CarModelProblems.com

2008 Toyota Sienna Problems & Recalls

Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026

High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Structure:body — runs 3.5× the fleet median for that category across the 1175 model-years tracked on this site.
428Complaints
9Recalls
37Crashes
4Fires
19Injured
0Deaths

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

Is this problem acknowledged?

The most-reported problem — Structure:body (15% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.

Structure:body complaints here are 3.5× the median for that category across the 1175 model-years tracked on this site.

1 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 5 rest on owner reports alone.

Complaint categoryReportsOfficial statusReference
Structure:body64 · 15%RecalledRecall 10V160000
Vehicle Speed Control51 · 11.9%No official action
Electrical System42 · 9.8%No official action
Engine39 · 9.1%No official action
Steering33 · 7.7%No official action
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)29 · 6.8%No official action

Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Complaints by component

ENGINE39 · 9.1%
Unspecified / other34 · 7.9%
STEERING33 · 7.7%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)29 · 6.8%
POWER TRAIN28 · 6.5%
SERVICE BRAKES28 · 6.5%
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR25 · 5.8%

Percentages are the share of the 428 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.

Recalls — 9 campaigns

Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler

NHTSA campaign 14V743000 · 2014 · reported 11/19/2014

Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler

NHTSA campaign 16V396000 · 2016 · reported 06/02/2016

If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Tires:temporary/emergency Spare Tire

NHTSA campaign 14V273000 · 2014 · reported 05/22/2014

If the carrier cable is corroded due to road salt, the spare tire may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Power Train:automatic Transmission

NHTSA campaign 13V429000 · 2013 · reported 09/26/2013

If the shift lever is moved out of the Park position without the brake applied, the transmission will either engage a drive gear or Neutral, increasing the risk of a backover or roll away crash. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Equipment:other:labels

NHTSA campaign 09V223000 · 2009 · reported 06/15/2009

INCORRECT LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING OVERLOADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Equipment:other:labels

NHTSA campaign 10V036000 · 2010 · reported 02/03/2010

A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Equipment:other:labels

NHTSA campaign 09V234000 · 2009 · reported 06/25/2009

THE GVWR IS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE VEHICLES. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Equipment:other:labels

NHTSA campaign 10V035000 · 2010 · reported 02/03/2010

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Structure

NHTSA campaign 10V160000 · 2010 · reported 04/20/2010

THE CABLE MAY BREAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND THE SPARE TIRE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What owners report

“2009 NON POWER SLIDER DOOR TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP I PAID FOR LABOR SINCE I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY......2012 @ 99000 MILES SAME DOOR DOING…”NHTSA complaint 10447851 — filed 02/13/2012 · STRUCTURE:BODY
“RUBBER ON THE TRUNK RELEASE HATCH MELTS AND SOMETIMES CAUSES THE TRUNK TO UNLATCH BY ITSELF. CONTACTED 2 LOCAL DEALERSHIPS AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN…”NHTSA complaint 10434324 — filed 11/05/2011 · STRUCTURE:BODY
“SON OPENED POWER SLIDING DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER DOOR. UPON CLOSING, DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH SHUT. DOOR HAD TO BE HELD SHUT BY ADULT. DEALER HAS…”NHTSA complaint 10416317 — filed 07/30/2011 · STRUCTURE:BODY

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Complaint trend by year filed

2620124666201462482016334520183133202015132022422024412026

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Toyota Sienna?

Structure:body issues are the most-reported category, cited in 64 of 428 NHTSA complaints (15%), followed by vehicle speed control (51), electrical system (42), engine (39). Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How many complaints does the 2008 Toyota Sienna have?

428 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 37 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, and 19 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.

Does the 2008 Toyota Sienna have any recalls?

Yes — 9 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 14V743000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Has NHTSA acted on the 2008 Toyota Sienna's reported problems?

1 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page is backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.

Is a complaint proof of a defect?

No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.