2023 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Owner Complaints

Seatbelt intermittently would latch since purchasing vehicle, and then completely failed and will no longer latch/clip in. This is 3rd row passenger side.

NHTSA ID

11756259

Incident

Aug 1, 2024

While driving on the freeway with my small children in the backseat a loud pop sounded and glass from the moon roof came shattering down upon us. The glass hit my face, arms, hair, and fell into my seat and all around the interior of the car. Though glass fell along my face my vision was not obstructed and I was able to safely exit the freeway without accident. The glass, though did make its way towards the backseats, did not hit my children. There was no warning or issues with the car or window.

NHTSA ID

11750344

Incident

Jul 13, 2026

On June 11, 2026, a BraunAbility Turny Evo seat system, installed by a third-party mobility dealer, suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure while in operation. A passenger with a physical disability was secured in the equipment when the mechanism seized, trapping the individual mid-cycle. The remote control displayed a mandatory "Code 19" error, rendering the equipment unresponsive and creating an immediate safety crisis. Beyond this mechanical failure, the vehicle's structural integrity is compromised. The floor plates and railings, which are critical for the securement of this mobility equipment, are loose and rattling, posing a severe risk of detachment while in motion. Furthermore, the interior upholstery was permanently damaged during the installation process, and a secondary mobility hoist system—which was paid for in full—was never installed. The dealer and the manufacturer have been notified of these dangerous structural and mechanical defects but have failed to provide a safe, complete repair. The vehicle is currently unsafe to operate and poses a direct threat to the safety of the passenger.

NHTSA ID

11748630

Incident

Jun 11, 2026

The brakes on the hybrid system release during braking. Which send the van lurching forward, this typically happens a lower speeds, under 20mph. Which makes it unsafe as you do not stop when you are expecting.

NHTSA ID

11736558

Incident

May 6, 2024

while braking and coming to a stop the van surges forward (while brakes are being applied). This has nearly caused accidents on 2 occasions, and has happened 2 other times in the past few months

NHTSA ID

11735743

Incident

May 4, 2026

When braking, there is a sudden jerk and surge in power at low speeds. It feels like you are losing control of the car. It feels unsafe to drive the car.

NHTSA ID

11734227

Incident

Apr 27, 2026

The drivers rear seat on toyota sienna minivans has play in it. My concern is that when you install a car seat tight, the seat has play and can loosen. I can send a video. Picture won't help. It appears to be a common issue with these.

NHTSA ID

11734036

Incident

Sep 6, 2024

The complaint was filed on behalf of the contact's employer. The contact drives a 2023 Toyota Sienna Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact stated that the acceleration occurred while the contact was making a right turn. The contact stated that the vehicle shifted from hybrid to high speed within a second. The brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The vehicle crashed into another vehicle before coming to a complete stop. The vehicle sustained damage to the front driver's side door. No warning lights were illuminated. No Police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall which had a similar failure description, however the VIN was not associated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000. VIN unavailable.

NHTSA ID

11733515

Incident

Apr 23, 2026

Mileage

12,000 mi

2023 Toyota Sienna occasionally, without warning, "lurches" forward at low speeds when braking. While putting steady pressure on the brake when coming to a stop at a stop sign or traffic light etc. it feels as if the brakes stop applying pressure and if we wouldn't have quick reflexes to brake harder, we would roll out into the road or into the car in front of us. I believe it is something to do with the transition between regenerative braking (vehicle is a hybrid) and the hydraulic braking. I have spoken to Toyota, and they don't have any recall. People posting on online forums seem to believe there is a software update (T-SB-0047-24) that helps address the concern. Toyota charges to diagnose and apply software updates as the vehicle is out of warranty. I believe this to be a safety issue and something Toyota should cover. Based on my online search, there seems to be a lot of people with the same issue. This has been an ongoing issue the last couple of years and I'm thinking it should be reported. I have not brought this to a dealer to have diagnosed. These are largely family vehicles and my wife, and I don't feel very comfortable every time it happens.

NHTSA ID

11731879

Incident

Apr 4, 2024

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Sienna Hybrid. The contact stated that her husband pressed the automatic liftgate button to close, unaware that their child was near the trunk. The contact's son's left hand became trapped beneath the liftgate, and her husband had to yank the liftgate open to free the child's hand. The child received medical attention for bruising on his left hand. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11721987

Incident

Dec 7, 2025

Mileage

60,000 mi

Front brakes make a clicking noise that happens when accelerating and breaking, the brake pads may have some play or even the calipers may be malfunctioning. Vehicle is still under warranty and Toyota service center refuses to address the issue. They want me to spend $160+ to have them grease the brake pads, but they don't guarantee that this will fix the problem. On a fairly new hybrid van that has almost no wear on the brakes, this shouldn't happen, and when it does, Toyota should acknowledge and address the issue.

NHTSA ID

11720630

Incident

Feb 26, 2026

The vehicle experienced water intrusion into the interior cabin shortly after delivery in 2023. The water intrusion affected electrical components related to the airbag and Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). The vehicle remains in my possession and is available for inspection upon request. Moisture exposure to airbag and SRS components presents a serious safety risk because these federally regulated systems may fail to deploy, deploy improperly, or deploy unexpectedly in the event of a collision, increasing the risk of injury or death. The issue was reported multiple times to authorized Toyota dealerships while the vehicle was under factory warranty, and repair attempts were made; however, the water intrusion and related safety concerns were not resolved. The manufacturer and its authorized dealers were made aware of the defect through repeated service visits and customer complaints. Warning indicators related to the airbag/SRS system appeared after the water intrusion occurred, and the defect first manifested within weeks of vehicle delivery in 2023.

NHTSA ID

11717639

Incident

May 1, 2023

While turning right at approximately 5–10 mph, the vehicle was struck on the front passenger side. The impact caused moderate intrusion of the passenger door, severe damage to the front-right corner of the vehicle, and damage to the dashboard. Despite the structural damage and intrusion into the occupant compartment, none of the airbags deployed, including driver frontal, passenger frontal, side torso, or curtain airbags. Both occupants were wearing seatbelts, which activated normally. The driver sustained a right-side rib fracture caused by seatbelt force, required ambulance transport to the emergency room, and continues to experience ongoing symptoms. A child passenger seated in the front passenger seat struck her head against the window, resulting in a brain concussion with symptoms including headache and dizziness, requiring emergency medical evaluation. No airbag warning lights were present before or after the crash. The vehicle is preserved in post-crash condition and is available for inspection. This appears to be an airbag system failure / crashworthiness defect that resulted in enhanced injuries due to airbag non-deployment.

NHTSA ID

11709442

Incident

Dec 19, 2025

Brakes will intermittently lurch when coming to a stop with normal braking pressure. The lurch feels like the brakes have stopped working and the driver has to press harder on the brake to avoid rear ending the vehicle in front. Brake pedal feels normal the entire time. Dealership is unable to duplicate on a test drive since the issue is intermittent.

NHTSA ID

11686702

Incident

Sep 2, 2025

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, there was a popping sound coming from the sunroof, and the contact discovered that the sunroof had shattered. Neither the dealer nor an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11686058

Incident

Sep 9, 2025

Mileage

70,000 mi

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving, the fuel gauge indicated there was 121 miles of fuel available. The contact stated that within twenty miles, the fuel gauge indicated that the fuel tank was empty. The contact stated that when the gauge indicated 170 miles available, the fuel usage decreased quickly. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had occurred several times. The contact stated that the vehicle was purchased and modified for transporting the contact’s disabled son. The Freedom Motor company provided the modification requests. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the modification company several times, however no assistance was provided. The contact was advised to always keep the fuel tank full. The contact stated that it was very hot and dangerous to be driving a vehicle and running out of fuel while transporting her disabled son. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11680632

Incident

Jul 4, 2025

When I go to brake the brakes seem to malfunction and skip engagement. I’ve had acceleration happen in the vehicle when I brake. At one time this caused my speed to jump while braking, I went from 5 to 10 MPH. This now happens several times a week.

NHTSA ID

11677171

Incident

Jul 29, 2025

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Sienna Hybrid. The contact stated while driving and depressing the brake pedal to come to a stop, the vehicle jolted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle was operating as designed. Additionally, the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the messages "Parking Brake Malfunction", "Parking Brake Unavailable" and "Door Ajar" were displayed. The gear shift indicator light and the parking brake warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the main wiring harness underneath the gear shifter was corroded. The dealer informed the contact the wiring harness would be replaced at the contact's expense. The contact stated that the failure occurred because there was no protective shielding around the wiring harness. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 44,242.

NHTSA ID

11669159

Incident

Jun 17, 2025

Mileage

44,242 mi

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Sienna Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and turning the steering wheel there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the sound came from the front and the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice; however, the contact was informed that the sound was due to normal wear and tear. In addition, the contact was informed that the vehicle was safe to drive. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to another dealer for a second opinion. The failure mileage was approximately 52,200.

NHTSA ID

11665272

Incident

Apr 6, 2025

Mileage

52,200 mi

multiple times this has been an issue. I stepped on the break and the car essentially leaps forward typically when going up down or straight. In November 2024 it happened while going up a hill slowly and I bumped into the vehicle ahead of me. My vehicle had no damage, but the car in front of me had to get a new skid plate and my insurance doubled because of it. Since the incident in November 2024, my car has unintentionally accelerated intermittently. finally, April 2025 this happened my car started shaking jolted forward, engine revving, and then my check engine light came on then immediately contacted my local dealership and scheduled an appointment to get my car in. They have had my vehicle since then and have said it is not safe to give it back to me so I am currently driving a loaner vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11660961

Incident

May 14, 2025

The (PCS) Precollision System has been already set to LOW sensitivity, but every once in awhile when pulling in to oncoming traffic the vehicle would think there's still a car and just stalls for a few seconds (nonresponsive to acceleration pedal) leading to a dangerous occurrence where I could be hit by a vehicle because I've basically stopped in an active intersection. My vehicle is clean, so no dirt blocking the sensors, and I also own a 5th gen RAV4 without this issue.

NHTSA ID

11655001

Incident

Apr 12, 2025

The sunroof spontaneously exploded while in a closed position, not in use in any way, while driving in the rain on the highway. While driving at highway speed, a sudden “shotgun blast sound” occurred. The interior cover was closed. Wind noise became immediately apparent. Upon stopping to inspect, the exterior sunroof glass had shattered with the appearance it blew out from the inside, as the middle section was protruding upward. The sunroof has been used very minimally since purchasing the vehicle right at a year ago. There have been no issues with the sunroof. The vehicle is going to the dealership body shop in the next few days.

NHTSA ID

11652934

Incident

Apr 4, 2025

The brakes on my '23' Hybrid Toyota Sienna seem to have a sudden acceleration when braking at times. Typically, it happens when braking going down a hill or around a curve (at slower speeds) and sometimes when trying to come to a full stop. This has caused me to almost rear-end other vehicles on several occasions and has also caused me to go slightly beyond the stop sign, putting the nose of my car in the street. It is not reproducible at the dealership. It has happened since I drove it off the lot in July of 2023 and happens randomly and without warning. This is scary when you seem to be braking in plenty of time to keep safe distances and then you suddenly get propelled forward! It happens weekly and has happened weekly since purchase. In speaking with other owners, this sounds like a common issue.

NHTSA ID

11652711

Incident

Jul 24, 2023

intermittent brake issues, primarily characterized by a "brake release" sensation where the brakes momentarily disengage while slowing down, causing the vehicle to lurch forward unexpectedly, sometimes happening during turns or on uneven roads and downhills and even while stopping at any light or a normal road sometimes

NHTSA ID

11640245

Incident

Feb 1, 2025

The vehicle has a standard installation of a kick sensor for the rear hatch. I purchased the vehicle used and was able to start the vehicle and drive it for a period of time hoping to charge up the 12V battery. However, upon stopping the vehicle I could not restart it. Even after repeated jumpstart and driving the vehicle for over 45 minutes, the 12 V battery could not restart the car. I read about a similar issue with 2022 Toyota vehicles and so I followed the directions to disable the kick sensor. I then jumpstarted the car, drove it around and I found I could restart the car even after a short drive. I left the vehicle sitting in my driveway for two days and I could still restart the vehicle. I believe the 2023 Toyota sienna has the same issue as the 2022 model and the kick sensor needs to be replaced so it doesn’t drain the 12V battery when the sensor gets dirty. I live in the Midwest and this happened during January when there was snow and slush on the streets.

NHTSA ID

11639214

Incident

Jan 7, 2025