2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
25/100
#4 most-complained of 5 Sienna Hybrid years
The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid has a Complaint Index of 25, ranked 4th-worst of 5 model years, with a "Good" verdict. NHTSA lists 43 complaints, 4 recalls, 1 fire, and 1 injury, with airbags as the top problem area (30% of complaints).
- Complaints
- 43
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 35.5
- 35.5 city / 36 hwy
Top 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags13 (30%)
- Structure & Body10 (23%)
- Brakes7 (16%)
- Electrical System6 (14%)
- Visibility & Wipers5 (12%)
- Engine3 (7%)
- Other3 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (7%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (5%)
What owners report
- Owners report the rear power liftgate hinges cracking after a loud popping or grinding sound during normal opening and closing.
- Some describe the liftgate becoming misaligned, leaving a gap so the door will not securely close.
- Front struts have failed and leaked at 36,000 miles, well short of expected service life according to owners.
- Several owners received notice of the airbag sensor recall (23V865000) but reported the replacement part was on backorder for an extended period.
- One owner reported the fuel gauge showing an empty tank while the vehicle still had fuel.
- A vehicle caught fire and burned down while parked in a driveway, with the contact reporting a loud noise before the vehicle was engulfed in flames.
2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V877000Dec 17, 2025Other1,019 vehicles
Equipment adaptive/mobility:wheelchair restraints/securement:latch/anchor:
Vantage Mobility, LLC (VM) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Honda Odyssey, 2021-2025 Chrysler Pacifica, and Toyota Sienna vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.
Risk: An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters was mailed January 27, 2026. Owners may contact Vantage Mobility customer service at 1-800-488-9082.
- NHTSA 25V086000Feb 13, 2025Structure & Body167,802 vehicles
Seats:mid/rear assembly:recliner
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Sienna Hybrid vehicles. The bolts for the seatbacks on the third-row seat assemblies may not be tightened properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints," 207, "Seating Systems," and 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Risk: An improperly tightened seatback may not adequately restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will tighten the seat assembly bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 25TA05.
- NHTSA 23V865000Dec 20, 2023Airbags999,901 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 35.5 MPG
- Highway
- 36 MPG
- Combined
- 35.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,825
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2021 compared with other Sienna Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid reliable?
- Compared with other Sienna Hybrid years, the 2021 ranks 4th-worst of 5 with a Complaint Index of 25 and a "Good" verdict. It has fewer complaints (43) than the 2023, 2024, and 2025 model years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid?
- Airbags account for 30% of complaints, followed by Structure & Body issues (23%), Brakes (16%), and Electrical System problems (14%). The median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints is 41,250 miles.
- Does the 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2021 Sienna Hybrid, covering wheelchair restraint retractors, third-row seat bolts, an airbag sensor, and a Skid Control ECU software update. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2021 Sienna Hybrid compare to other model years?
- The 2021 has a Complaint Index of 25, better than the 2023 (50), 2024 (75), and 2025 (100), but worse than the 2022 model year, which has a Complaint Index of 0 and the "Best" verdict.
- What fuel economy does the 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid get?
- EPA rates the 2021 Sienna Hybrid at 35.5 mpg combined (35.5 city / 36 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,825.