2009 Toyota Sienna Structure Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jan 6, 2026 · 97 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 97 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the 2009 Toyota Sienna, 47% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 81,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “sliding door” (45% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Sliding door: mentioned in 44 of 97 complaints (45%)
  • Cable snapped: mentioned in 18 of 97 complaints (19%)
  • Side power: mentioned in 8 of 97 complaints (8%)
  • Open close: mentioned in 7 of 97 complaints (7%)

How much does it cost to fix?

Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical structure repair on the 2009 Toyota Sienna at $2,500, and half of them between $2,050 and $3,400.

Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2009–2017), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.

At what mileage do structure problems happen?

Based on 78 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles5 · 6%
10k–25k miles5 · 6%
25k–50k miles10 · 13%
50k–75k miles13 · 17%
75k–100k miles23 · 29%
100k–150k miles19 · 24%
150k+ miles3 · 4%

How serious are the reports?

Of 97 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 8 an injury.

Toyota Sienna structure complaints by model year

Peak: 2004, with 962 complaints
1996: 119961998: 351999: 3619992000: 522001: 3520012002: 422003: 1820032004: 9629622005: 49920052006: 2612007: 10220072008: 1172009: 9720092010: 572011: 15420112012: 722013: 4420132014: 442015: 6120152016: 272017: 1420172018: 52019: 620192020: 4

n = 2,745 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearStructure complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2020 Sienna411%—
2019 Sienna613%42,500
2018 Sienna57%8,700
2017 Sienna149%20,000
2016 Sienna2736%33,256
2015 Sienna6126%26,000
2014 Sienna4427%63,500
2013 Sienna4424%39,000
2012 Sienna7229%53,205
2011 Sienna15425%71,500
2010 Sienna5733%70,500
2009 Sienna9747%81,000
2008 Sienna11727%81,850
2007 Sienna10228%70,000
2006 Sienna26126%68,000
2005 Sienna49944%65,000
2004 Sienna96247%80,000
2003 Sienna1817%80,000
2002 Sienna4223%75,000
2001 Sienna3519%78,000
2000 Sienna5214%120,000
1999 Sienna3617%95,500
1998 Sienna3512%101,000
1996 Sienna133%—

When owners reported it

Peak: 2016, with 17 complaints
2009: 3200932010: 662011: 6201162012: 552013: 8201382014: 13132015: 122015122016: 17172017: 152017152018: 772019: 1201912020: 112021: 1202112022: 112023: 120231

n = 97 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (1)

StructureApr 20, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V160000 · 600,000 vehicles

Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 1998 through 2010 sienna passenger vehicles manufactured between august 7, 1997 and january 4, 2010, currently registered in or originally sold in connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, washington district of columbia, virginia, west virginia, and wisconsin. The subject vehicles are equipped with the spare tire stowed under the vehicle. If the vehicle is operated in the cold climate regions of the united states where road salt is frequently used, water splashed backwards with high concentrations of road salt can reach the spare tire carrier and corrode the spare tire carrier assembly cable.

Risk: The cable may break due to excessive corrosion and the spare tire may separate from the vehicle, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners with an interim letter initially instructing them to bring their vehicle to authorized dealers to inspect for corrosion. A second notice will be sent when the permanent remedy is available. For more information, please see toyota's amended recall report of july 19, 2010. The safety recall is expected to begin on october 12, 2010. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

The driver's side sliding door was stuck and I was struggling with it. Suddenly, the quarter panel window shattered (the window between the door and the back of the car) and the door came halfway off the track. It's important to note that this was not the window of the door I was struggling with…

Received Oct 8, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11548924

The cables for the rear power sliding doors snapped on my car causing the door to be jammed shut. When the second one broke approximately two weeks later it's snap back whipping nearly hitting my three-year-old son

Received Jan 19, 2022 · NHTSA complaint 11447981

The rear passenger side sliding door cable and motor assembly on the Toyota Sienna failed, causing the door to become completely inoperative (cannot open nor close) and the broken cable nearly cut my wife as it broke under tension and came flying out toward her as she was trying to close the door…

Received Jul 20, 2021 · NHTSA complaint 11425727
Toyota Sienna
Toyota Sienna (XL40) Washington DC, USA. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: OWS Photography, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2009 Toyota Siennas have structure problems?

No. NHTSA has 97 owner complaints about structure for the 2009 Toyota Sienna (47% of the 207 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2009 Toyota Sienna structure?

Yes: 1 safety recall list structure. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do structure problems start?

The median reported mileage is 81,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

How much does it cost to fix structure problems on the 2009 Toyota Sienna?

Owners report a typical cost of $2,500 (half paid between $2,050 and $3,400), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.

What do owners say about structure problems on the 2009 Toyota Sienna?

The most frequent phrase is “sliding door”, in 44 of 97 complaints, followed by “cable snapped” (18).

See all 2009 Toyota Sienna problems or structure problems across all Sienna years.