Toyota Sienna Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Not unusually. 229 of the 3,116 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Toyota Sienna (7.3%) name the transmission, below the 12.6% median share across the 139 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2017, 2008 and 2011.
Transmission complaints
229
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
7.3%
of 3,116 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
4
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Toyota Sienna transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline). Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008WORST | 38 | 8.9% | 7 | 13V429000 | 17 |
| 2009 | 6 | 2.9% | 3 | 17V65700013V429000 | 17 |
| 2010 | 17 | 9.9% | 0 | 17V657000 | 17 |
| 2011WORST | 30 | 4.9% | 4 | 11V306000 | 0 |
| 2012 | 17 | 6.9% | 1 | — | 0 |
| 2013 | 14 | 7.7% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2014 | 7 | 4.3% | 1 | 14V414000 | 15 |
| 2015 | 12 | 5.2% | 2 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | 3 | 3.9% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2017WORST | 39 | 24.4% | 2 | — | 18 |
| 2018 | 21 | 28.8% | 0 | — | 14 |
| 2019 | 8 | 17% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | 8 | 20.5% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 | 4.4% | 0 | — | — |
| 2022 | 1 | 5.9% | 0 | — | — |
| 2023 | 2 | 2.9% | 0 | — | — |
| 2024 | 4 | 5.8% | 0 | — | — |
| 2025 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | — |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Toyota Sienna transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 229 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Toyota Sienna years to avoid for the transmission
2017 Toyota Sienna
39 transmission complaints (24.4% of the year's 160). Most often described: whining, grinding or humming noise.
2008 Toyota Sienna
38 transmission complaints (8.9% of the year's 429). Most often described: hesitation or delayed engagement. Covered by transmission recall 13V429000.
2011 Toyota Sienna
30 transmission complaints (4.9% of the year's 615). Most often described: slipping or revving without accelerating. Covered by transmission recall 11V306000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Toyota Sienna years to avoid.
Toyota Sienna transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Toyota Sienna model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 17V657000 · 2017-10-18 · 2009–2010 models
In the affected vehicles, due to a problem within the shift lock assembly, the shift lever may be moved out of the 'Park' position without depressing the brake pedal.
- 14V414000 · 2014-07-08 · 2014 models
The affected vehicles have a transmission shift control cable whose protective cable sleeve may have been damaged during assembly. This could cause the control cable to bind or separate during gear shift operation causing incorrect gear selection. As such,…
- 13V429000 · 2013-09-26 · 2008–2009 models
In the affected vehicles, due to a problem within the shift lock solenoid, there is a possibility that the shift lever could be moved out of Park position without depressing the brake pedal.
- 11V306000 · 2011-06-01 · 2011 models
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 VENZA AND SIENNA PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 7, THROUGH MARCH 10, 2011. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE FRONT, RIGHT, DRIVE SHAFT MAY BREAK DUE TO INSUFFICIENT HEAT TREATMENT.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2017 Toyota Sienna have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 39 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2017 Toyota Sienna, 24.4% of all 160 complaints for that year. The most common description is "whining, grinding or humming noise" (17 complaints). 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2008 Toyota Sienna have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 38 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2008 Toyota Sienna, 8.9% of all 429 complaints for that year. The most common description is "hesitation or delayed engagement" (7 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 13V429000. 7 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2011 Toyota Sienna have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 30 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2011 Toyota Sienna, 4.9% of all 615 complaints for that year. The most common description is "slipping or revving without accelerating" (3 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 11V306000. 4 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Toyota Sienna years have the most transmission complaints?
2017 (39), 2008 (38) and 2011 (30), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Toyota Sienna transmission problems?
In the 229 transmission complaints, owners most often describe whining, grinding or humming noise (21%), hesitation or delayed engagement (9.2%) and transmission repaired or replaced (8.7%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Toyota Sienna model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration