YearToAvoid

2012 Toyota Sienna Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 21 engine complaints for the 2012 Toyota Sienna, 9% of its 247 total complaints that year. Owners reported stalling, sudden acceleration, and unexpected RPM surges, with a median failure mileage of 25,000. No related recalls are listed for this issue.

Engine complaints
21
9% of 247
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
25,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the vehicle stalling suddenly at highway speed with no warning and loss of braking assistance.
  • Some describe sudden, unexplained acceleration and engine RPMs spiking as high as 8,000 while approaching a stop.
  • Several owners note the engine failing to respond to brake pedal input, instead surging in speed rather than slowing down.
  • On steep downgrades with cruise control engaged, owners report the vehicle gaining speed beyond the set cruise speed.
  • One owner reported the accelerator and brake pedals were positioned too close together, causing both to be pressed at once.

When 2012 Toyota Sienna engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 23, 2012, latest Oct 7, 2025.

2012 Toyota Sienna engine complaints: complaints filed per month1Jan 2012Jul 2012Dec 2012Feb 2014Feb 2015Sep 2017Jul 2020
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2012 to Oct 2025; peak Jan 2012 (1).

Engine recalls for the 2012 Toyota Sienna

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Sienna model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201027 (16%)
  2. 201148 (8%)
  3. 201221 (9%)
  4. 201313 (7%)
  5. 201421 (13%)
  6. 201518 (8%)
  7. 20165 (7%)
  8. 201720 (13%)
  9. 201810 (14%)
  10. 20196 (13%)
  11. 20206 (16%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2012 Toyota Sienna?
NHTSA lists 21 engine complaints for the 2012 Sienna, which is 9% of the 247 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Toyota Sienna engine?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the engine complaints on the 2012 Sienna.
At what mileage do 2012 Sienna engine problems usually occur?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2012 Sienna is 25,000 miles.
Are the engine complaints on the 2012 Sienna linked to crashes or fires?
NHTSA records 4 crashes, 3 fires, and 4 injuries among complaints filed in this problem area for the 2012 Sienna.
How does the 2012 Sienna compare to other Sienna years for engine complaints?
The 2012 Sienna's 21 engine complaints and 9% share fall in the middle of Sienna model years, which range from 5 to 48 complaints and 7% to 16% share.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.