smoke began to billow from steering column area and vehicle slowed down, then stopped, while simultaneously several malfunction indicators lit, I tried to restart the vehicle to pull to a berm, it was unable to restart or even shift into neutral, the vehicle lost all power and had to be towed. This alone could have caused an injury or accident. The problem was from an electrical short from a hole in the firewall made by vmi which permitted snow, road water, and road salt to enter into the cabin area of the vehicle which shorted out the hybrid ecu circuit board. It also caused electrical arcing to the aluminum cover of the nimh hybrid battery which had been relocated by vmi to underneath the drivers and passenger seats and can produce electrical shocks of 800 volts or more (the aluminum alone conducts electricity), this alone could have caused injury or death. Furthermore, several relays were shorted-out, the smart key computer. There were burn, arc and water marks on many components noticed. The vehicle has been undriveable and cumulatively in a repair garage for 43 days as of date of this report |
| Category | Seats |
| Date | Mar 04, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | I was in a major traffic accident on 2/14/22. I was rear ended in traffic by a car going high speeds. The headrest on the driver seat popped off and ended up in the second row on the floor. Because the headrest came off during the accident my head and neck were not supported and I am still recovering at this time. Although I'm thankful to have survived this is likely a safety issue. I do have a picture and a police report if needed. |
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Mar 01, 2022 |
| State | NC |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 toyota sienna. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle would jerk and swerve to the left or the right making the vehicle difficult to control. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that after decelerating the vehicle became controllable. The contact was able to drive to his destination. The contact stated that he had experienced the failure on three separate occasions. On the last occasion, while driving 70 mph, the contact lost control of the vehicle and the vehicle ended up in the median striking the metal bars in the median. The air bags did not deploy. The contact did not sustain any injury and medical attention was not needed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to a tow lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000. |
| Category | Seat Belts |
| Date | Feb 10, 2022 |
| State | TX |
| Description | The driver-side second-row seatbelt goes slack for no reason while driving. All tension is released, and the loose belt falls forward. This is a serious safety issue for the child riding in that seat with no working seatbelt. This has happened about a dozen times on various days while driving. The dealer first denied there was a problem, then they claimed they fixed it. But it is still happening. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jan 24, 2022 |
| State | FL |
| Description | On 2 different quick occasions my gas pedal stopped responding to my foot commands. On one of those occasions I was crossing a street with a semi truck coming at me thinking I have enough clearance to make it across the street into the turning median. Luckily the gas pedal responded & I made it across with my heart beating 100mph thinking I was going to get hit really bad by the semi truck. It seems to happen when you're in a situation where the pedal is rapidly pressed & depressed for anticipation of preforming a crossing. I didn't go to the dealership because it would wasted time because they're looking for error codes which the vehicle sister system mostly doesn't provide because it thinks that it hasn't caused an error. If the vehicle system is faulty then can it accurately log each incident without failure? Thank you. |
| Category | Service Brakes, Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jan 20, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | 1st. Brake sometimes get very stiff can't press down and becomes normal after a few seconds or a few press on the brake pedal. (5 months) 2nd. A lot of wind noise coming from driver side windshield starting at 65mph. Complain to 2 dealers both said they test drove the same car but I don't see any other sienna around. They lied (1st day I took possession of the car) 3rd. The middle row seat rail are very hard to slide back and forth. (1st day) |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jan 07, 2022 |
| State | WA |
| Description | While parked, the sunroof “explodedâ€. A loud sound was heard, and glass was heard hitting the roof of the vehicle, as if the glass exploded outwards. |
| Category | Seats |
| Date | Dec 28, 2021 |
| State | NY |
| Description | The rear 3rd row single seat does not stay folded down in the compartment. It constantly pops up and if you put anything on it to weigh it down, that object can be a potential death threat. Toyota needs to be responsible to resolve this issue. They have offered to replace the spring on the seat, but then said the same thing would happen. Upon researching online, I have found several 2021 sienna owners are having the same issue. This is not normal. We've had 4 previous siennas and none of them have ever had a problem with the seat folding down, so I don't know where the design flaw is. |
| Category | Structure:body |
| Date | Dec 22, 2021 |
| State | NY |
| Description | Both side power doors become inoperable if they sit open for more than a few moments. They do not close by switch, key fob, or by pushing. Starting vehicle does not activate or reset. Doors must physically be forced closed. It takes considerable force to close the door. Two complaints to dealer were ignored or toyota dealer claims this is an intentional design. But has no rational reason for the defect being a design feature. This is a danger to people unable to physically close the door and presents a security flaw for users. |
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | Dec 18, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | After the vehicle has been parked for a while (>1 hour in my experience), upon startup, when reversing down a hill, the brakes give the following intermittent (maybe one out of four start ups) problematic behavior. When releasing the brake pressure gradually, the car will not move, until suddenly it lurches and rolls backwards significantly, the pressure on the break feels like it is reducing and the brake stroke length releasing. To stop the car rolling backwards you need to push down several extra inches on the brake to get it to stop. I have multiple videos of this happening (video of my feet and the rear camera). |
| Category | Seats |
| Date | Nov 01, 2021 |
| State | IL |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 toyota sienna. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the third-row seat would slide up whenever the vehicle went over a bump. The third-row seat latches were not installed properly to secure the seat to the base. The contact was concerned that the seat could injure his pet dog when it was in the seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and acknowledged the failure but informed the contact that there was no fix currently available. The failure mileage was 2,296. |
| Category | Air Bags |
| Date | Oct 30, 2021 |
| State | MD |
| Description | Keep in mind: brand new sienna!!! 1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? -the main and most important component was the entire airbag system which displayed "malfunctioned" only after the collision. The tpcs (toyota pre-collision system) also was defaulted to "off" and said that the sonar malfunctioned. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? -very compromised! My whole family and my children would've been seriously injured or departed from this world had we not had the seat belt on and the way it all played out! All of the airbags, including the driver's knee airbag, passenger seat cushion airbag, front seat side airbags, rear outboard seat side airbags, and curtain side airbags for all three rows , malfunctioned and car was in a standstill on the fastest left lane #1 on I-95 with no cushioning or failsafe mechanism active 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? -no, and toyota was very quick and desperate to get their hands on my vehicle and to get me to sign their authorization instead of wait. As a computer scientist, I know when information systems can be exploited/manipulated and all my driving data and accident/metadata is collected constantly by toyota so in short: "no transparency" 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? -yes, two very biased partisans involve: the liable party's insurance (allstate) and toyota motor co. So I need some nonpartisan assessment/evaluation asap 5. Any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? -nope! No warning lamps, no vehicle health messages, no toyota app notification prior to the accident. Everything mentioned in the last sentence went haywire exactly after the collision and displayed lamps/played warning alarms non stop. Refer to uploaded files. |
| Category | Seats |
| Date | Oct 18, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | When driving over speed bumps or sometimes bumps in the road the 2 3rd row seats will fly up. There is no locking mechanism. This causes the seats to sometimes go from the stowed position into the seating position. There have been times when using one of the two 3rd row seats the stowed one has flown up into a seating position from stowed. Hitting the arm of the 3rd row passenger. I have the vehicle looked at by the dealer and was told there is no issue with the seat. I contacted toyota corporate and was referred back to the dealer. The dealer contacted me and acknowledged the seats do not stay down. Toyota corporate has nothing to offer as far as a solution. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Oct 16, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | We were driving approximately 50mph in the late afternoon (4:15pm mt) on a sunny day (about 60 degrees f). We were on a 2-lane road with farmland/field on both sides, with no debris on the road and we were not behind any other vehicles. The sunroof was fully closed (the shade/cover was open). The glass blew up and out, making the sound like a shotgun blast. There was no indication of problems prior to the moment of explosion - there were no noises, wind whistling, etc. Or anything amiss. Large and small pieces and slivers of glass fell into the vehicle and we're guessing a lot of it flew behind the car into the road. Luckily we were not injured at all and there were not many other vehicles on the road immediately around us, but it was absolutely a huge safety risk to ourselves and others. We have 1 video and 2 photos from just after it happened. Our car insurance agent is coming to inspect in the next 24 hours. We immediately called the dealership where we bought the vehicle (brand new, 7 months ago) and were told the explosion was because a rock or other debris had hit the sunroof and to file a claim through our insurance. However we know nothing hit our vehicle. And the glass clearly blew upward - the glass remaining around the edges are angled upward, not in toward the vehicle. This was not the result of debris - it was a fault in the manufacturing or materials. |
| Category | Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly |
| Date | Oct 04, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 toyota sienna. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, the sunroof exploded outward from the vehicle while closed. The contact stated that upon inspecting the sunroof he noticed that 80% of the glass was missing from the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified, and a claim was opened. The local dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the manufacturer stated that the failure was caused by a road hazard such as a hit by a rock. The contact stated that there was no prior damage to the sunroof. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000. The vin was not available. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Sep 13, 2021 |
| State | TX |
| Description | I was on my way to the doctor when the tire light went off on the dash. I was a few blocks from the doctor and managed to make it there while the tire was losing air. When I drove in and parked the car in the emergency lane, I saw the tire was completely flat. I called the toyota road service that was part of the car package, but it was nothing more than a recording that said I would be sent a text message link with a form to complete to get service. I did not bother after the recording warned that wait times were very long. I called aaa and a driver was sent to help within 30 minutes. First, he and I looked for a spare tire. Much to my surprise, there was no spare tire in the car. He used the foam package from my trunk to try to get the tire with enough air so that I could drive to sterling mccall to replace the tire. However, the tire would not hold any air and remained flat. So, aaa sent out a tow truck to tow the vehicle back to sterling mccall. This was a four-hour ordeal for me after a fifteen-minute visit to my doctor. I am still recovering from another knee surgery and am walking with a cane. All of this could have been avoided had the car simply had a spare tire. A foam/air package is useless and should not be allowed to replace a spare tire set-up in a vehicle. This is a ,000 car. I had no idea and sterling mccall never once mentioned it when I leased the car. I am outraged that there is no regulation preventing car manufacturers from eliminating spare tires in vehicles. Most minivan owners are families with children and seniors (I am a 65 year old woman). These owners should not be put in the position that I was put in with this incident. |
| Category | Seats |
| Date | Aug 27, 2021 |
| State | MI |
| Description | The adjustable middle seats of this new sienna have a severe safety issue! As someone who has owned 6 prior siennas I am very familiar with this vehicle. In past years the middle seats had two levers- -one for adjusting the back of the seat and one for moving the seat forward or back. This changed with the 2021 model that I just bought to one handle that does both functions. And here is the safety issue--when you lift the handle to move the seat forward or back the back of the seat rockets forward with way too much force and speed. When I tried to do this for the first time yesterday, I was standing outside of the car but had my head inside over the seat when I lifted the seat handle. The back rocketed forward and the hard plastic on the edge hit my head cutting me and almost knocked me out! I was left with a goose egg sized lump and cut. If this is not recalled and fixed by toyota some adult or child is going to get severely injured or killed. The spring that powers the seats movement is just way way too strong. If a person like myself, who has owned multiple toyota mini vans and is very familiar with them can get hurt by these seats you can only imagine what a new owner is going to experience. I took pictures of my injuries and debated going to the er but my headache from this blow eventually went away so I did not. Please look into this before someone ends up with a closed head injury or worse. Thank you so much. |
| Category | Electrical System, Service Brakes, Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Jul 26, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | We were driving down the freeway when we got rear ended hard by a large pickup. Then we lost electrical and engine power. The brakes stopped working. The hazard lights stopped working. Luckily we were able to coast to a complete stop as there was no way to stop the car. The police came and took a report. Then the car was towed to a body shop. We're awaiting the insurance company adjuster for inspection. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jul 11, 2021 |
| State | SD |
| Description | Factory installed rear entertainment system completely blocks vision of windshield mounted rear view mirror. Toyota has a video version of this rearview mirror but does not make it available to those who purchase models below the limited and platinum version of the sienna. They do not disclose the ubstructed view that will occur when purchasing the vehicle with the rear entertainment system. In canada, toyota provides this mirror as part of the rear entertainment package. They are cutting corners in the u. S. At the expense of our safety. Please require a recall to fix this blatant safety issue that toyota knowingly allowed to be permitted in family vehicles. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jul 02, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | A lot wind noise coming from driver side window and windshield at freeway speed. Report to toyota service department but nothing was done to resolve the problem |
| Category | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Departure: Assist, Service Brakes |
| Date | Jul 01, 2021 |
| State | OK |
| Description | Van has just over 5k miles. Multiple warnings occurred while at speed on a highway. Primary warning was 'low brake power' and braking became extremely touchy as it seemed to utilize the emergency brake as a backup. This extreme braking is hazardous and could result in an accident caused by braking too quickly - with a possible rear-end collision by traffic to the rear. Additional warnings/malfunctions were listed as well, due to the low brake power: lta malfunction (lane keep assist), automatic emergency brake malfunction, parking brake malfunction, check engine. There were no symptoms of poor braking prior to the incident. Dealer filed a tas report with toyota to address the problem, and was subsequently inspected by the toyota field representative. Initially could not duplicate/identify the issue and the van was returned. Within one week the incident reoccurred, again on the highway. Van is currently with the dealer and the brake booster and brake master cylinder will be replaced. Expect the dealer will retain the parts. |
| Category | Seats |
| Date | Jul 01, 2021 |
| State | MD |
| Description | The third row seats in the new sienna, like most minivans, fold flat into the floor. However, there is no latch to hold the seats in place when folded. I noticed this immediately after taking delivery of the van in april because when the seats are folded, they bounce a bit over bumps. On web forums for the car, other owners mention this as well. However, twice in the last two weeks while I was driving the car, the seats popped up out of the rear well and latched violently into place. The first time this occurred was driving over a pothole at about 40 mph, and the second over a speed bump at about 25 mph. I was terrified the first time it occurred - there was a very loud metal on metal noise and impact at the rear of the van. I thought I had hit something, but when I checked after I got home, the seats were out of the well with the bottom cushions latched into place as they would be if the seats were unfolded for use (the backrests remained folded on the bottom cushions). This is a major safety issue. The third row is split into two independent sides, so if anyone was sitting in one side of the seat, they could easily be injured if the other side suddenly sprang from the well. A pet in the rear of the car could easily be killed. Depending on weight, cargo in the rear could be thrown around the car. Finally, as it was for me, this could be a major distraction for the driver. I checked online, and many others 2021 sienna owners have reported issues with the third row and some have reported the same issue with the seats springing out if the well and latching in place. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jun 21, 2021 |
| State | FL |
| Description | With the rear seat entertainment system in use, the rear visibility is completely blocked in conjunction with the standard rear view mirror. This is a major design defect and is avoidable with available options that should be standard. Without being able to utilize all possible ways to view around the vehicle, toyota has put its owners, occupants, and fellow drivers at unnecessary risk. An easy remedy is toyota retrofitting and including going forward their digital rear view mirror. |
| Category | Seats |
| Date | May 21, 2021 |
| State | VA |
| Description | When the 3rd-row folding seats are down and stored and the breaks are applied suddenly the seat will release and attempt to return a nonstored position. I had a box of water on top of the seat to keep it from moving. Unfortunately when I breaked the box moved and the seat left the stored position and crushed the water bottles. If I had had a pet back there they would have been injured. |
| Category | Exterior Lighting, Seats, Structure:body |
| Date | May 11, 2021 |
| State | PA |
| Description | Headliner cut too large, doesn't hold rear passenger climate controls, climate controls fall out and hit rear passengers. This happens at any speed. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Apr 29, 2021 |
| State | VA |
| Description | The 2021 sienna xle plus and entertainment package did not include a digital rear view mirror in this trim level. The new sienna is a brand new model with a massive design flaw, a huge tv with zero visibility out the rear of car. It's unsafe. Many people will not test drive with the tv down to see the safety issue. We didn't realize it till kids put the tv down day later. Seems to have sadly made it through quality control process at toyota. You can not see cars right up on you at stop signs, cars approaching etc it needs a safety recall and a modification. We have had car for 3 weeks. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Apr 26, 2021 |
| State | FL |
| Description | I found a big design flaw in our new minivan. When my kids are using the rear entertainment system, the screen block the driver rear mirror line of sight. I don't feel safe driving around if I can't have back and forth visibility from the driver seat. I don't understand why toyota didn't make the digital rearview mirror standard in all the trims equipped with rear entertainment system. The lack of rear visibility from the driver can put at risk the life of all the passengers. I tried contact the dealer and toyota directly but I'm not getting a resolution. This is a serious design flaw! Toyota should issue a recall for all the minivans with rear entertainment system and no digital rearview mirror. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Mar 26, 2021 |
| State | NY |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2021 toyota sienna hybrid. The contact stated while attempting to make a right turn with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that he had experienced the failure on several occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100. The vin was not available. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Mar 25, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | 2021 sienna xle with plus package and rear entertainment package. When rear screen down (in use) the entertainment screen block the whole rear mirror. We unable to see what happens in behind. Toyota should install digital rear view mirror if car come with res. This is a safety concern we either watch not drive or drive not watch we cannot do both because safety issue. |
| Category | Exterior Lighting, Service Brakes, Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Dec 03, 2020 |
| State | PA |
| Description | Third brake light condition poor visability to operator ( rear window) when brake is activated in low or dark lighting condition(s) there is reflection off glass and rear defrost element(s) which cause limited rear visability out of rear window glass. |
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About the Author:
Brian Jones spent more than 20 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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Have a 2017 GMC Acadia with 39000 miles on it has been in shop 8 times since Dec 7 for same problem and still not fixed. What rights do I have. I bought it used if that makes a difference from car max