VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Toyota Sienna19982026

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

TOP PICK
2022
Buyer Score 89/100
29
Years Analyzed
106
Total Recalls
5631
Total Complaints
368
Reported Injuries
3
Reported Deaths

Best Years to Buy a Toyota Sienna

Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.

#1 PICK4yr old
2022
Strong Buy · 89/100
Reliability91/100
Value window85/100
Recalls1
Complaints4
Top issue: AIR BAGS
#2 PICK5yr old
2021
Strong Buy · 79/100
Reliability74/100
Value window88/100
Recalls2
Complaints16
Top issue: AIR BAGS
#3 PICK6yr old
2020
Good Buy · 73/100
Reliability66/100
Value window87/100
Recalls2
Complaints24
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Toyota Sienna Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2004

6 recalls · 1311 complaints

99 reported injuries

Top issue: STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

#2 WORST
2005

6 recalls · 724 complaints

37 reported injuries

Top issue: STRUCTURE:BODY

#3 WORST
2006

6 recalls · 608 complaints

20 reported injuries

Top issue: AIR BAGS

Toyota Sienna — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
202601
99
40
78
Excellent
20252139
60
55
58
Excellent
20241232
71
68
70
Excellent
20231302
64
78
69
Excellent
202214
91
85
89
Excellent
2021216
74
88
79
Excellent
2020224
66
87
73
Excellent
20196342
39
83
54
Excellent
20186415
38
77
52
Excellent
2017710310
30
70
44
Excellent
20163453
54
63
57
Excellent
2015314515
48
56
51
Good
201441022
49
50
49
Excellent
201351004
43
45
44
Excellent
2012614611
35
41
37
Good
2011640931
30
38
33
Good
2010411216
42
38
41
Good
2009613534
30
38
33
Good
200862747
37
38
37
Good
200762198
36
38
37
Good
20066608201
22
38
28
Caution
2005672437
30
38
33
Caution
20046131199
30
38
33
Avoid
20031724
63
38
54
Excellent
200211208
61
38
53
Excellent
2001212681
48
38
45
Good
2000123116
57
38
50
Good
19993151141
40
38
39
Good
1998318610
50
38
46
Good

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Known Toyota Sienna Problems

Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.

STRUCTURE:BODY
574
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
441
AIR BAGS
390
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
323
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
318
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
272
STEERING
219
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
205

Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the Sienna compares — best year within each era shown.

2018–Present

Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2022 (Buyer Score 89).

Best: 2022

2013–2017

Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2016 (Buyer Score 57).

Best: 2016

Pre-2013

Older Sienna models are deeply depreciated but carry higher wear and repair risk. High mileage is common. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and verify full recall history.

Proceed with Caution

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year Sienna to buy?+

The 2022 Toyota Sienna scores highest on our Buyer Score (89/100) — combining a reliability score of 91/100 with a value score of 85/100. It has 1 recall and 4 NHTSA complaints on record.

Which Sienna years have the most problems?+

The 2004, 2005, 2006 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2004 Sienna leads with 6 recalls and 1311 owner complaints.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common Sienna problems?+

The most frequently reported Toyota Sienna issues involve: STRUCTURE:BODY, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.

Deep-Dive Research

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

Run a VIN Check →