2016 Toyota Sienna Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
20/100
#9 most-complained of 11 Sienna years
The 2016 Toyota Sienna ranks 9th out of 11 model years for reported problems, with a complaint index of 20 and a "Best" verdict relative to other Sienna years. NHTSA lists 75 complaints, 5 recalls, and 7 crashes for this year.
- Complaints
- 75
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes / fires
- 7 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 17 city / 24 hwy
Top 2016 Toyota Sienna problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Structure & Body31 (41%)
- Other14 (19%)
- Electrical System12 (16%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (11%)
- Seat Belts6 (8%)
- Airbags5 (7%)
- Engine5 (7%)
- Steering4 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (4%)
What owners report
- Owners report the steering wheel suddenly stiffening or seizing at highway speeds, sometimes causing a crash into a barrier.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in multiple crashes, including a highway collision with a deer and a low-speed side impact.
- Power sliding doors stopped operating and could not be opened manually, in one case at 87,701 miles.
- One owner described unintended acceleration from 15 mph up to 40-50 mph with brakes failing to slow the vehicle, resulting in a crash into trees.
- A cold-start transmission delay caused the vehicle to hesitate before shifting into overdrive, described as an unexpected acceleration issue while braking.
- A dashboard backlighting problem made the speedometer hard to read when headlights were off in overcast conditions.
2016 Toyota Sienna recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V876000Dec 17, 2025Other86 vehicles
Equipment adaptive/mobility:wheelchair restraints/securement:latch/anchor:
Rollx Vans (Rollx) is recalling certain GMC Yukon, Sierra, Chevrolet Express 2500, Ford Transit, E-250, Toyota Sienna, Sienna Hybrid, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, Voyager, Pacifica, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Ram Promaster vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. Please refer to Rollx's recall report for specific model year information. 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: Rollx will work with Q'Straint to inspect and replace the retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 5, 2026. Owners may contact Rollx's customer service at 1-800-956-6668.
- NHTSA 19V553000Jul 25, 2019Brakes303 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vantage Mobility International, LLC (Vantage) is recalling certain 2012-2018 AMS Genesis wheelchair vans, built on a Toyota Sienna vehicles. The rubber brake hoses that attach to the rear wheel assembly may be too short, causing them to rub against the rear axle trailing arm.
Risk: The contact may cause failure of the rear brake hoses, resulting in a loss of vehicle control and reduced braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Vantage will notify owners, and dealers will install a set of rear brake hoses that will provide the proper clearance, free of charge. The recall began December 16, 2019. Owners may contact Vantage customer service at 1-800-488-9082.
- NHTSA 19V410000Jun 4, 2019Brakes705 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Toyota Sienna mobility van conversions. The brake lines may have incorrect tube nut fittings installed, which may cause a pressure drop within the braking system.
Risk: The reduction in the braking system pressure may cause a loss of braking power in the rear braking system, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Braun has notified owners, and dealers will install an adaptor to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began June 25, 2019. Owners may contact Braun customer service at 1-800-488-0359.
2016 Toyota Sienna fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 24 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,250
- 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.
2016 compared with other Sienna years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Toyota Sienna reliable?
- Compared to other Sienna model years, the 2016 ranks 9th out of 11 with a complaint index of 20, earning a "Best" verdict relative to the rest of the lineup. NHTSA lists 75 complaints and 5 recalls for this year.
- What problems does the 2016 Toyota Sienna have?
- NHTSA data shows Structure & Body complaints lead at 31 complaints (41% share), followed by Electrical System issues with 12 complaints and Suspension, Wheels & Tires with 8 complaints. The median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints is 30,000 miles.
- Does the 2016 Toyota Sienna have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls tied to the 2016 Sienna, covering seat belts, structure/body power sliding door wiring, brakes on mobility van conversions, and other components. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2016 Sienna compare to other years?
- The 2016 Sienna has a complaint index of 20, much lower than the worst year, 2011, which has an index of 100 and 614 complaints. Among the 11 model years with data, 2016 ranks 9th worst, meaning it performs better than most other Sienna years.
- What is the top problem area for the 2016 Sienna?
- Structure & Body complaints make up 41% of all reported issues for this year, totaling 31 complaints out of 75, with a median failure mileage of 30,000 miles.