Last updated: 2026-10-10

Toyota Sienna

Toyota Sienna Years to Avoid

9 scored model years (2018–2026) · model average 74/100

No Sienna year is one to avoid. Every year from 2018 to 2025 rates good, and none falls well below the model's own average. What changes is the recall load and the type of trouble: 2018 and 2019 carry seven recalls each. The year to buy is 2023.

Verdict

Avoid
No outlier years
Buy
2023 76/100
Model average
74/100
See best year ↓See all years ranked ↓

What Are Common Toyota Sienna Problems?

SEATS

100 complaints

Most reported in 2025, 2024, 2021

2025: Second-row seat rails were built with improper welds that may lose structural integrity in certain high-speed crashes.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

56 complaints

Most reported in 2023, 2025, 2024

2023: The most serious reports describe the van surging or rolling at parking speed.

SERVICE BRAKES

28 complaints

Most reported in 2023, 2024, 2020

2023: Brakes briefly let go while slowing, and the van lurches or surges forward before they grab again.

POWER TRAIN

28 complaints

Most reported in 2018, 2020, 2019

2018: Transmission whine and hesitation lead these reports.

STRUCTURE

27 complaints

Most reported in 2025, 2019, 2024

2025: Liftgate misalignment is the main hardware complaint.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

19 complaints

Most reported in 2023, 2018, 2020

2023: Lurching under braking shows up here too.

Best Toyota Sienna Year to Buy Instead

76
GoodReliability score: 76 out of 100, rated Good

2023 Toyota Sienna

2023 has been on the road long enough to show its flaws, and it carries one recall against seven each for 2018 and 2019. Those older years lean toward power train and fuel system complaints. The 2023 trouble is concentrated in brakes that briefly let go near stops, so test drive for that.

Score: 76/100 (Good)1 recalls52 complaints
View full 2023reliability report →
VIN History Report

Found a Safe Year? Check the Specific Car

Even the 2023 Toyota Sienna has 1 recall on file. A VIN check confirms the recall work on the exact car and shows its accident, title, and service history.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

All Toyota Sienna Years by Generation

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Toyota Sienna years should I avoid?
None. Site analysis finds no year well below the model's own average, and 2018 through 2025 all rate good. The 2018 and 2019 model years are the lowest rated, mainly because of seven recalls each, so inspect those more closely.
Which Toyota Sienna years have transmission problems?
Power train was the top complaint area for 2018 and 2020, and a leading one in 2019. Reports describe a hum under acceleration, a pause before an abrupt downshift, and sluggish takeoffs. Some owners were told their VIN did not qualify for the customer support program.
Is the 2025 Toyota Sienna a good buy?
Approach it with caution. Seats account for 92 of its 134 owner complaints, and it has five recalls. Rear seats that slide or shift on their own are the concern, since they anchor child seats and belts. Check the seat latches carefully.
Is the 2026 Toyota Sienna the most reliable year?
It rates excellent, but it should not be treated as the best choice. It shows no recalls and no owner complaints because it has had little time on the road. Complaints build up with age, so the record is too thin to judge.
Is the 2023 Toyota Sienna better than 2018 or 2019?
Yes, by the numbers on recalls. The 2023 model has one recall, while 2018 and 2019 have seven each. The tradeoff is 17 brake complaints in 2023, where the van lurches as brakes briefly release. Older years lean toward power train and fuel complaints.

How we score every Toyota Sienna model year

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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