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All cars · Toyota Sienna · Transmission

Toyota Sienna transmission problems by year.

Worst years for transmission complaints per car sold: 2000 (67 complaints), 2004 (72 complaints), 2017 (33 complaints). Fewest since 2010: 2016, 2012, 2014.

Toyota Sienna
Photo shows a 2022 Toyota Sienna. Zotyefan, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.

20006765 per 100K sold200166.8 per 100K sold20021214.8 per 100K sold200387.6 per 100K sold20047245.2 per 100K sold20054226 per 100K sold20063018.4 per 100K sold20072719.5 per 100K sold20082622.4 per 100K sold200922.4 per 100K sold20101111.2 per 100K sold2011119.9 per 100K sold201221.7 per 100K sold20130no sales data201432.4 per 100K sold201596.5 per 100K sold201610.8 per 100K sold20173329.6 per 100K sold20181618.2 per 100K sold201979.5 per 100K sold202064 per 100K sold

What owners describe

Delay or hesitation18%
Rolled away or park trouble12%
Transmission replaced7%
Hard or jerky shifting7%
Lost power while driving7%
Slipping5%

Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.

Transmission and power train recalls

  • 2014 2014

    The affected vehicles have a transmission shift control cable whose protective cable sleeve may have been damaged during assembly.

  • 2011 2011

    TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 VENZA AND SIENNA PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 7, THROUGH MARCH 10, 2011.

  • 2010 2017

    In the affected vehicles, due to a problem within the shift lock assembly, the shift lever may be moved out of the 'Park' position without depressing the brake pedal.

  • 2009 2013

    In the affected vehicles, due to a problem within the shift lock solenoid, there is a possibility that the shift lever could be moved out of Park position without depressing the brake pedal.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

In owners' words

When starting from 1-25 or slowing down to 25 from 35 there is jerk and van moves forward even if brake has been applied.

2004 Toyota Sienna owner · NHTSA complaint

After 5 months of purchasing a 2004 toyota sienna the transmission went out and was replaced. The vehicle continues to lag and lurch.

2004 Toyota Sienna owner · NHTSA complaint

Quick answers

Which Toyota Sienna years have transmission problems?

By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Toyota Sienna years are 2000, 2004, 2017.

What are common Toyota Sienna transmission problems?

Owners most often describe delay or hesitation, rolled away or park trouble, transmission replaced.

Which Toyota Sienna years have the fewest transmission complaints?

Since 2010, the Toyota Sienna years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2016, 2012, 2014.

See every problem, not just the transmission: Toyota Sienna reliability by year. How we count

Updated

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