Toyota Sienna Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2004 draws 17.15 complaints per run and the 2017 2.83, a 6.1-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 76.4% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Structure, with 2,271 complaints, typically at 5.3 years.

Toyota Sienna years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Toyota Sienna — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2020	1.42	37	26	yes
2019	1.55	45	29	yes
2018	1.7	68	40	yes
2017	2.83	150	53	yes
2016	1.64	69	42	yes
2015	3.93	212	54	yes
2014	2.88	147	51	yes
2013	2.86	166	58	yes
2012	3.52	232	66	yes
2011	6.8	551	81	yes
2010	3.51	144	41	yes
2009	4.25	170	40	yes
2008	7.09	376	53	yes
2007	5.25	310	59	yes
2006	11.32	838	74	yes
2005	13.7	945	69	yes
2004	17.15	1595	93	yes
2003	2.59	75	29	yes
2002	4.5	144	32	yes
2001	3.88	128	33	yes
2000	5.18	285	55	yes
1999	4.15	162	39	yes
1998	4.31	220	51	yes

ROWS 23·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2004 Sienna asks a median $3,450, against $4,000 for a 2005, the next model year: about 14% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.

Among the 12 Toyota Sienna years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2004, 2005, 2006; the three worth hunting are 2017, 2013, 2014.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Toyota Sienna — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	558	8.3%	covered
1 year	483	15.5%	covered
2 years	547	23.6%	covered
3 years	595	32.4%	you pay
4 years	714	43%	you pay
5 years	899	56.4%	you pay
6 years	713	67%	you pay
7 years	536	75%	you pay
8 years	440	81.5%	you pay
9 years	315	86.2%	you pay
10 years	288	90.4%	you pay
11 years	207	93.5%	you pay
12 years	168	96%	you pay
13 years	109	97.6%	you pay
14 years	95	99%	you pay
15 years	64	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 23.6% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 76.4% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 7% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

What waits further out is Structure at 5.3 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Toyota Sienna — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Structure	2271	5.3 yrs	19	4
Air Bags	767	5.5 yrs	108	3
Electrical System	606	5.8 yrs	6	24
Latches/locks/linkages	598	4.6 yrs	—	—
Unknown Or Other	555	6.7 yrs	20	8
Power Train	490	5.8 yrs	37	3
Service Brakes	484	6 yrs	72	2
Steering	459	6.9 yrs	15	6

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Sienna's vehicle class. Per production run, the Honda Odyssey draws 7.17, the Kia Carnival 2.83 and the Chrysler Pacifica 6.94, against 6.57 for the Sienna.

FIG.05·Toyota Sienna — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Sienna	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Honda Odyssey	12,904	206	1995–2026
Kia Carnival	388	16	2022–2026
Chrysler Pacifica	7,112	98	2004–2026
Chrysler Town and Country	4,148	174	1990–2016
Kia Sedona	2,544	70	2001–2021
Dodge Grand Caravan	7,201	103	1988–2023

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Toyota Sienna

Recalls165 campaigns Fuel economy36 mpg best Common problems8,640 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Used prices7,696 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car1995–2026

Frequently asked questions

Is the Toyota Sienna reliable?

By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 6.57 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which Sienna years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2004, 2005, 2006. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2017, 2013, 2014. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Sienna problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Structure, typically at 5.3 years, followed by Air Bags.

Will the warranty cover Sienna problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 23.6% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 7% of the complaints here.

Is the Sienna more reliable than the Honda Odyssey?

Yes: 6.57 complaints per production run for the Sienna against 7.17 for the Honda Odyssey.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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