2012 Toyota SIENNA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Toyota SIENNA has 331 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 toyota sienna. the contact stated that while traveling 55 mph, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle twice; once from the passenger's side door area and again from the rear. as a result, the contact's vehicle was pushed forward and into the rear of another ve. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 10 crash reports 17 injuries

331

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

84 complaints

25%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TWICE; ONCE FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR AREA AND AGAIN FROM THE REAR. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED FORWARD AND INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VE
• 45MPH FRONT END IMPACT DID NOT DEPLOY AID BAG. DRIVER SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES FROM HER FACE IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL.
• MY VAN USES A TAKATA AIRBAG THAT I NEED REPLACED IMMEDIATELY, I AM SCARED FOR MY FAMILY DRIVING THE VAN. NEWS MEDIA HAS SHOWN HOW DANGEROUS THIS DEFECT IS AND HOPE TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED SOON. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TWICE; ONCE FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR AREA AND AGAIN FROM THE REAR. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED FORWARD AND INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

71 complaints

21%

• DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR OCCASIONALLY (I.E. NOT ALL THE TIME) MAKES AN ABNORMAL POP NOISE WHEN INITIALLY OPENING WITH THE OUTSIDE HANDLE OR WITH THE INSIDE HANDLE ON THE SLIDING DOOR. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN THE DOOR IS OPENED WITH OTHER METHOD (E.G. REMOTE, OVER-HEAD MOUNT CONTROL,
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CHILD PASSENGER WAS INJURED FROM THE AUTOMATIC REAR SLIDING DOOR. THE SLIDING DOOR INDEPENDENTLY CLOSED ON THE CHILD'S ARM.. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, BECAUSE AN INJURY OCCURRED THE CONTACT WAS INFORM
• THE ENGINE WAS OFF. I OPENED THE REAR HATCH, WHILE I WAS UNDER THE HATCH PLACING ITEMS IN THE BACK OF THE CAR MY HUSBAND NOT REALIZING I HAD ALREADY OPENED IT AND WAS UNDER IT PUSHED THE BUTTON TO OPEN THE HATCH BUT SINCE IT WAS ALREADY OPEN IT STARTED TO CLOSE ON ME. UPON MEETING RESISTANCE FROM M

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR OCCASIONALLY (I.E. NOT ALL THE TIME) MAKES AN ABNORMAL POP NOISE WHEN INITIALLY OPENING WITH THE OUTSIDE HANDLE OR WITH THE INSIDE HANDLE ON THE SLIDING DOOR. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN THE DOOR IS OPENED WITH OTHER METHOD (E.G. REMOTE, OVER-HEAD MOUNT CONTROL,”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

30 complaints

• WE FIRST ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM IN WHICH THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT FUNCTION TO OPEN OR CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY BUT IT STILL WORKED MANUALLY. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE REAR LATCH OF THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR BECAME STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION THUS NOT ALLOWING THE DOOR TO FULLY CLOSE. I TOOK THE V
• BRAND NEW TOYOTA SIENNA. THE MOONROOF/SUNROOF KEEPS LEAKING. BEEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND WHEN WE COME BACK THE ADVISER ALWAYS TELLS US THE VAN WON'T LEAK ANYMORE ONLY TO FIND OUT THE NEXT TIME IT RAINS, THE CAR LEAKS AGAIN. WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING( WE GUESSED IT L
• AS I HAVE DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY, ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY REAR SLIDING DOORS HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY OPENED ON THEIR OWN. AFTER IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME, WE TURNED OFF THE AUTOMATIC DOOR FEATURE AND IT STILL HAPPENED ANOTHER TWO TIMES. WHEN WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WE WERE INFORMED THAT TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“WE FIRST ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM IN WHICH THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT FUNCTION TO OPEN OR CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY BUT IT STILL WORKED MANUALLY. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE REAR LATCH OF THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR BECAME STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION THUS NOT ALLOWING THE DOOR TO FULLY CLOSE. I TOOK THE V”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

27 complaints

• BRAND NEW VEHICLE LASTED ABOUT A WEEK, WIFE PARKED CAR, WENT INTO STORE, CAME OUT AND VAN WOULD NOT START, WIFE AND KIDS WERE STRANDED IN ROUGH PART OF NEIGHBORING CITY, BATTERY DEAD, TOYOTA SERVICE TESTED CHARGING SYSTEM AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, THEY DIDN'T REPLACED BATTERY AS A PRECAUTION. *TR
• NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS WHEN VAN IS STARTED, ONLY COME ON WHEN LIGHT SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. DASHBOARD ON VISIBLE ON CLOUDY DAYS. *TR
• OWNER WAS DRIVING AND VCS AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING AS WELL AS TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT. BRAKES ON VEHICLE DID NOT BRAKE AS WELL GOING DOWN HILL. TIRES SLIPPED AND SKIDDED IN THE RAIN ON THE HILLS IN VENTURA COUNTY. DRIVER CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY OPENED UP A CASE NUMBER.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“BRAND NEW VEHICLE LASTED ABOUT A WEEK, WIFE PARKED CAR, WENT INTO STORE, CAME OUT AND VAN WOULD NOT START, WIFE AND KIDS WERE STRANDED IN ROUGH PART OF NEIGHBORING CITY, BATTERY DEAD, TOYOTA SERVICE TESTED CHARGING SYSTEM AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, THEY DIDN'T REPLACED BATTERY AS A PRECAUTION. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

17 complaints

• JOINING HIGHWAY IN A SITUATION WHERE VEHICLES GIVING WAY CAUSE HESITATION AND THEN GIVE WAY CAUSING BRAKING THEN ACCELERATION REPEATEDLY, TRANSMISSION REFUSED TO DOWNSHIFT ON KICK DOWN, VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, ACTUALLY SLOWED SIGNIFICANTLY FORCING FOLLOWING VEHICLES TO BRAKE .VEHICLE EVENTUALL
• ALL UNDERWOOD COMPONENTS ARE NOT ONLY VULNERABLE, BUT ATTRACTIVE TO RODENTS. WHILE PARKED OVERNIGHT ON 4 CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS, RODENTS HAVE CHEWED THROUGH WIRES DESPITE ATTRACTIVE RODENT POISON IN THE ENGINE BAY, THE POISON IS UNTOUCHED AND THE WIRES ARE ATTACKED EVERY NIGHT. TO DATE INJECTOR WIRES,
• WHILE PARKED, DRIVER BEGAN EXITING VEHICLE AND VAN BEGAN TO ROLL AND CONTINUED TO ROLL WHEN GEAR SHIFT LEVER CONFIRMED IN PARK AND BRAKE CONTINUALLY PRESSED, EVENTUALLY HITTING A HOUSE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“JOINING HIGHWAY IN A SITUATION WHERE VEHICLES GIVING WAY CAUSE HESITATION AND THEN GIVE WAY CAUSING BRAKING THEN ACCELERATION REPEATEDLY, TRANSMISSION REFUSED TO DOWNSHIFT ON KICK DOWN, VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, ACTUALLY SLOWED SIGNIFICANTLY FORCING FOLLOWING VEHICLES TO BRAKE .VEHICLE EVENTUALL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 331 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TWICE; ONCE FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR AREA AND AGAIN FROM THE REAR. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED FORWARD AND INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR OCCASIONALLY (I.E. NOT ALL THE TIME) MAKES AN ABNORMAL POP NOISE WHEN INITIALLY OPENING WITH THE OUTSIDE HANDLE OR WITH THE INSIDE HANDLE ON THE SLIDING DOOR. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN THE DOOR IS OPENED WITH OTHER METHOD (E.G. REMOTE, OVER-HEAD MOUNT CONTROL,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WE FIRST ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM IN WHICH THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT FUNCTION TO OPEN OR CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY BUT IT STILL WORKED MANUALLY. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE REAR LATCH OF THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR BECAME STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION THUS NOT ALLOWING THE DOOR TO FULLY CLOSE. I TOOK THE V
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: BRAND NEW VEHICLE LASTED ABOUT A WEEK, WIFE PARKED CAR, WENT INTO STORE, CAME OUT AND VAN WOULD NOT START, WIFE AND KIDS WERE STRANDED IN ROUGH PART OF NEIGHBORING CITY, BATTERY DEAD, TOYOTA SERVICE TESTED CHARGING SYSTEM AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, THEY DIDN'T REPLACED BATTERY AS A PRECAUTION. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)