RoadVitals

2009 Toyota Sienna Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
14
Latest Jan 19, 2022
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.
7%
of 207 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.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
15

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Toyota Sienna submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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 engine

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

EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 19, 2022

Out of nowhere my vehicle started making a whining noise and then stopped moving then all these lights popped on my Dash getting it towed to a shop to come to find out that the solenoids for the transmission had went bad thank goodness I was on a side road only doing 25 mph I couldn't imagine being on the freeway doing 65 when this happened there has been numerous numerous other reports have the same issue

NHTSA ID
11447982
Incident
Nov 18, 2020
AirbagsEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 6, 2018
Crash reported5 injuries reported

CAR HAD UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION. CAR HAD SOLENOID RECALL REPAIR. CAR WOULD SURGE FORWARD SLIGHTLY UNTIL ACCIDENT CAUSED IT TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. ALSO, TAKATA RECALL. CAR WAS FILLED WITH AIR BAG MATERIAL AND SIDE AIR BAGS CAUSED ALMOST FATAL INJURY TO MY WIFE AND SEVERE INJURY TO MY SON. CAR WAS TRAVELING ON SIDE STREET TRAVELING AROUND 30 MILES PER HOUR UNTIL IT SPED UP TO 68.4 MPH..

NHTSA ID
11076429
Incident
Dec 25, 2014
Mileage
47,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 26, 2018
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING MY SIENNA ON A 2 LANE TOWN ROAD AND WITHOUT WARNING SMELLED SMOKE. AS I WAS PULLING OVER CARS IN THE ONCOMING LANE WERE HONKING AT ME AS THEY SAW THE FIRE UNDERNEATH WHERE THE ENGINE IS. WHEN I PULLED OVER SMOKE ENTERED INTO THE CAR. I STEPPED OUT, HEARD A POP, AND NOW THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS FULL ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON SCENE QUICKLY AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. I FILED AN INCIDENT REPORT WITH TOYOTA. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A MAN SAYING HE WAS HIRED BY TOYOTA TO INVESTIGATE THE FIRE AND REPORT BACK TO THEM. TO DATE, I HAVE RECEIVED ZERO COMMUNICATION FROM ANYONE AT TOYOTA REGARDING THIS SERIOUS MATTER.

NHTSA ID
11065329
Incident
Oct 29, 2017
Mileage
115,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 19, 2017

I HAD A CATASTROPHIC OIL LEAK ALL OVER MY DRIVEWAY AND GARAGE. RESEACHED HISTORY OF THIS TYPE AND FOUND IT WAS IT WAS A RUBBER HOSE ASSOCIATED WITH OIL TRANSFER (ALSO CALLED THE V V T 1 ACTUATOR HOSE. A VOLUNTARY RECALL ON THIS PART ENDED IN 2013. I WILL HAVE IT FIXED BY A LOCAL CAR REPAIR SHOP BUT IF THIS IS A KNOWN PART FAILURE FOR YEARS, WHY WOULD TOYOTA NOT MAKE A MANDATORY RECALL OF THIS FAULTY PART? MY 2009 TOYOTA SIENNA WHICH I JUST PURCHASED 2 MONTHS AGO WILL NOW HAVE A MAJOR CAR REPAIR.

NHTSA ID
11034481
Incident
Oct 18, 2017
Mileage
150,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 11, 2017

THE OIL COOLING HOSE POPPED WHILE DRIVING CAR. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL/SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS ISSUE INVOLVING OTHER TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES. FOR SOME REASON THERE WAS NONE ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE. NOW THERE IS ENGINE DAMAGE. TOYOTA DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE. THEY NEED TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR THE DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID
11022756
Incident
Sep 8, 2017
Mileage
154,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceEngine+1 more
Filed Nov 3, 2016
Crash reported5 injuries reported

TAKATA RECALL ! I WAS DRIVING TOYOTA SIENNA ON LOCAL STREET IN BOCA RATON WHEN CAR HAD UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION. CAR STRUCK A TREE WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO REACT. I HAD AIRBAGS STUFFING IN MY LUNGS WITH CONTUSION AND IN MY INTESTINES. MY SON HAD A BAD CONTUSION ON RIGHT SIDE FROM SIDE AIRBAG. MY WIFE HAD TO SPEND 17 DAYS IN A HOSPITAL BECAUSE CONTUSION ON LUNGS AND MULTIPLE BONES. THE FORCE NOT HER OUT OF HER SEAT ON FLOOR. HER SEAT BELT CUT INTO HER ABDOMEN. SHE ALMOST DIED FROM INJURIES AND INCOMPETENT MEDICAL CARE. MY DAUGHTER WAS SAVED FROM SEVERE INJURY BECAUSE THE SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT FUNCTION. THIS WAS A TERRIBLE HOLIDAY GIFT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10924158
Incident
Dec 25, 2014
Mileage
48,000 mi
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Sep 27, 2015

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A VERY STEEP NARROW UNPAVED DRIVE THE ENGINE STOPPED. ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASH REMAINED ON BATTERY LIGHT WAS ON. STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND THE BREAKS WERE STIFF. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP I RESTARTED THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ID
10777950
Incident
Sep 24, 2015
Mileage
47,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 17, 2015

2GR-FE ENGINE: CYLINDER # 2 VALVE SPRING BROKE.

NHTSA ID
10716938
Incident
May 12, 2015
Mileage
135,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 19, 2015

2009 TOYOTA SIENNA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE OVERHEATING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE REPLACED THE FAN RELAY AND THERMOSTAT. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP, BUT THE OVERHEATING CONTINUED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY LOOKED INTO THE CYLINDERS WITH A BORESCOPE AND SAW MARKS ON THE CYLINDER WALL WHICH LEAD THEM TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BAD AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND SENT TO A MACHINE SHOP TO SEE IF THEY WERE WARPED AND THE CYLINDERS AND ENGINE BLOCK WOULD HAVE TO BE INSPECTED TO SEE IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10690379
Incident
Sep 1, 2013
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Jan 6, 2015
Crash reported5 injuries reported

THE CAR HAD AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM AFTER 5000 MILES. FIRESTONE ALWAYS ALIGNED THE WHEELS BUT 1 WENT THROUGH 3 SETS OF TIRES. THE CAR WOULD SPEED UP THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. THE BRAKES SEEMED TO WORK BUT THEY JUST DID NOT SEEM RIGHT. I NOTICED THE DAY AFTER I DROVE THE RAV4 THE DIFFERENCE FORM THE SIENNA. THE RAVE 4 ALSO JERKS SOMETIMES WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL.

NHTSA ID
10670510
Incident
Dec 25, 2014
Mileage
47,500 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Jul 24, 2013

2009 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN DEVELOPED CORRODED REAR AIR-CONDITIONING LINES AFTER ONLY 4 YEARS. CORROSION CAUSED COMPLETE LOSS OF A/C COOLANT. IT COST ME $118 TO HAVE THE A/C SYSTEM TESTED ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT IT WILL COST ME ANOTHER $1578 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM...AND THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN IN ANOTHER 4 YEARS. DEALERSHIP WON'T HELP. TOYOTA CORPORATE WON'T HELP. IT IS A SCAM THAT THEY USE UNTREATED ALUMINUM A/C LINES THAT THEY ADMIT ARE PRONE TO CORROSION IN NORTHERN CLIMATES WHERE SALT IS USED ON THE ROADS. EASY FIX: PAINT THE A/C LINES! TOYOTA WON'T OFFER ANY HELP WHATSOEVER! I HAVE FOUND AN EMOTIONAL STATE BEYOND RAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10531611
Incident
Jul 22, 2013
Mileage
98,509 mi
Engine
Filed May 25, 2012
Fire reported

2009 TOYOTA SIENNA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FIRE *TGW THE CONSUMER'S INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THAT OIL LEAKED FROM A FAULTY VALVE AND SEAL IN THE MANIFOLD COVER. HOWEVER, TOYOTA PROVIDED A DIFFERENT EXPLANATION AS TO HOW THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THEY STATED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY SPILLED OIL AND OVERFILLING OF OIL. TOYOTA STATED THEY HAVE A PHOTO OF THE DIP STICK PROVING THAT THE OIL WAS OVERFILLED, BUT REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE PICTURE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10459452
Incident
Oct 18, 2011
Engine
Filed Jun 9, 2011

I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA SIENNA WITH ABOUT 37800 MILES ON THE ENGINE. THIS IS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED TOYOTA AND I BOUGHT IT WITH APPROXIMATELY 33000 MILES ON IT IN NOVEMBER OF 2010. AT ABOUT 37000 I NOTICED A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AT IDLE. IT STARTS AFTER THE ENGINE WARMS UP; MOSTLY AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 15 MINUTES. I TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND THE DEALER STATED THEY HEARD IT AND IT'S ONLY NORMAL ENGINE SOUND. THERE IS A TSB 0094-09 THAT ADDRESSES THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE AFFECTED PRODUCTION CHANGE EFFECTIVE VIN ACCORDING TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. AS A MATTER OF FACT MY SIENNA WAS MANUFACTURED ABOUT 2000 VEHICLES AFTER THE AFFECTED PRODUCTION CHANGE EFFECTIVE VIN. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEMS RELATED TO TSB 0094-09 STILL EXIST BEYOND THE AFFECTED VINS IN THE TSB. TOYOTA SHOULD REALLY FIX THESE PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE LOUD TICKING NOISE THAT IS EASILY NOTICED IS NOT NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10405810
Incident
Apr 1, 2011
Mileage
37,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 17, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVELY LOUD RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, AN ODOR OF ANTI-FREEZE CIRCULATED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ID
10311203
Incident
Feb 6, 2009
Mileage
3,000 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .