Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Toyota Sienna submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 67 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.
The 25 most recent of 67, in the owner's own words
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Toyota Sienna. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase in 2025, the mileage was 110,000. The contact stated that a Carfax report indicated that the mileage was 300,000.
The catalyst, the Evap and the EGR/VVT
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was intermittently illuminated while driving. The contact stated that the warning light turned off while restarting the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the sliding doors failed to function automatically and required to be opened or closed manually. The contact stated that while attempting to open the front driver's side door in icy and snowy weather, the door made an abnormal cracking sound and failed to open. The contact stated that the passenger's side door made an abnormal cracking sound but opened as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 9,999.
Vehicle: 2011 Toyota Sienna XLE VIN: [XXX] Mileage: ~204,800 Incident Date: [XXX] Recent Service: Oil change, tire rotation, brake inspection, and multipoint inspection performed on November 10, 2025 at Fitzgerald Toyota Gaithersburg (Maryland). Description of the Defect: On [XXX] while driving with my child in the vehicle, my 2011 Toyota Sienna experienced a sudden and dangerous failure. A strong burning smell entered the cabin, the ABS warning light illuminated, and then wheels locked up while the vehicle was in motion. At the same time, the steering wheel locked, making the vehicle impossible to steer. The engine immediately lost power and shut down in the middle of the roadway. The vehicle would not restart and had to be towed. This failure occurred four days after dealership service at Fitzgerald Toyota Gaithersburg, which included an oil change, tire rotation, and brake inspection. The dealership initially claimed the failure was due to a “dead battery,” and the following day changed the explanation to a “shorted alternator.” A weak battery or alternator failure does not explain a mechanical wheel lock or steering wheel lock while driving. The dealership has refused to provide diagnostic documentation or photographs of the components involved. This incident presents a significant safety hazard, and if it had occurred at highway speeds, it could have resulted in a severe crash. I am reporting this to request investigation into a potential safety defect involving the steering system, braking/ABS system, electrical system, or related components. Safety Risk: High. Loss of steering control + wheel lock + engine shutdown presents an immediate crash hazard. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I have complained about both rear sliding doors acting erratically for almost 3 years. These doors were under a recall, as they sometimes were overloaded and would cause the fuse to blow and the door(s) would/could swing open while moving. It happened to me NUMEROUS times. Once it was so bad, that I couldn’t bring my son yo school because the door wouldn’t stay shut. They beep upon auto open and you have to fight the door open or shut no matter if you switch off the “auto door” button or not. It has been to 3 different dealers in less than 3 years. The first dealer only replaced one junction box, and wiring harness on the passenger door because that it the only door that acted up while they were in possession of sienna. The door less than a 1000 miles later started to have issues - opening, closing, staying closed. I brought it to another dealer closer to my new house - they did not fix it as it didn’t do it for them with 10 tries while parked using auto and manual settings. That seems irresponsible and irrelevant as the ongoing customer complaint is the door swinging open whilst driving (neither dealer drove it, to see if it would swing open). Nonetheless, as the drivers side door never acted up at any dealer visit - they never replaced the recalled parts even knowing it has issues and saw video of it that I took. My vehicle is now sitting at a dealer with a $1600 repair bill for the same latch, as well as the back latch for the “recalled” parts - and they are refusing to acknowledge ANY RECALL WVER on the doors (safety recall G-04) as well as Toyota customer care so far is refusing to provide monetary assistance with this ordeal as my extended warrantee expired. One doors “repair” has made the door seemingly worse, and one door has never been repaired in regards to specific recalled parts as dealer states “no issue was seen with power sliding doors”. My niece lost a lot of $70 Birkenstock’s when my door FLUNG OPEN SO FAST at 50mph with no warning (door open light)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR OPENED UNINTENTIONALLY. THE CONTACT CONTACTED DON JOSEPH TOYOTA (1111 W MAIN ST, KENT, OH 44240; (330) 673-2200) WHO INFORMMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DOOR HINGES AS WELL AS THE DOOR LATCH FOR THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNINGS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH A BEEPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE VOSS TOYOTA (2110 HELLER DR, BEAVERCREEK, OH 45434, (937) 431-2100), WHERE A TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE SAME DEALER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V858000 (STRUCTURE) AND 16V340000 (AIR BAGS) AND PRIOR TO THE REPAIRS THE VEHICLE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.
DOORS WILL NOT OPEN EVEN AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED
2011 TOYOTA SIENNA, FRONT SUSPENSION MAKING NOISES AND CLICKING. AIR CONDITIONING NOT WORKING WHEN CAR IS IDLING. REAR BACKING CAMERA DOES NOT WORK ONLY IN THE NIGHT TIME. . AND IT HAS BEEN AT THE MULTIPLE TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS AND THEY CAN. NOT FIGURE IT OUT.
RECENTLY STARTED HAVING THIS ISSUE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN CHANGING LANES MY DOOR OPEN INDICATOR LIGHT AS WELL AS THE EXCLAMATION INSIDE THE TRIANGLE WILL ILLUMINATE ON MY DASH, A BEEPING SOUND STARTS CHIMING AND ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 15 TIMES IN A 20 MINUTE PERIOD. ITS VERY AGGRAVATING AND DISTRACTING. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND DOES IT ON SIDE STREETS AND LOWER SPEEDS AS WELL NOW. I HAVE DONE SOME TROUBLE SHOOTING OF MY OWN AND REALIZE THAT IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I HAVE A WINDOW CRACKED OR DOWN. IF THE WINDOWS ARE UP IT WILL ALSO HAPPEN WITH SHARP TURNS ENDING WITH ABRUPT BRAKING. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER 3 TIMES IN A 4 MONTH PERIOD BECAUSE OF THE LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF. POLICE SEEM TO THINK I'M SENDING SOME TYPE OF CODE FOR THEM TO HELP ME! IT IS RIDICULOUS. ASIDE FROM THIS LIGHTING/ DOOR ISSUE I AM ALSO HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE SLIDING DOORS CLOSING ON ME WHILE TRYING TO REMOVE MY 10 MONTH OLD SON FROM HIS CARSEAT. I BOUGHT THIS VAN USED AT 99,000 MILES. I NOW HAVE AROUND 120,000. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE AN ISSUE REPAIRED BY A TOYOTA RECALL. I HAVE GOOGLED AND FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME YEAR/MAKE/ MODEL AS MYSELF. UPON BROWSING THROUGH THE RECALLS ON THIS SITE I NOTED THESE ID#S THAT SEEM TO BE THE SAME TYPE OF ISSUE #11025347 #10995738 #10986378 CAMPAIGN # 16V858000 (STRUCTURE) #10928386
MY VAN CUT ON FIRE LAST SATURDAR, SEPTEMBER 1ST 2019. FOR NO APPARENTLY REASON. I DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES FROM MY HOUSE TO THE GROCERY STORE, WHEN I NOTICE THE SMOKE, I FIRST THOUGH WAS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. BUT WAS SMOKE COMING FROM MY HOOD. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO STOP AT A STOP SIGH AND I LOOK THE TEMPERATURE GATE AND IT WAS FINE, TURN OF THE CAR AND PEOPLE FROM THE PARKING LOT WAS ALREADY YELLING FOR ME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. MORE THAN 2/3 OF THE VAN WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED IN THE FIRE.
TOOK IN FOR RECALL. GOT VAN BACK AND DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR NO LONGER OPENS WITH DOOR HANDLE. ALSO LARGE WIRE RAN IN 2ND ROW BEHIND DRIVER SEATS AND JUST LEFT THERE. ALSO JUMPER FUSE RAN UNDER STEERING WHEEL. ELECTRICAL NIGHTMARE. HORRIBLE MAINTENANCE. UNACCEPTABLE. CREATED MORE SAFETY HAZARDS.
TOOK IN FOR RECALL. GOT VAN BACK AND DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR NO LONGER OPENS WITH DOOR HANDLE. ALSO LARGE WIRE RAN IN 2ND ROW BEHIND DRIVER SEATS AND JUST LEFT THERE. ALSO JUMPER FUSE RAN UNDER STEERING WHEEL. ELECTRICAL NIGHTMARE. HORRIBLE MAINTENANCE. UNACCEPTABLE. CREATED MORE SAFETY HAZARDS.
TOOK IN FOR RECALL. GOT VAN BACK AND DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR NO LONGER OPENS WITH DOOR HANDLE. ALSO LARGE WIRE RAN IN 2ND ROW BEHIND DRIVER SEATS AND JUST LEFT THERE. ALSO JUMPER FUSE RAN UNDER STEERING WHEEL. ELECTRICAL NIGHTMARE. HORRIBLE MAINTENANCE. UNACCEPTABLE. CREATED MORE SAFETY HAZARDS.
WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, HAVING BEEN DRIVEN TWO HOURS BEFORE, MY VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT BURNED FOR AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE WE WERE ALERTED. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DISABLED BY THE FIRE CAUSING THE TWO BACK SLIDING DOORS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VAN CAN SEAT 6 PEOPLE IN THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VAN EXCEPT BY GOING THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS. EVEN NOW THAT IT IS AFTER THE FIRE, WE ARE STILL UNABLE TO OPEN THEM, FROM INSIDE, OUTSIDE, OR WITH ANY OF THE BUTTONS.
TAKATA RECALL WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN KATY IN MID FEBRUARY 2018 TO SOLVE THE AIR BAG RECALL AND POWER DOORS. THEY SAID THE DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS; WE HAVE GO BACK TWICE BUT THEY SAY THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE THEM. NOW ALMOST 3 MONTHS LATER THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE HAD NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENT BUT WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE WHEN DRIVING THE CAR.
TAKATA RECALL. BEEN CALLING DEALER EVERY FEW MONTHS, WAITING FOR THE RECALL TO GET REMEDIED FOR THE AIRBAGS. ALSO, WAITING FOR THE DEALER TO REMEDY THE SLIDING DOOR RECALL. MANY CALLS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN UNRESOLVED, EVEN WITH THE PROMISE TO BE CALLED BACK.
SIENNA 2011 LE DEVELOPED PROBLEM WITH THE SLIDING DOOR AFTER 5 YEARS OF USED AND A ABOUT 60K MILES, AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE LH SLIDING DOOR WORKS SOMETIMES, BUT MOSTLY OPENS HALF WAY AND GET STUCK OR CLOSES AGAIN. I HAVE TO PUSH IT MANUALLY TO GET IT TO OPEN OR CLOSE. THIS PROBLEM SEAMS TO BE PREVALENT IN SIENNA MODELS 2011+. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED MY SIENNA MODEL MULTIPLE TIMES TO ADDRESS MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOORS. A TOYOTA DEALER SAID THE MOTOR NEEDS CHANGING AND THE REPAIR WILL COST ABOUT 1800 (ABOUT 1300 FOR A NEW MOTOR.) I AM SURE THE MOTOR FAILED BECAUSE OF THESE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOOR MECHANISMS PUT UNDUE STRESS ON THE MOTOR LEADING TO ITS FAILURE. THEREFORE, TOYOTA SHOULD OWN THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT WITHOUT CHARGE. THE DEALER FOUND A USED MOTOR FOR 700 FROM LKQ. I FOUND A NEW MOTOR (PART NO 8500608013) FOR ABOUT 760 FROM ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER ONLINE. USING THESE OPTIONS, I WILL STILL HAVE TO PAY ABOUT 1400-1500 TO FIX A DOOR THAT SHOULD WORK FINE LONGER THAN 5 YEARS.
TAKATA RECALL
TAILGATE SENSOR AND LOCKING MECHANISM ALARM AND LIGHTING GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY INDICATING TAILGATE LATCH INSECURE WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION DISTRACTING DRIVER. TAILGATE DOOR LATCH INSECURE PLACING DRIVER, PASSENGERS AND CONTENTS AT RISK IN THE EVENT OF MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS TO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUMMIT TOYOTA OF AKRON (1535 VERNON ODOM BLVD, AKRON, OH 44320) IN JULY OF 2016 WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD HOLD THE VEHICLE AND PROVIDE A LOANER. THE REPAIR WOULD TAKE THREE MONTHS. IN JULY OF 2017, THE DEALER STATED THAT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, BUT THE RECALL REPAIR COULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE RUSTED AND THE BATTERY FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURES OCCURRED DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING LEFT PARKED OUTSIDE THE DEALER WITHOUT BEING MOVED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE DEALER REFUSED TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
THE AIR BAGS SYSTEM AND THE DOOR ELECTRIC
RECALL ON SLIDING DOORS. WAS STATED THAT THEY MAY "OPEN WHEN DRIVING" WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THEY "LIKELY WOULDN'T GET THE PART BECAUSE WE DON'T LIVE IN SUB ZERO TEMPS SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT" MEANWHILE I DRIVE FOUR CHILDREN IN THIS CAR SO I AM WORRIED ABOUT IT.
DURING DRIVING SIGNAL DOOR TURN ON WARNING BUT ALL DOORS CLOSED
TOYOTA HAS HAD MY MINIVAN ON THEIR LOT SINCE OCTOBER OF 2016. THEY ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A FIX FOR THESE RECALLS. THEY PUT ME IN A RENTAL VAN, BUT IT IS NOT COMPARABLE TO MY VAN AND THEY HAVE FORCED ME TO CHANGE MY RENTAL CAR 4 TIMES.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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