RoadVitals

2008 Toyota Sienna Seat belts Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Seat belts reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Jun 10, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 428 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Toyota Sienna submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming seat belt

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jun 10, 2018

FRONT DASHBOARD IS CRACKING AND STICKY. I HAVE HEARD TOYOTA HAD A RECALL AT ONE TIME, HOWEVER I CANNOT FIND IT. ALSO, SEATBELT IN THE MIDDLE AND REAR SEATS LOCK OFTEN IN PLACE WITHOUT BREAKING. MUST UNBUCKLE TO RELEASE AND RESET.

NHTSA ID
11100747
Incident
Jan 1, 2018
Mileage
68,000 mi
Interior & seatsSeat belts
Filed May 31, 2018

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL MY FORWARD FACING CAR SEAT USING LATCH, I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE THE HOOK FOR THE TOP TETHER, THAT SHOULD BE LOCATED BEHIND EACH OF MY 2ND ROW SEATS. DESPITE CHECKING THE MANUFACTURERS MANUAL, I WAS MERELY ABLE TO LOCATE WHAT FELT LIKE A HOOK THAT IS COMPLETELY COVERED BY FABRIC. NOT KNOWING ANY BETTER, I MISTAKENLY HOOKED THE TETHER STRAP TO ANOTHER HOOK THAT WAS LOCATED BEHIND THE SEAT. IN COMPLETING A CPST COURSE, I'VE LEARNED THAT THIS PRACTICE COULD HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INJURED OR KILLED MY CHILD IF WE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A WRECK. MY CPST INSTRUCTORS AGREED WITH MY SUSPICION THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE SEATS, AND THAT THE TETHER BAR SHOULD NOT BE COMPLETELY COVERED BY FABRIC. MY FEAR IS THAT OTHER FAMILIES WITH THIS VEHICLE ARE PUTTING THEIR CHILDREN AT RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH BECAUSE THEY AREN'T UTILIZING THE TOP TETHER SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T ACCESS THE BAR FOR IT.

NHTSA ID
11099001
Incident
May 31, 2018
Seat belts
Filed Mar 28, 2018

THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT HAS STARTED RELEASING ITSELF DURING MOTION; THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE. IN ADDITION, WHEN STATIONARY AND ABOUT TO DRIVE, WHEN I TRY TO LATCH THE SEATBELT IT HAS BECOME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE SEATBELT TO LATCH. IN ADDITION, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF THE SEATBELT WHEN STOPPING DRIVING BECAUSE IT IS STUCK IN THE LATCH. THIS COMBINATION OF SELF-RELEASE, NON-LATCHING, AND BEING STUCK IS A SERIOUS DANGER HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA. THE VEHICLE IS UNDRIVEABLE IN THIS CONDITION.

NHTSA ID
11081863
Incident
Mar 19, 2018
Mileage
98,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jan 5, 2017

OUR TOYOTA SIENNA HAS 2 SEAT BELTS THAT WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION PROPERLY. WE CONTACTED TOYOTA (CASE# 1609160545) TOYOTA REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THIS SAFETY RELATED FAILURE. THIS IS OUR FAMILIES MAIN TRANSPORTATION AND WE KEEP IT MAINTAINED. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. A VEHICLE MANUFACTURER HAS AN INCUMBENT DUTY TO DELIVER A PRODUCT THAT IS SAFE FOR CONSUMER USE. I FIND IT VERY CONCERNING TOYOTA FEELS IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO OFFER SEAT BELTS THAT WILL OPERATE PROPERLY FOR THE LIFE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS VEHICLE. WE HAVE SEATS WE CAN'T PUT OUR CHILDREN IN DUE TO THE FACT, THERE IS NO RESTRAINTS TO KEEP THEM SAFE. IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE.

NHTSA ID
10940038
Incident
Jan 5, 2016
Mileage
150,345 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Feb 29, 2016

DRIVER IS NOT REQUIRED TO FASTEN SEAT BELT DUE TO A PROBLEM WIRING OR FAILURE OF THE SEAT BELT LATCH. WORRIED THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH

NHTSA ID
10839099
Incident
Feb 1, 2015
Mileage
90,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Aug 6, 2015

MIDDLE ROW PASSENGER SEAT BELT JAMMED AND WILL NOT RELEASE IT IS LOCKED. UNABLE TO USE SEATBELT. WE WERE ON VACATION AT THE TIME HAD TO DRIVE OVER A 1000 MILES HOME WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO USE THE SEATBELT!! IT HAD JAMMED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE AND AFTER SEVERAL TRIES I WAS ABLE TO UNJAM BUT THIS TIME NOT ABLE TO RELEASE IT. TOOK TO DEALER TODAY FOR THE SPARE TIRE RECALL FIX (BEEN DRIVING AROUND WITH SPARE TIRE IN MY TRUNK UNABLE TO FOLD SEATS DOWN AND USE VAN AS NEEDED FOR ALMOST A YEAR) AND TO HAVE THE SEAT BELT REPAIRED THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY IS BROKEN THIS IS A $496.00 (PARTS AND LABOR) REPAIR.!!! SINCE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA. PART NUMBER #73301AE011B0

NHTSA ID
10746707
Incident
Jul 21, 2015
Mileage
130,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jun 20, 2014

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT HAS FOLDED OVER AND JAMMED. IT IS NOT ABLE TO RETRACT NOW. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10604892
Incident
Jun 20, 2014
Mileage
133,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Apr 23, 2014

THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BECAME JAMMED AND COULD NOT BE RELEASED. I WAS 3 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND, AFTER STRUGGLING FOR A WHILE, HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITHOUT WEARING A SEATBELT. WE HAD TO TAKE APART THE INTERIOR PANEL TO FIX THE SEATBELT. I HAVE GOOGLED AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE SIENNA. *TR

NHTSA ID
10584435
Incident
Apr 23, 2014
Mileage
86,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Feb 18, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BECAME INOPERABLE AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID
10564865
Incident
Jan 1, 2014
Mileage
96,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Dec 22, 2013

THE DRIVER SEAT SEATBELT KEEPS JAMMING, TO THE EXTENT THAT IT WON'T UNJAM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10556966
Incident
Dec 9, 2013
Mileage
77,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Aug 21, 2013

THE E-Z-ON ADJUSTABLE VESTS ARE DESIGNED TO BE TETHERED TO THE VEHICLE LATCH SYSTEM AND THE TETHER ATTACHES TO THE VEST RIGHT NEXT TO THE HEAD OF THE CHILD WEARING IT. THERE IS NO WAY AROUND HAVING THE TETHER POSITIONED NEXT TO THE HEAD OF THE CHILD AND IT IS TETHERED WITH A THICK, HARD, HEAVY PIECE OF METAL. WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO COVER THE HARD METAL WITH THICK FABRIC AND THE HARD METAL IS STILL QUITE CAPABLE OF INJURING THE CHILD WEARING THIS SAFETY SEAT, EVEN WITH PADDING. I AM AMAZED IT IS STILL ON THE MARKET WITH THE CURRENT DESIGN. WE ARE UNABLE TO USE THIS SYSTEM AND WOULD ADVISE OTHERS NOT TO EITHER FOR FEAR OF SIGNIFICANT HEAD TRAUMA FROM THE CHILD SAFETY HARNESS ITSELF. SOME OF THE INFORMATION BELOW IS NOT COMPLETED BECAUSE THIS SAFETY SEAT WAS NOT LISTED IN YOUR DIRECTORY AND BECAUSE THE EXACT PROBLEM IS NOT LISTED ADEQUATELY, EITHER. I CONSIDER THIS SEAT TO BE HIGH RISK FOR ANY CHILD OCCUPANT BECAUSE OF THE VERY OBVIOUSLY LIKELIHOOD OF HEAD TRAUMA! PLEASE LOOK AT THEIR WEBSITE AND HOW THE HARNESS SAFETY SEAT IS SET UP IN THE VEHICLE. IT IS DANGEROUS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE IMAGES AS WELL OF MY CHILD SITTING WITHIN THE HARNESS. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO USE THIS DEVICE AT ALL DUE TO THIS SAFETY RISK. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2008, MAKE=TOYOTA, MODEL=SIENNA). *TR

NHTSA ID
10536436
Incident
Aug 20, 2013
Seat belts
Filed Feb 22, 2013

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FOLDS UP ON ITSELF AND WON'T RELEASE OR RETRACT. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT'S HAPPENED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON BOTH OCCASIONS AND WAS ADVISED TO NOT "YANK THE BELT HARD." PILLAR COVER WAS REMOVED AND SEAT BELT WAS FOUND TO BE "ALL TWISTED INSIDE." IT WAS "ADJUSTED TO NORMAL OPERATION;" HOWEVER, IT COST ME $108 TO GET IT FIXED. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN IN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10499721
Incident
Feb 21, 2013
Mileage
82,316 mi
Seat belts
Filed Mar 14, 2011

I HAVE A RADIAN XTSL CAR SEAT THAT WILL NOT STAY TIGHTLY INSTALLED IN MY 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA WHEN INSTALLED WITH LATCH IN EITHER THE FF OR RF POSITION. I INSTALL IT CORRECTLY, BUT DUE TO THE ANGLE THE LOOSENING MECEHANISM HITS THE SEAT IT CONTINUALLY BECOMES LOOSE. I NOTICED THIS WHEN I PULLED ON THE STRAP TO TIGHTEN THE HARNESS AND THE ENTIRE SEAT LIFTED OFF MY VEHICLE SEAT. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2008, MAKE=TOYOTA, MODEL=SIENNA)

NHTSA ID
10390161
Incident
Mar 14, 2011
Seat belts
Filed Mar 3, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED AND THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT BECOME LOOSE AROUND THE PASSENGER UNTIL THE SEAT BELT WAS UNLATCHED. THE SEAT BELT HAD BECOME EXTREMELY TIGHT AROUND THE PASSENGER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED. AFTER HAVING THE SEAT BELT REPLACED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE SEAT WAS TILTED IN A RECLINED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

NHTSA ID
10386281
Incident
Jul 1, 2010
Mileage
18,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jun 20, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT FOUND THE SECOND ROW SEAT BELT WRAPPED AROUND HER CHILD'S STOMACH. THE CHILD COULD NOT BE FREED FROM THE SEAT BELT, AND IT CONTINUED TO TIGHTEN AROUND HER STOMACH. THE SEAT BELT HAD TO BE PHYSICALLY CUT IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE CHILD. THE CHILD WAS FRIGHTENED, BUT UNINJURED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,108. UPDATED 07/15/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE REPAIRS MADE. UPDATED 07/15/08

NHTSA ID
10231727
Incident
Jun 20, 2008
Mileage
8,108 mi

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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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .