The Lemon Index2018 Toyota Sienna.
The 2018 Toyota Sienna is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 44 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 45, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 7 recalls, and it gets 20 to 22 mpg combined. The best Toyota Sienna year is 2020.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 72 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Toyota Sienna year. 2018 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 4K to 56K miles on the car (38 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 7
- fuel system, gasoline 2020
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- fuel system, gasoline 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500,…
- brakes 2019
The rubber brake hoses that attach to the rear wheel assembly may be too short, causing them to rub against the rear axle trailing arm.
Show all 7 recalls
- steering 2019
The steering shaft extensions may have been improperly manufactured, possibly causing the extensions to fracture.
- equipment 2019
The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect.
- brakes 2019
The reduction in the braking system pressure may cause a loss of braking power in the rear braking system, increasing the risk of crash.
- wheels 2018
These wheels may not have been properly cooled during manufacturing.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 300 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Currently under investigation
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Sienna VAN FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Sienna VAN AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–3200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Unintended acceleration while reversing vehicle. Van went full throttle and sped up in reverse while backing up from my drive way at home.
2018 Toyota Sienna owner · NHTSA complaint 11327435
More owner reports
My 2018 Sienna le is experiencing acceleration problems. I had the software up dated but after approximately 1,000 miles the problem is returning. This problem is especially unsafe when merging onto the highway.
NHTSA complaint 11131655
2018 Toyota Sienna le. Consumer writes in regard to delayed acceleration which is causing transmission damage.
NHTSA complaint 11175491
Quick answers
Is the 2018 Toyota Sienna reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 2.2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 45; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Sienna year by this measure is 2020.
What are the most common 2018 Toyota Sienna problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (14%), speed control (11%) and fuel or ev drive system (11%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2018 Toyota Sienna have?
7 safety recalls (latest: fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Toyota Sienna get?
20 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2018 Toyota Sienna safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2018 Toyota Sienna problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 4,600 and 56,700 miles. The middle report was at 29,000 miles, from 38 complaints.
Does the 2018 Toyota Sienna have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 14% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2018 Toyota Sienna cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $3200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2018 Toyota Sienna have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Toyota Sienna year is better than the 2018?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2020, 2013 and 2012.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works