2013 Toyota SIENNA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Toyota SIENNA has 226 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is body/structure problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: this car was purchased just 14 days ago and has been in the shop for 4 days out of that. it was raining outside and when i got into the car noticed that water was leaking from the body structure between the windows and windshield near the drivers seat. it was dripping continuously and i took my car .

7 crash reports 12 injuries

226

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BODY/STRUCTURE

45 complaints

20%

• THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED JUST 14 DAYS AGO AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 4 DAYS OUT OF THAT. IT WAS RAINING OUTSIDE AND WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR NOTICED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE BODY STRUCTURE BETWEEN THE WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELD NEAR THE DRIVERS SEAT. IT WAS DRIPPING CONTINUOUSLY AND I TOOK MY CAR
• THE SLIDING DOOR WAS OPENING (VIA KEYCHAIN BUTTON), BUT OPENED ONLY HALFWAY BEFORE SLAMMING SHUT VERY QUICKLY. IT WAS LIKE IT THOUGHT IT HIT SOMETHING IN BY THE BACK TIRE, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THERE. MY DAUGHTER HAD STARTED GETTING INTO THE CAR, SO THE DOOR SLAMMED SHUT ON HER FINGER AND ACTUALLY
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE SUN ROOF GLASS SUDDENLY SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED JUST 14 DAYS AGO AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 4 DAYS OUT OF THAT. IT WAS RAINING OUTSIDE AND WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR NOTICED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE BODY STRUCTURE BETWEEN THE WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELD NEAR THE DRIVERS SEAT. IT WAS DRIPPING CONTINUOUSLY AND I TOOK MY CAR ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

32 complaints

14%

• FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS, OUR VEHICLE, A 2013 TOYOTA SIENNA THAT WE PURCHASED NEW, HAS EMITTED A VERY FOUL ODOR FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. FROM ALL THE INFORMATION I HAVE, THIS APPEARS TO BE FROM MOLD GROWTH. I AM WORRIED THAT ASIDE FROM BEING EXTREMELY UNPLEASANT, IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. AFT
• MY PARENTS BOUGHT NE A 2013 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE VAN,EVER SINCE THERE'S BEEN A LOUD RATTLING IN THE REAR AN THEY HAVE TAKEN IT IN OVER 40 TIMES EVEN THE YESTERDAY AN TOYOTA OF LOUISVILLE SAID THEY CAN'T FIX IT, I'VE HEARD IT WHILE RIDING IN THE VAN IT DRIVES YOU NUTS, THEY OVER $30,000 FOR THE VAN A
• I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY (95 DEGREES OUTSIDE) WITH THE SUNROOF CLOSED AND I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE ROAD AND NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME. THE INTERIOR TEMPERATURE OF THE VEHICLE WAS SET AT 68 DEGREES. I PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, I REALIZED THA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS, OUR VEHICLE, A 2013 TOYOTA SIENNA THAT WE PURCHASED NEW, HAS EMITTED A VERY FOUL ODOR FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. FROM ALL THE INFORMATION I HAVE, THIS APPEARS TO BE FROM MOLD GROWTH. I AM WORRIED THAT ASIDE FROM BEING EXTREMELY UNPLEASANT, IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. AFT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

25 complaints

11%

• WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING TO DIAGNOSE. HOWEVER, NO ERROR CODES WERE ABLE TO BE RETRIEVED FROM THE OBDII. THEY RESET THE COMPUTER TO CLEAR THE LIGHT AND ADVISED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE WITHOUT A
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DRIVER FAILED TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN A LIGHT POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE, RIBS AND
• I AM CURIOUS TO WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY FROM AN ACCIDENT

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

“WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING TO DIAGNOSE. HOWEVER, NO ERROR CODES WERE ABLE TO BE RETRIEVED FROM THE OBDII. THEY RESET THE COMPUTER TO CLEAR THE LIGHT AND ADVISED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE WITHOUT A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

22 complaints

10%

• OUR FRONT RIGHT DOOR SENSOR PROVIDES FALSE READINGS. THE DOOR SENSOR STATES THAT THE DOOR IS OPEN WHEN IT IS NOT. THE DOOR SENSOR GOES ON AND OFF. EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR IS SEALED SHUT, IT IS EXTREMELY ANNOYING BECAUSE OF THE OF NOISE AND VISUAL ALERT THAT STATES THAT THE DOOR IS SUPPOSEDLY NOT SHUT.
• AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THE GAS STATION AND FILLING UP WITH GAS, THE VAN WOULD NOT RESTART. WHEN THE START BUTTON WAS PRESSED, IT WOULD JUST CLICK, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT WAS DETERMINED THAT AT LEAST THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN 5 DEGREE WEATHER. IN AN ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE
• BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE TRYING TO LEAVE A PARKING LOT. MANY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING VSC, ABS, AND TRACTION CONTROL AND THE COMPUTER SAID NEEDS IMMEDIATE SERVICE. THE TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY'VE NEVER SEEN THIS AND THAT THE ACTUATOR NEEDS REPLACED. I'VE NOTED THAT THERE ARE 2 OTHER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“OUR FRONT RIGHT DOOR SENSOR PROVIDES FALSE READINGS. THE DOOR SENSOR STATES THAT THE DOOR IS OPEN WHEN IT IS NOT. THE DOOR SENSOR GOES ON AND OFF. EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR IS SEALED SHUT, IT IS EXTREMELY ANNOYING BECAUSE OF THE OF NOISE AND VISUAL ALERT THAT STATES THAT THE DOOR IS SUPPOSEDLY NOT SHUT. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

14 complaints

• THE VISCOUS COUPLING ON THE REAR AXLE OF MY AWD SIENNA STARTED MAKING NOISE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THE RAV4 FOR THE SAME PART, BUT NOT THE SIENNA. MY AUTO SHOP HAS TOLD ME THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. THE BEARINGS IN THE COUPLING FAIL AND START TO MAK
• REAR DIFFERENTIAL MAKING A GROWLING NOISE. WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT THE VISCOUS COUPLER BEARING IS BAD. COST TO REPLACE COUPLER IS FROM $1900.00 TO $3000.00 DOLLARS. CAR ONLY HAD 115000 MILE ON IT WHEN IT STARTED TO MAKE NOISE. BOUGHT A USED REAR END WITH 69000 MILES ON IT AND AGAIN IT TO IS STARTING
• THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEARING STARTED MAKING A GREAT DEAL OF NOISE PROPORTIONAL TO SPEED OF VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. PART MUST BE REPLACED AT COST OF NEARLY $3,000. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES AND IS ONLY 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. RESEARCH I HAVE DONE REVEALS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE VISCOUS COUPLING ON THE REAR AXLE OF MY AWD SIENNA STARTED MAKING NOISE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THE RAV4 FOR THE SAME PART, BUT NOT THE SIENNA. MY AUTO SHOP HAS TOLD ME THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. THE BEARINGS IN THE COUPLING FAIL AND START TO MAK”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~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 226 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED JUST 14 DAYS AGO AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 4 DAYS OUT OF THAT. IT WAS RAINING OUTSIDE AND WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR NOTICED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE BODY STRUCTURE BETWEEN THE WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELD NEAR THE DRIVERS SEAT. IT WAS DRIPPING CONTINUOUSLY AND I TOOK MY CAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS, OUR VEHICLE, A 2013 TOYOTA SIENNA THAT WE PURCHASED NEW, HAS EMITTED A VERY FOUL ODOR FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. FROM ALL THE INFORMATION I HAVE, THIS APPEARS TO BE FROM MOLD GROWTH. I AM WORRIED THAT ASIDE FROM BEING EXTREMELY UNPLEASANT, IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. AFT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING TO DIAGNOSE. HOWEVER, NO ERROR CODES WERE ABLE TO BE RETRIEVED FROM THE OBDII. THEY RESET THE COMPUTER TO CLEAR THE LIGHT AND ADVISED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE WITHOUT A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: OUR FRONT RIGHT DOOR SENSOR PROVIDES FALSE READINGS. THE DOOR SENSOR STATES THAT THE DOOR IS OPEN WHEN IT IS NOT. THE DOOR SENSOR GOES ON AND OFF. EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR IS SEALED SHUT, IT IS EXTREMELY ANNOYING BECAUSE OF THE OF NOISE AND VISUAL ALERT THAT STATES THAT THE DOOR IS SUPPOSEDLY NOT SHUT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)