Here Are The Toyota Sienna Years To Avoid
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The Toyota Sienna was first introduced in 1998. It replaced the outgoing Toyota Previa, which was discontinued in 1997. It gets its name from the Italian city, Sienna, located in Tuscany. Like many other vehicles, this minivan has undergone plenty of improvements.
It is a comfortable and spacious car that can seat up to 8 passengers. In today’s post, we’ll highlight the Toyota Sienna years to avoid, based on the number of problems filed. We’ll also provide information on the best years if you’re looking for a reliable minivan.
Quick Answer: Avoid Toyota Sienna Year Models 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2011
We recommend avoiding the 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2011 Toyota Sienna models. They have recorded multiple complaints from several owners and have a history of significant manufacturing defects. The most common defects include body/paint problems, brake problems, steering problems, exterior accessory problems, and engine problems.
Overall, these models pose several issues, and it’s best to stay away from them if you’re looking to buy a used minivan. The last thing you want is to spend money on unnecessary repairs or too much time at the repair shop.
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Which Year Models of Toyota Sienna Are Safe to Buy Used?
The Toyota Sienna has remained quite reliable since it debuted more than 20 years ago. Most of the models produced and marketed throughout have met the needs of buyers. They are durable and dependable. Here is a list of Toyota Sienna years that are safer to buy:
- 1998 Toyota Sienna
- 1999 Toyota Sienna
- 2000 Toyota Sienna
- 2001 Toyota Sienna
- 2002 Toyota Sienna
- 2003 Toyota Sienna
- 2009 Toyota Sienna
- 2010 Toyota Sienna
- 2012 Toyota Sienna
- 2013 Toyota Sienna
- 2014 Toyota Sienna
- 2015 Toyota Sienna
- 2016 Toyota Sienna
- 2017 Toyota Sienna
- 2018 Toyota Sienna
- 2019 Toyota Sienna
- 2020 Toyota Sienna
The first generation of the Toyota Sienna ran from 1998 to 2003, and these model years recorded few problems. Issues to do with the engine, brakes, and body/paint seem to be the most common. However, these are on cars with over 100,000 miles on the odometer.
The second generation is where things changed. Models here comprise those made between 2004 and 2010. Except for the 2009 and 2010 model years, most of them have many issues that we’ll talk about in the next part of this article.
The third-generation Toyota Sienna runs between 2011 and 2020. Except for the 2011 model, these have recorded very few complaints. The problems reported are not common among all the years. They vary widely from seat belts/air bags problems to other miscellaneous issues and could be based on how owners use their cars.
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Which Year Models of Toyota Sienna to Avoid
Fortunately, there are many Toyota Siennas that will satisfy your needs. Only a few don’t make the cut, and most of them are from the second generation. They have way too many complaints and are considered less reliable. Here is a list of the Toyota Sienna years to avoid:
- 2004 Toyota Sienna
- 2005 Toyota Sienna
- 2006 Toyota Sienna
- 2007 Toyota Sienna
- 2008 Toyota Sienna
- 2011 Toyota Sienna
The 2004 Toyota Sienna has the highest number of complaints. For the 2004 model, the issues most complained about involved the body and paint. The 2007 model year ranks worst due to high repair costs and more problems at lower mileage.
THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE TOYOTA SIENNA
We’ve compiled a list of the most reliable years for the Toyota Sienna so you can pick a used model that will last for years to come.
The worst problems encountered include a broken weld in the door, a sudden unintended acceleration, and a bad cable for automatic sliding doors that slipped and broke. It’s good to note that these are problems experienced once the vehicle hits 70,000 miles and above.
If you go for the 2011 model, you may experience body/paint, seat belts/airbags, and engine issues. The worst cases recorded include:
- Premature tire wear at 42,000 miles.
- Loose inner tie rods at 82,000 miles.
- Malfunctioning sliding doors at 21,000 miles.
If you go for the 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 model years, you may also encounter similar problems. Most of the worst issues filed involve the airbag, seat belts, and automatic sliding doors. Engine and transmission problems are also prevalent in the 2007 Sienna, while the 2008 model suffers from minor electrical issues.
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Common Toyota Sienna Problems
The Toyota Sienna boasts solid reliability scores. The folks at RepairPal have rated the Sienna with 4.0 out of 5.0 in reliability, with an 8th rank out of 32 segment competitors. However, there are some common Sienna issues potential buyers should know:
- Loss of engine power - Owners of the 2007 Sienna have complained about losing engine power whenever they slow down. Worse, this symptom is also accompanied by transmission problems like jerking and slipping. Unfortunately, the source of this issue remains undetermined.
- Cracking dashboard - According to numerous reports, the Sienna’s dashboard is prone to cracking. It’s an unsightly issue that’s all too obvious for owners. The typical fix is to replace the dash altogether, but it may cost thousands of dollars.
- Transmission failure - Older Toyota Siennas are relatively prone to transmission failure at around 78,000 miles. Many owners have observed that the vehicle’s RPM increases but fails to pick up speed. Again, the potential fix is to replace the transmission system, which may cost over $3,000.
- Power door issues - There’s a chance a Sienna’s power door may stop working, which is a considerable safety risk. This may be an issue with the door’s cable, which may have been damaged.
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Toyota Sienna Problem Counts by Year
Here are the problem counts reported by owners that drive the Toyota Sienna. The records are crowd-sourced from platforms such as carproblems.com, Car Talk Community, and carcomplaints.com.
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