2017 Toyota Sienna Complaints

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 10/01/2026

Transmission is making a high pitch sound

POWER TRAIN — Filed 09/07/2026

Transmission has high pitch wine that is consistent and rises with speed... Toyota expains I have 500 to 5000 miles before carrier bearing completely fails... Toyota has an extended warranty for Sienna UA80e transmission in 2017/2018... The issue is exactly as they explain in their warranty extension for 10yrs, unlimited miles... My vin number did fall on their list... BUT it is the exact issue... It should be covered, especially since they know !!

STRUCTURE — Filed 02/13/2026

The fuel filler door assembly on this 2017 Toyota Sienna failed structurally due to a defective hinge mechanism. This defect directly compromises a critical vehicle safety system. The Sienna is engineered with a physical safety interlock cable that links the fuel door to the driver-side sliding passenger door. This system is designed to prevent the heavy power-sliding door from operating while the fuel cap is off, protecting occupants from injury and preventing the door from violently striking a gas station fuel pump nozzle during refueling. Because the fuel door assembly failed, the safety interlock mechanism was compromised, presenting an immediate risk of fuel pump damage, fuel spillage, or passenger injury from the sliding door. Toyota corporate previously issued a Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP) to address this specific structural defect. However, my local franchised Toyota dealership refused to preform comprehensive repair, claiming they "only cover the pin". This dealer non-compliance forced me to seek immediate out-of-pocket repairs at an adjoining facility to restore the vehicle's structural safety interlock system. Toyota Corporate is refusing to remediate this safety-related failure. I have made several attempts to resolve this directly with Toyota Corporate (6 or more), without success. This included several phone calls, and a letter written to the Toyota Brand Engagement Center, which went unanswered.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 04/01/2026

I, as well as other owners of 2017–2018 Toyota Highlanders and 2017–2018 Siennas are experiencing serious transmission issues—including high-pitched whining, erratic shifting, clunks, hesitation, and premature failure. My 2017 Toyota Sienna has the UA80 8-speed automatic transmission at issue and started whining upon acceleration in March/April 2026 timeframe. It has always had the clunking and hesitation problem. According to Gears Magazine, the issue stems from a flawed assembly process involving the counter drive gear support. A locking tab meant to secure a vital retaining nut was not bent properly during factory assembly. This leads to gear movement, internal wear, whining, and eventually failure. Unknown to me, in 2019, Toyota had acknowledged the problem in Technical Service Bulletins T-SB-0160-18, T-SB-0008-21, which only go to dealers, and implemented a limited Customer Support Program (CSP ZJC)—but only offered coverage to a narrow group of VINs, not to all VINs for model years that have these transmissions. My car is experiencing these same symptoms. My Toyota Dealer confirmed this problem and recommended a transmission replacement for $11,000 including labor. They said my VIN was not included in the Customer Support Program. Driving with a failing transmission is highly dangerous. A bad transmission can cause sudden power loss causing the car to halt to a sudden stop, unintended acceleration, or my car might get stuck in neutral while driving. I could lose control or be unable to get to the shoulder on the highway, cause a rear-end collision, or get stuck in busy traffic. DESIRED OUTCOME REQUEST: My VIN should be covered under the Customer Support Program in the category of cars that are “less than 10 years old regardless of mileage” or a full recall of all VINs of these model years with these transmissions should be executed. Thank you.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 10/17/2025

power sliding door (behind front passenger) does not fully engage arresting hook and tends to immediately return to open position and after hitting the button again starts welling. It started about eight months ago. Now it isn’t connected at all, I just open or close it and it slides but don’t try to open it first if it’s locked or the alarm blares. I may have pulled or pushed it too many times trying to open or close it so I could drive the car. Looks like others have had the same issue with their driver side passenger door too.

AIR BAGS — Filed 05/12/2025

The contact owned a 2017 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving alone at 70 MPH and attempting not to hit tire tread in the road, she crashed into the median, her vehicle drove into a ditch, the vehicle spun twice, and then crashed head-on into a tree where it came to a stop. The driver's side air bags did not deploy, but the passenger air bags deployed when there was no occupant seated. The contact sustained neck and back injuries, and medical attention was sought via the hospital. A police report was filed, but it was not available at this time. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 216,000.

AIR BAGS — Filed 04/26/2025

On [XXX], I was involved in a car accident in Saint John, Indiana, while driving my 2017 Toyota Sienna. The vehicle was hit on the passenger side, but none of the airbags deployed. As a result, I sustained serious injuries including cervical disc herniations, nerve compression, and ongoing pain. Since then, I’ve been unable to perform daily tasks, drive, care for my children, or work as I did before. I confirmed with Toyota that my vehicle has no active recalls, including for airbags, yet this failure occurred. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the incident. The airbag system has not yet been inspected or confirmed defective by a service center, but I am willing to make the vehicle available for inspection if needed. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this failure, as it may represent a serious safety defect that could affect others driving the same model. I can provide supporting documentation, including medical records, police report, and photos of the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 08/22/2023

Parked the car on an incline (our driveway) like we have a 100 times before. Went inside to unload groceries. Came back to the car and from the passenger seat reached over to press the auto-off button. When that was pressed the car started to roll down our driveway with our daughter in the back seat. It rolled across the street, hit the side of our neighbors house, and landed in the woods. My wife sustained major injuries to her arms, legs, hands, and back. She was also 9 months pregnant. Toyota dealership says there's nothing wrong after a 30 minute inspection.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 05/11/2023

When going down a parking ramp exit, my foot has slipped off the brake 3 time. When looking at the brake pedal it is smaller than most brake pedals. I don't know if anyone else has had this problem, but mandating a minimal size for brake pedal might help

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 01/19/2023

Today I had a crash and luckily walked away. I went down an embankment at speed into trees where the vehicle rolled and struck trees head on. All the vehicle airbags deployed and vehicle came to rest on the drivers side. Although there was electrical power and the engine still running none of the right side doors would open and neither would the rear hatch which was clear of obstruction! Had there been a fire I wouldn't be making this report! Doors need to be operable regardless of situation when none of them are jammed from an accident!

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — Filed 05/10/2022

I was driving my 2017 Sienna on 5/10/2022 and was approaching a roundabout. As I was going thru the roundabout, my van stalled. I coasted into a gas station. After a few minutes I notice smoke coming from under my hood. I popped the hood and noticed the smoke was coming from the air intake. We called AAA and they towed it to the dealership we bought it new from and had all services done at. The next day we authorized them to do a diognostic on it where they found a burnt airfilter and melted housing. Heiser Toyota in Milwaukee WI has not repaired the van yet and we wanted to talk to Toyota customer service and your office to see what we should do. We called insurance and a claim has been started - not sure if they have inspected the van yet. It is available for you to inspect. All warning lights were on when it stalled. There was no power loss or any warning before it stalled.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 10/14/2021

On 10/14/2021, as my wife was pulling into our attached garage, the vehicle suddenly accelerated, hitting a metal storage shelf located at the back wall of the garage. The impact of the crash caused the vehicle and the shelf to extensively damage the dry wall of that area of the garage, as well as to damage the pedestal supporting the house water heater, which resulted in the water heater detaching away from the wall and being destroyed. There was, of course, also major damage to the front bumper area of the vehicle. It is my contention that the cause of the accident lies in some component of the vehicle acceleration system. I believe this to be true because of two prior incidents which occurred within the month before this happened. On 09/16/2021, I was driving this vehicle and wanted to make a U-turn. I was traveling at approximately 10 MPH, but as I began the turn, suddenly, the vehicle accelerated to about 25 MPH, even though my foot was off the accelerator. My wife and granddaughter were in the vehicle at the time and both expressed alarm, somehow thinking I had purposely made this maneuver, which I assured them that I had not. Then, approximately 7-10 days later (I am unsure of the date), I was driving, alone, in this vehicle and went to make a left-hand turn. The vehicle again accelerated, even though I had removed my foot from the accelerator pedal and was applying the brakes. I estimate that as I began the turn, my speed was 10-15 MPH, but the vehicle accelerated to 25-30 MPH. I dismissed both of these prior incidents as not too important and attributed them to some unknown anomaly on the road. However, after the latest incident involving the damage to my garage and vehicle, research showed that several Toyota models and specifically the Sienna have had similar issues in the past. I am reporting this incident to Toyota for their evaluation, but wanted to make your agency aware, also.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 10/15/2021

On October 15, 2021 at 2 pm I drove into the driveway of a friend. I turned to the right of the driveway on her grass so I could backup and face the road. I’ve done this many times in the past. On this day as I put my foot on the break the van accelerated at a very very high speed. The van was out of my control at this point. I do not know how fast because this all happened in seconds. I was heading straight to their privacy wood fence only feet away. Approximately 20 feet. I don’t recall breaking again but turned the wheel to the right trying to avoid the fence. I hit the fence at a high speed damaged the left bumper and scraped the drivers side of the door. The next second I attempt to break again so I could back out of this when the van continued to accelerate at high speed going straight toward the house only a few feet away. I attempted to avoid the house and hit the right bumper hard at a high speed on the corner of the house. At this point the acceleration stopped and I was able to backup and turn the car around and finally turn the car off. There is major damage to the van and some to the fence and house. I was very upset and in shock and some soreness the next day but thankfully no one was hurt. This is a very small yard area that this took place at. I am still in shock and extremely confused as to why this happened. I do know without question my foot was not in the accelerator. The van is presently in the body shop. I would like to mention I have a clean record at the age of 64 I have never had an accident and/or speeding ticket in my life. This truly was not human error. I’m a very experienced driver. If it was human error the van should have stopped at the first point of impact on the fence, but did not. It continued to accelerate at a fast speed after hitting the fence hard. The van paused but continued to accelerate at this point when I hit the break again and it went toward the right straight for their house.

STRUCTURE,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES — Filed 09/05/2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR OPENED AND FAILED TO LATCH. AS A RESULT, THE DOOR RETRACTED WHILE THE CONTACT'S ARM WAS STILL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO JERK HER ARM OUT OF THE VEHICLE, BUT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND SCRAPES TO THE ARM. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA OF NORTH CHARLOTTE (13429 STATESVILLE RD, HUNTERSVILLE, NC 28078, (704) 875-9199) AND A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 6, 2019. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,397.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 06/12/2019

VAN WERE ON A SLIGHT SLOPE DRIVEWAY WITH ENGINE STILL TURN ON AND SHIFT IN PARK. WHEN TURN THE ENGINE OFF, THE VAN ROLE BACKWARD INTO THE STREET. THIS COULD BE A RESULT OF GEAR SHIFT OUT OF PARK. IT IS A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS — Filed 03/08/2019

TAKATA RECALL(?) MY HUSBAND BOUGHT ME A 2017 TOYOTA SIENNA IN FEBRUARY 2019, IT WAS PREVIOUSLY A RENTAL. THE VAN WAS IMMACULATE AND ONLY HAD ABOUT 20,000 MILES AT TIME OF PURCHASE. ON OR ABOUT MARCH 8, 2019 WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO DINNER AT ABOUT 9 P.M. I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, FOOT ON THE BRAKE, MAYBE 15 MPH AND I LOOKED DOWN FOR A SECOND AND ENDED UP REAR ENDING A VEHICLE AND IN THE END THERE WERE 3 VEHICLES BESIDES MINE INVOLVED (4 TOTAL). THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO MY VAN, THE PLASTICS CRUMPLED AND IT APPEARED TO HAVE NO MAJOR DAMAGE OUTSIDE OF THE PLASTICS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DESPITE THE FRONT END COLLISION. AT THE BODY SHOP, UPON TEAR DOWN THE PASSENGER SIDE RAIL WAS DAMAGED AS WELL AS THE AIR BAG SENSORS WERE CRUSHED. ONE WOULD THINK IF THE SENSORS WERE CRUSHED THE AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED PRIOR. IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE SENSORS IT WOULD REQUIRE A NEW WIRING HARNESS AND TO REPLACE THAT WOULD REQUIRE REMOVAL OF ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. MY $26,000 2017 SIENNA WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES WAS TOTALED. THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND DIDN'T. THERE WAS NO 'HARD HIT' AND NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLES (REAR BUMPERS) OR TO MY HUSBAND OR MYSELF. MY FIRST CONCERN IS THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING, THE SECOND IS HAVING HAD THE VAN TOTALED OVER A 'MINOR REAR END COLLISION' *DT 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 11/09/2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE — Filed 08/10/2018

HUSBAND LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR DRIVING 75 MILED PER HOUR ON HIGHWAY. "AWD BRAKE OVERRIDE. CONTACT DEALERSHIP" CAME ON A GAUGE. PULLED OFF SIDE OF I-95 AND CAR SHOOK AND CAME TO A COMPLETE HAULT AFTER MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. WE IMMEDIATLEY NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON DRIVER SIDE. EVACUATED, CALLED 911. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE GET TOYOTA TO INVESTIGATE SINCE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST 2017 TOYOTA SIENNA TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE SAME MANNER.

STRUCTURE — Filed 12/20/2017

THE DOOR WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY AND CLOSED BY ITSELF MANY TIMES WITHOUT DETECTING IF PEOPLE WERE IN THE WAY AND CRUSHED A CHILD AND HE WAS INJURED

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 08/10/2018

WE WERE DRIVING SOUTH ON I-95 AT 4 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING HEADING TO VACATION IN MYRTLE BEACH. 2 HOURS INTO OUR DRIVE AT 6 AM, DRIVER STATED THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING ON WITH THE CAR. FELT LIKE HE WAS LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR . I LOOKED OVER AND SAW A GAUGE THAT READ AWD BRAKE OVERRIDE CONTACT DEALERSHIP. IT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN EVEN MORE SO HE PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WHEN HE DID THE CAR SHOOK AND VIBRATED AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP SMOKE WITH SEEN COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. AND THEN A SECOND LATER A FLAME SHOT OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. IT ALL HAPPENED SO QUICKLY. I TOLD EVERYBODY TO GET OUT OF THE CAR THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. I GRABBED MY PHONE AND MY PURSE AND JUMPED OUT AND CALLED 911. FIRE ENGINE SHOWED UP AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE WAS SUPER FAST.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 08/09/2018

VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND IN "PARK". VEHICLE APPARENTLY SLIPPED OUT OF "PARK" ON ITS OWN AND BEGAN ROLLING OUT OF GARAGE, DOWN AN INCLINED DRIVEWAY, ACROSS AN ALLEY, AND INTO A NEIGHBORING FENCE.

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS — Filed 05/08/2018

WHILE WAITING IN TRAFFIC ON A COUNTY ROAD TO TURN LEFT, OUR SIENNA WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CAR TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. FRONT ROW SEATBELTS DID NOT ENGAGE, NOR DID FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOY. OUR SIENNA HIT THE STOPPED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US UPON IMPACT AS WELL. ONLY RIGHT SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND MIDDLE ROW SEATBELTS RESTRAIN. THIS RESULTED IN MULTIPLE INJURIES TO THE FRONT ROW PASSENGERS, INCLUDING A SEVERE CONCUSSION.

STRUCTURE,ENGINE — Filed 06/29/2018

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR. MY 'CHECK ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM' WARNING ALARM CAME ON SHORTLY FOLLOWED BY THE: CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY ALARM, COLLISION BREAKING SYSTEM, ETC. I'M CERTAIN THERE WERE MORE ALERTS GOING OFF; HOWEVER I WAS TRYING TO STEER A CAR, THAT HAD LOST POWER OFF THE ROADWAY. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR SAFELY ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE I ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. I COULDN'T TURN THE CAR OFF UNTIL I REALIZED I NEEDED THE CAR TO BE IN PARK. AFTER I TURNED THE CAR OFF I NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. I OPENED THE DOOR & GOT MY THREE YEAR OLD SON OUT OF THE CAR & NOTICED MORE BLACK SMOKE. I QUICKLY DISTANCED MYSELF FROM THE VEHICLE & NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I CALLED 911 BUT THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN MINUTES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED WITHIN 5 MINUTES & WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. *JS

STEERING — Filed 07/29/2017

LOST STEERING ABILITY FROM SOME CAUSE AFTER A LANE CHANGE, ON A HIGHWAY, VEHICLE CONTINUED INTO THE SHOULDER AND WOULD NOT ALLOW CORRECTION INTO THE LANE. POSSIBLE CAUSE IN MY OPINION MAY HAVE BEEN A L. FRONT TIRE BLOW OUT OR A STEERING LINKAGE ISSUE OR POSSIBLY THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. IF THE TIRE BLEW OUT PRIOR TO THE RESULTING COLLISION, IT WAS EITHER DEFECTIVE OR PICKED UP DEBRIS ON THE HIGHWAY.

AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 02/16/2017

OUR 2016 SIENNA WHICH WE PURCHASED LAST MAY ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN ON 2/16/2017 GOING THROUGH OUR SOUTH OUTSIDE WALL AND MASTER BATHROOM OF OUR HOUSE. MY HUSBAND LEFT THE VAN IN THE DRIVEWAY, UNLOADED THE GROCERIES, THEN GOT BACK INTO THE VAN, STARTED IT, PUT HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE VAN ACCELERATED INTO THE THE GARAGE. WE HAVE AN EXTENDED GARAGE WHICH HAD AN OFFICE AREA AND IT PROCEEDED TO PUSH THE OAK DESK THROUGH THE SOUTH EAST OUTSIDE WALL AND MASTER BATH. AS IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND BURN RUBBER ON OUR FINISHED GARAGE FLOOR, WITH HIS FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE SLAMMED IT INTO REVERSE. THE SIENNA SHOT OUT OF THE GARAGE, HEADED DOWN OUR DRIVE, INTO OUR LAWN AND OVER OUR WINTER SNOW STAKES. KNOWING IT WAS NOT STOPPING AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING OTHER THAN LETTING HIM PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR, HE ONCE AGAIN SLAMMED IT INTO DRIVE. THE SIENNA SHOT INTO THE GARAGE A SECOND TIME, HITTING THE S. E. WALL AND YET AGAIN CONTINUED TO BURN RUBBER ON OUR FLOOR AS IT PUSHED THE DESK FURTHER THOUGH THE WALL. ONCE AGAIN, COMPLETELY BESIDE HIMSELF MY HUSBAND SLAMMED IT INTO REVERSE AND WHEN OUTSIDE IT FINALLY STOPPED AFTER HE STOMPED ON THE BREAKS WITH ALL HIS MIGHT! THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE BRAKES EVERY BEGIN TO WORK TO SLOW IT DOWN. WE WILL NEVER DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN AND IT IS BEING STORED AT CARLSON TOYOTA UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS INTENDS TO DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WE ALSO NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE TO DO BEINGS OUR SIENNA WAS PAID FOR AND NOW IT IS WORTHLESS TO US.