10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
110,507 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2005 Toyota Sienna:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #49

Apr 152023

Sienna

  • miles
The rear hatch on our 2005 Toyota Sienna, after being opened, comes down almost immediately and can hit a person who is reaching into the back cargo area and cause injury. Other people have also reported this same dangerous malfunction online as far back as 2007.

- Louisville, CO, USA

problem #48

May 022022

Sienna

  • miles
Our rear sliding doors have presented problems for us repeatedly in getting stuck so that passengers in the back cannot open their doors even with the doors unlocked and the child safety latch off. This can happen at all times of the year, in all kinds of weather. The doors can also freeze shut in the winter, especially when there's been rain or ice, as there is not a cover preventing moisture from getting into the door jams. At least with the freezing, we can eventually warm the car up or heat it up from outside, but the other issue, apart from weather, is quite disconcerting. Sometimes the passenger has had to be let out by someone outside the car, sometimes they've just had to climb over the front seat to get out the front door. This seems extremely dangerous considering there could be an emergency situation where it is a life or death matter for passengers to be able to get out of the car quickly on their own. We have at times transported numerous college students back to their university from meetings, only to find when we arrived at their stop, they couldn't open their doors to get out. We even had Toyota supposedly "fix" them for a high fee, only to find the door issue getting worse and worse very soon after. What is worse is that many, many people and reports speak of the problems with these doors but Toyota doesn't seem to do anything about it. I fear they are waiting until people do die before they take care of the problem. As a mother, I worry every time we have our daughter or others in the back seat/s to go anywhere, as we fear the inability of them to be able to get out of the car in case of any kind of emergency, let alone just trying to get out under normal circumstances. This is the first I've seen anyplace to write a complaint aside from trying to get Toyota to take care of it. Also, the questions below do not allow for accurate, if any information. There is no one date when this happened for us. It happens very often, but the form fills in a date.

- Amana, IA, USA

problem #47

Sep 062021

Sienna

  • miles
shifter broke at 55 mph wouldn't stay in 5 gear, was easily moved to R, N, and flopped around! won't stay in 4 now when used either, or PARK unless held when turning car off. NO warning, shifted down for a hill, speed limit change, and corner in neighborhood as usual, no lights on in car. just happened but upon research, have found many others with this problem online, same veh and same kind of miles.Toyota knows but won't recall their broken plastic piece and no notification to consumer

- Midlothian, VA, USA

problem #46

Aug 282021

Sienna

  • miles
Stability light comes on, decelerates independently, vehicle shakes and steering is somewhat compromised. This has happened rounding curves between 40-50 MPH. Has happened twice on straight road, 8/24 and 8/25/2021, traveling at 70MPH, vehicle decelerated 2-5 miles independently. I put signal on and did smooth lane change to the right to get out of fast lane, and stability light came on, vehicle shook and steering was somewhat compromised. Neither local mechanic or dealership can retrieve any codes with diagnostic equipment. Dealership told me today the light has to stay on for them to retrieve code. This has happened irregularly over the last 6-8 months but always on curves. It has occurred 4 times in 6 days last week, twice on curves, 8/23 & 8/28/2021, and the 2 lane changes above. I am concerned with the increased frequency. There is a great deal of information on the web at https://www.siennachat.com/threads/traction-control-malfunctioning.44474/ so this is not an unknown issue.

- Milford, DE, USA

problem #45

Jul 302021

Sienna

  • miles
The Trac Control activated numerous times while diving forward on the highway and turning on country roads. It beeps about three times, activates the brakes on the left side of the car pulling you and then stops. The skid light activates on the dash while this is going on. Numerous same incidents are listed online. The brakes activate to one side while you are driving for not reason. I see a lot of people online that have the same issue. I am surprised this is not addressed and when you call the dealership they say it does not do that. That is not what the trac does. It does not activate braking.

- Naperville, IL, USA

problem #44

Apr 202020

Sienna

  • 74,180 miles
Air conditioner blend door actuator has stopped working on the drivers side front seat. It always blows hot air whether I select cool or heat. The passenger side changes as selected.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #43

Aug 012019

Sienna

  • 1,228,000 miles
Transmission level shifter stick got loose.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #42

Dec 282018

Sienna

  • 168,000 miles
1. spare tire fell out from under car while driving. 2. dashboard cracked a white powder is now appearing. If I take it to dealership I know they are going to blame it on the age of car and charge me big repair bucks !

- Kenner, LA, USA

problem #41

Mar 022018

Sienna

  • miles
"takata recall" the car is moving some even it's in park position.later the gear shifter become loose now I have to use emergency brake every time I park my car. I call the local Toyota dealership told them about the problem because 05 and 06,07 are having this problem and they said your VIN number is not listed on recall. Thanks for your help

- Bowling Green, KY, USA

problem #40

Oct 172018

Sienna

  • 171,922 miles
Problems with heat actuators / blend door relays, electronics, found many complaints on line this issuse also effects other Toyota models, safety hazard as cannot get hot air to defrost also, heat one side cold other side, it changes sides, but hard to deforst also. Does what it feels like

- Seymour, CT, USA

problem #39

Mar 012018

Sienna

  • miles
"takata recall" problem within the shift lock assembly, the shift lever moves out of the 'park' position without depressing the brake pedal.

- Bowling Green, KY, USA

problem #38

Sep 262018

Sienna

  • 209,202 miles
Check engine light, vsc and trac off. As I was driving after just purchasing this vehicle from a dealer after about 60 miles or so these lights all came on the same time. I was told after a scanner was placed on the vehicles computer system that it is due to either catalytic convertor/O2 sensor malfunctions.this is an important exhaust and emission component designed to burn up toxic exhaust fumes that sets off these lights. This is a major issue with not only this vehicle but other Toyota. This needs to be addressed. We in the usa would like to breath clean air and it doesn't seem feasible to have to continue to "fix" these sensors designed to make consumers spend large amounts of money to fix their vehicles.

- Hillsborough, NC, USA

problem #37

Aug 042018

Sienna

  • 127,000 miles
I pulled into a parking spot and put the van in park (with my foot still on the brake). I took my foot off the brake and it continued to roll forward. I quickly put my foot back on the brake and it stopped moving. I then shifted back to drive and then back to park. I lifted my foot off the brake and the van continued to roll forward (even though it was in park). I put my foot back on the brake to stop it from moving. I shifted into reverse, lifted my foot off the brake and the van still rolled forward. I quickly put my foot back on the brake and turned off the ignition. With the ignition off the van stopped moving. I waited about 30 min. And tried again, at that time the van wouldn't even start (no sound). I had the van towed to my mechanic (it was a Saturday). I am waiting for my mechanic to look at it. I searched on line by VIN number and found out there was a recall for my van for a gear shift malfunction. I never received notice from Toyota about this.

- Pinellas Park, FL, USA

problem #36

Jun 142018

Sienna

  • 209,500 miles
June 14, 2018 re: Toyota Sienna dashboard cover recall complaint my local dealer, fred anderson Toyota of columbia, promised to replace my 05 Sienna dashboard cover under a Toyota warranty, on July 3rd, 2015, and that they would order the dashboard cover part and that they would call me when it arrived. The service advisor I met with in person each time was Mr. Ron kirkland. I followed up again on December 17, 2015, when they again told me that the part was not available and that it was on order, and that they would notify me when it arrived. I followed up by phone a few times in 2016, and early in 2017. I got the same reply each time I spoke with Mr. Kirkland. I then followed up again in person on July 26, 2017. I got the same reply from Mr. Kirkland. On June 11, 2018, I again spoke with Mr. Kirkland regarding the lack of progress in completing this recall work. He promised to look into it, and phone me when he had an answer. I followed up again with Mr. Kirkland on June 14, 2018, when Mr. Kirkland stated that Toyota was no longer able to honor this warranty work. I voiced my displeasure about Toyota, and Mr. Kirklands lack of professionalism in resolving this warranty service in a timely manner back in 2015. I asked one final question of Mr. Kirkland, how much would it cost me if I paid for the dashboard cover replacement? he gave me an estimate of $2,000. More than 50% of the current value of the Sienna. I am now attempting to contact everyone and anyone who will listen, in an attempt to get this situation resolved ' honoring the dashboard cover replacement as Toyota promised me in 2015.

- Lexington, SC, USA

problem #35

Oct 012017

Sienna

  • miles
I didn't know the car was going to be recalled.

- Rowlandheights, CA, USA

problem #34

Mar 172018

Sienna

  • 74,000 miles
Cable on spare tire carrier under vehicle broke and fortunately spare tire appeared to have bounced away form vehicle and in to lava field. Could have been so much worse. Local dealership stated they have no information regarding a recall on the spare tire carrier. However, I see it reflected on line. I have a broken spare tire carrier and cannot locate the spare anywhere if the field. Toyota usa states to contact servco but they are of no help.

- Kealakekua, HI, USA

problem #33

Mar 012017

Sienna

  • miles
Dashboard started becoming soft a few months ago, where if you accidently scraped it with your fingernail a little chunk would come out, and then it started cracking and every time we get in there, there is another crack. Worried about air bag coming out. I'm just now reading that a letter was sent out from Toyota about this to owners, but we never got one. We have gotten one for a couple of other things, but not for this and we didn't get one for clicking noise on driver's door either, which is happening now. I know the car is older, but if these are defects, Toyota should fix them. I'm reading about a lot of people having the same problems.

- Madison, GA, USA

problem #32

Feb 012016

Sienna

  • 160,000 miles
Power sliding door stuck open. Wouldn't budge - we live in the upper peninsulla of Michigan and this happened during the middle of winter as we were getting our children to school. Temps were in the single digits with wind chills -10 to -20 degrees. Had to physically force the door shut to close it. It's still in the same state I left in. Doesn't open. It's just barely closed/latched so the beeper doesn't go off indicating the door is ajar. Cable is broken. Other door is slowly closing on power and when turned off (power option) the door sometime won't stay open but will slide back to closed position. Super heavy door and little children don't create a safe environment.

- Marquette, MI, USA

problem #31

Apr 142017

Sienna

  • 162,392 miles
This is a customers car. I work in an alignment shop. The customer dropped this car off this morning for an alignment. I drove the car into the shop, on the alignment rack this morning. When I got out of the car, and walked around to the front of the car, I noticed the hood was open. I did not remember popping the hood, but I figured I just forgot, and proceeded to shut the hood, as I didn't need it open to align the vehicle. When I tried to close the hood, it would not catch, it just kept popping back up. It seemed to me that the latch was stuck. After looking under the hood, I looked under the dash. What I found, was the hood latch cable was routed under the parking brake arm, every time you set the parking brake, you were "popping" the hood! this can be a very dangerous situation! if you set the parking brake without knowing the hood is open, you could get back in the car and drive away, and have the hood fly open at highway speed, very dangerous! on this car I disconnected the latch cable, and rerouted it.

- Colbert, GA, USA

problem #30

Jan 102017

Sienna

  • miles
I've noticed a crack that has appeared on the dashboard (near glove compartment) at the passenger side going towards the radio player. There's another crack on the dashboard near the vent on the driver's side. I've done my research regarding this and found that it is a known issue for 2005 Toyota Sienna. I've contacted a representative of Toyota dealership in tysons, va for them to take a look. I also wanted to file a formal complaint regarding this issue.

- Herndon, VA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »