What year Toyota Sienna should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, avoid the 2011, 2012, and 2015 Toyota Sienna. These years have complaint indexes of 100, 80, and 90, the highest in the model's 2010-2020 range, driven largely by airbag and structure/body complaints.

What is the best year for a Toyota Sienna?

The 2016, 2019, and 2020 Sienna are rated Best, with complaint indexes of 20, 10, and 0 respectively, the lowest among the 11 model years covered.

Is the 2011 Toyota Sienna reliable?

The 2011 Sienna has the highest complaint index (100) of any Sienna year, with 614 complaints, 14 recalls, and 34 crashes reported to NHTSA. Airbags and Structure & Body issues are the top reported problem areas.

Does the Toyota Sienna have airbag recalls?

Yes. The 2011 and 2012 Sienna were both included in Toyota recall 19V741000 covering airbag inflators, and airbags are the top complaint category for both years, accounting for 34% of complaints each.

How many total complaints does the Toyota Sienna have?

Across the 2010-2020 model years, NHTSA lists 1,995 total complaints and 39 recall campaigns for the Toyota Sienna.

Toyota Sienna Best and Worst Years (2010–2020)

Toyota Sienna years to avoid are 2011, 2012, and 2015, with complaint indexes of 100, 80, and 90 respectively — the three highest in the lineup. Best years are 2016, 2019, and 2020, all with complaint indexes of 20 or below. Airbags and Structure & Body issues drive most of the worst-year complaints.

Avoid 2011 Avoid 2012 Avoid 2015 Best 2016 Best 2019 Best 2020

Model years: 11; 2010–2020
NHTSA complaints: 1,995
Recall campaigns: 39
Crashes reported: 116
Fires reported: 29
Top problem area: Structure & Body

Sienna Complaint Index by year

Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Toyota Sienna problems and recalls by year

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Recalls	Top issue	MPG	NCAP
2010	Caution	70	172	15	2	8	Structure & Body	18.5	—
2011	Avoid	100	614	34	7	14	Airbags	20	4★
2012	Avoid	80	247	10	4	9	Airbags	21	4★
2013	Caution	50	183	7	1	6	Structure & Body	21	4★
2014	Good	40	163	6	2	6	Structure & Body	20	5★
2015	Avoid	90	232	17	7	6	Structure & Body	20	5★
2016	Best	20	75	7	1	5	Structure & Body	20	5★
2017	Caution	60	154	13	4	10	Transmission & Powertrain	21	5★
2018	Good	30	72	5	0	7	Transmission & Powertrain	21	5★
2019	Best	10	45	2	0	7	Fuel System	21	5★
2020	Best	0	38	0	1	2	Fuel System	20.5	5★

Sienna years to avoid: what went wrong

2011 Toyota Sienna Index 100 · 614 complaints · 14 recalls

The 2011 Sienna has the highest complaint index (100) of any model year, with 614 total complaints and 14 recalls. Airbags account for 34% of complaints (211 cases, median mileage 63,500), including reports of non-deployment in crashes. Structure & Body issues follow at 29% (177 complaints, median mileage 67,000), often tied to power sliding doors. Owners also reported brake pedals failing to respond and electrical fires. NHTSA logged 34 crashes, 7 fires, 36 injuries, and 1 death for this year.

2011 airbags problems →2011 structure & body problems →2011 electrical system problems →

2015 Toyota Sienna Index 90 · 232 complaints · 6 recalls

The 2015 Sienna has a complaint index of 90 from 232 complaints and 6 recalls, with the lowest median failure mileage among avoid years at 30,000. Structure & Body issues lead at 29% (68 complaints, median mileage 28,650), largely involving sliding doors that would not open after a crash. Electrical System problems follow at 21% (48 complaints, median mileage 19,000). Owners also described suspension trouble and airbags that failed to deploy in crashes. This year saw 17 crashes, 7 fires, and 28 injuries.

2015 structure & body problems →2015 electrical system problems →2015 suspension, wheels & tires problems →

2012 Toyota Sienna Index 80 · 247 complaints · 9 recalls

The 2012 Sienna carries a complaint index of 80 across 247 complaints and 9 recalls. Airbags make up 34% of complaints (84 cases, median mileage 58,200), with owners describing non-deployment during frontal impacts. Structure & Body problems are next at 32% (79 complaints, median mileage 48,000), including engine fires after minor collisions. Owners also reported sudden stalling at highway speed and unintended acceleration. NHTSA recorded 10 crashes and 4 fires tied to this model year.

2012 airbags problems →2012 structure & body problems →2012 electrical system problems →

Most common Toyota Sienna problems (all years)

Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.

Structure & Body566 (28%)
Airbags366 (18%)
Other326 (16%)
Electrical System266 (13%)
Engine195 (10%)
Suspension, Wheels & Tires191 (10%)
Transmission & Powertrain172 (9%)
Brakes129 (6%)
Steering94 (5%)
Fuel System93 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

What year Toyota Sienna should I avoid?: Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, avoid the 2011, 2012, and 2015 Toyota Sienna. These years have complaint indexes of 100, 80, and 90, the highest in the model's 2010-2020 range, driven largely by airbag and structure/body complaints.
What is the best year for a Toyota Sienna?: The 2016, 2019, and 2020 Sienna are rated Best, with complaint indexes of 20, 10, and 0 respectively, the lowest among the 11 model years covered.
Is the 2011 Toyota Sienna reliable?: The 2011 Sienna has the highest complaint index (100) of any Sienna year, with 614 complaints, 14 recalls, and 34 crashes reported to NHTSA. Airbags and Structure & Body issues are the top reported problem areas.
Does the Toyota Sienna have airbag recalls?: Yes. The 2011 and 2012 Sienna were both included in Toyota recall 19V741000 covering airbag inflators, and airbags are the top complaint category for both years, accounting for 34% of complaints each.
How many total complaints does the Toyota Sienna have?: Across the 2010-2020 model years, NHTSA lists 1,995 total complaints and 39 recall campaigns for the Toyota Sienna.