Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
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Our database holds 1,130 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Toyota Sienna. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 1,130 · page 1 of 46
The dashboard has so many cracks literally everywhere. All the way from the driver side to the passenger side. When the temperature changes hot to cold or cold to hot. There’s nothing but cracking sounds.
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the oil warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over, opened the hood, and added additional oil. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who informed him that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 142,000.
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.
When driving on the highway, the van will suddenly brake and the steering will lock up for about 10 seconds. It is truly frightening. It has happened many times, even with the anti-lock button off. I love this vehicle otherwise, but cannot drive it for safety reasons. And I feel bad selling it to anyone else because I don't want anyone to die! The scariest part when it's on a windy 2 lane road. It really becomes non responsive and also the brakes come on when you are going 60+ miles an hour! HELP! I DONT WANT TO DIE
The stickiness of the dashboard causes unwanted glare and reflections on the windshield, especially when driving in bright sunlight. This glare and reflection make it extremely challenging to maintain a clear and unobstructed view of the road ahead, leading to hazy and blurry vision. As you can imagine, this compromised visibility poses a significant safety risk for both my family and other road users. The dashboard was recalled by Toyota however the part was not available at first for many months and by the time I inquired again, the recall had already expired, leaving us without a viable solution.
Air bag warning light illuminated red on dashboard.
The airbag light is on. The seatbelt on the passenger side gets stuck.
I was driving on a dry road, going 70mph when my car began flashing the abs indicator and it began breaking and controlling my steering taking me into another lane. The car slowed my vehicle suddenly down to 60 mph and then went off like it never happened. I then had control. There was no reason for the car to do this. There was nothing in the road and luckily no one was to close to me or there would have been an accident. I almost over corrected due to the pulling of the steering and the breaking of the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated when he walked outside, he noticed that the vehicle had rolled backwards into the middle of the street. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back into the driveway; however, the failure reoccurred. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted, and the manufacturer stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V657000 (Power Train) and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 140,000.
Broken spare tire carrier. Seems to be a common problem on XLE sienna. I have 2005 LE and my spare tire carrier is completely broken. Tried getting a replacement from 5 parts car sienna and they were all broken as well! Another common problems Sienna have are rack and pinions. They always leak. I owned a 1998 then a 2003 sienna and they both leaked from the power steering pack. Spare tire carrier is a dangerous issue. Spare tire can fall off on the road and can cause auto accidents or serious injuries and serious damage to other autos on the road. rack and pinion leaks leave oil on the floor. Steering locks up without power steering which can cause a serious accident.
I was driving on dry road at approximately 65mph. There was a very slight curve in the road and the ABS system engaged without warning resulting in the van power immediately decreasing and fishtailing. Fortunately there was no one immediately behind or beside me or it would have resulted in a collision. I am afraid to use the vehicle. Used a code reader and there are no stored codes.
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.
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the sunroof glass detached from the vehicle and struck the windshield of the vehicle driving behind him. The contact stated that he continued to drive and exited the highway and parked to inspect the vehicle. The contact stated that he was informed by the Police Department 30 minutes later of the damages the sunroof had created. The contact stated that the driver of the other vehicle had multiple lacerations but did not seek medical attention at that time. A police report was filed. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where he was informed that the Webasto sunroof was an aftermarket part. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V042000 (Visibility) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle is being repaired. The contact called manufacturer Webasto and left them a voicemail but had not yet spoken to a representative. The failure mileage was approximately 186,000.
215/65 R 16. Four new CONTINENTAL tires fitted early 2021 to Sienna at Discount Tire in Tucson. July 2021 severe vibration and evidence of tire structural issue photographed. All tires showed similar failure mode.. this was on a very hot day. I took the vehicle to Big O tires and had the front two replaced at my expense so the vehicle was drivable. I returned to Discount Tire in Tucson (Speedway) to ask for a recall check after I learned of the 2021 recall on similar Continental tires for sidewall failure. Discount tire reimbursed one tire. I complained to agent Matthew Harby that the other two tires were dangerous because they showed the same sidewall defect on the hot day. He denied my request for replacement if the remaining two Continental tires because there was no open recall on these. I told I him I was worried about a catastrophic failure in normal operation. I then resumed driving. The weather cooled off and until October the two tires behaved normally again.. On 10/30 about 630pm I was dri ong on I10 and experienced catastrophic tire failure in the outside lane speed approx 65mph. I was fortunate to be able to pull over without losing control but the photo shows the extent of this serious failure. I am now at Discount Tire on Ina Road in Tucson requesting replacement of the failed tire and the final remaining CONTINENTAL tire. The photos should show sufficient evidence of sidewall failure matching the failure mode of the recalled tires. THESE ARE DANGEROUS AND NEED NHTSA ACTION WITH A UNIVERSAL RECALL BEFORE A FATAL EVENT OCCURS
When driving my 2005 Toyota Sienna van tonight, the Traction Control System engaged suddenly on a slight turn at highway speeds, the ABS System automatically engaged and the van pulled to the right, I had to forcibly muscle the steering wheel to remain on the road, in addition to pulling to the right the ABS braking system suddenly and unexpectedly slowed me down from 55 to 30 mph and the alarm sounded. After stopping to check things out, I proceeded cautiously toward home, the same thing happened 2 more times, so I stopped and turned off the "Traction Control System" button. The same thing happened one more time even with the VSA button off. I got online at home and found that this is quite a common issue that Toyota is aware of. This put me and my family at risk and others at severe risk!This is a critical safety issue! Please tell me how to fix it. Many reports of dealerships ripping people off and not fixing the issue. Should be a simple recall fix.
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
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.
When driving the speed limit, going downhill, uphill, straight, around a curve, in the rain or dry weather, the vsc and slip/trac lights up, the abs system is activated / brakes engage. I loose complete control of the van. I can no longer steer or break. The breaks engage, but it causes the car to veer to the right. I have taken the car to the mechanic 5 times now and no codes show, even after he is able to the vehicle to repeat this behavior. It seems to happen a lot on off/on ramps. It happens mostly on highways, but it has happened on two lane roads. The vehicle is completely dangerous to drive. It has almost caused several accidents. I have replaced the Yaw sensors and had several alignments and this still happens. After a lot of research, we have found that this is actually really common in Toyota Sienna. People are saying that the bushings in the rack in pinion wear out and the entire rack and pinion system needs to be replaced. Some people have replaced the rack and pinion and claim that there is still a problem. But the majority say after the rack and pinion is replaced there is not further problems.
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.
I was pulling in my driveway when this incident happened. When exiting my vehicle and opening the driver side door this is what occurred. The driver side sliding door cable snapped and could have potentially hit the driver or me and which could have injured a body part especially the eye or hand. It also made a loud popping noise. There was no warning lights that this would happen and now the door will not open which causes a safety hazard because in case of an emergency this door may need to be opened to escape for safety reasons. Thank you for the investigation of this matter.
WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, FELT THE VAN "JUMPED" THEN ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN WHILE IN REVERSE SWIPED A PARKED TRUCK, AND DID A HALF CIRCLE INTO THE DRIVE-THROUGH OF A PARKING LOT ONLY TO STOPPED WHEN IT HIT ANOTHER SUV. I FELT I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VAN WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING.
ABS PUMP STOPPED WORKING. NO WARNING. BRAKES FAILED,RAN INTO MY GARAGE. TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC. HAD TO PUMP BREAKS TO GET IT THERE OR PAY TOWING COST. LEARNED OVER 2000.00 FOR THE PART. IT IS KNOW TO GO OUT HE SAID AND SHOUOD GAVE BEEN A RECALLED ITEM...
ABS BRAKE PUMP MODULE. WENT OUT CAUSING ACCIDENT. NO WARNING. ABS LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK TO SHOP. DRAINING BATTERY,CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL. SHOUOD BE RECALLED DUE TO NO WARNING,COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE,CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE DANGEROUS, NOT ROAD WORTHY.
FRONT TIRES - EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR PROBLEMS
DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. IT GIVES DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER A SENSE THAT THE SEATBELTS WORK ONLY TO FIND THE SEATBELT IS LOOSE AT THE WAIST. A KNOWN PROBLEM BY TOYOTA IN THE 2016 "CAMPAIGN" WHEREBY THEY INSTALLED DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELTS. HERE IT IS 2020 AND THE EXACT SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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