Toyota Sienna Engine Problems
Owners have filed 250 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Toyota Sienna across 21 model years. The 2007 model year has the most (42). The words owners use most often: “oil cooler” (10% of reports).
- 250engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 12mention a crash
- 10mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $880typical repair cost reported by owners
- 32%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil cooler: mentioned in 26 of 250 complaints (10%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Toyota Sienna at $880, and half of them between $670 and $9,200.
Based on 15 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2025), 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 engine problems happen?
Based on 194 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 250 complaints, 12 mention a crash, 28 a fire, 10 an injury.
Toyota Sienna engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Sienna | 6 | 16% | 2,644 |
| 2019 Sienna | 4 | 9% | 16,000 |
| 2018 Sienna | 5 | 7% | 26,500 |
| 2017 Sienna | 15 | 10% | 21,800 |
| 2016 Sienna | 4 | 5% | 16,000 |
| 2015 Sienna | 16 | 7% | 39,325 |
| 2014 Sienna | 11 | 7% | 46,000 |
| 2013 Sienna | 7 | 4% | 40,000 |
| 2012 Sienna | 9 | 4% | 41,605 |
| 2011 Sienna | 23 | 4% | 110,000 |
| 2010 Sienna | 5 | 3% | 96,000 |
| 2009 Sienna | 10 | 5% | 81,500 |
| 2008 Sienna | 39 | 9% | 80,600 |
| 2007 Sienna | 42 | 12% | 102,057 |
| 2006 Sienna | 11 | 1% | 125,000 |
| 2005 Sienna | 22 | 2% | 101,000 |
| 2004 Sienna | 13 | 1% | 121,482 |
| 2002 Sienna | 3 | 2% | 122,727 |
| 2001 Sienna | 2 | 1% | 75 |
| 2000 Sienna | 2 | 1% | 269,000 |
| 1998 Sienna | 1 | 0% | 140,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling
Model years: 2004, 2005
Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004 avalon vehicles; 2004 and 2005 camry, camry solara, highlander, and sienna vehicles, 2006 highlander hybrid; 2004 and 2005 lexus es330 and rx330; and 2006 lexus rx400h vehicles manufactured from june 1, 2004 through march 31, 2005, equipped with the 1mz-fe or 3mz-fe engine. The amount of adhesive agent applied between the outer ring and the torsional rubber damper (inner ring) in the crankshaft pulley may be inadequate. If the adhesive is insufficient, there is a possibility that the outer ring may become misaligned and it may not properly rotate with the inner ring, causing noise and/or illumination of the battery discharge indicator light.
Risk: In some cases, the belt for the power steering pump may become detached from the pulley which could result in a loss of power steering and a sudden increase in steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will check the crankshaft pulley to identify whether it was produced by the u.s. Supplier. If so, the dealer will replace the pulley with a new one at no charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during early january 2012. 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.
Component Failed & Availability: The engine on my 2015 Toyota Sienna (99,000 miles) catastrophically failed and is completely seized. The vehicle and engine are in my possession and are fully available for physical inspection. Safety Risk: The vehicle shut down completely while in motion, causing…
I am submitting this complaint to request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) document and evaluate what may be a broader defect affecting certain Toyota Sienna vehicles and determine whether it presents a potential safety-related defect trend. My 2015 Toyota Sienna was…
Sluggish start when hot - fuel pump leak into engine when hot, causing starter issues, wears out starter, causes other stress on engine. Common issue in Toyota Siennas. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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…
The catalyst, the Evap and the EGR/VVT
Frequently asked questions
Do all Toyota Siennas have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 250 owner complaints about engine for the Toyota Sienna. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Toyota Sienna engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Toyota Sienna?
Owners report a typical cost of $880 (half paid between $670 and $9,200), from 15 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Toyota Sienna?
The most frequent phrase is “oil cooler”, in 26 of 250 complaints.
Other Toyota Sienna problems
- Structure problems (2,745)
- Air Bags problems (876)
- Latches/locks/linkages problems (786)
- Electrical System problems (707)
- Power Train problems (554)
- Steering problems (524)
- Tires problems (521)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (465)
See all Toyota Sienna problems.