VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Toyota Sienna1998–2026

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

🚐 MINIVAN
Toyota Sienna
1998–2026
C+
Defect Risk
Recall intensity
2.7/yr · seg. median 1.9
Safety
Low
53 inj.
✓No open federal investigations
112
Recalls
5,735
Complaints
2022
Best Yr
380
Injuries
Top issue: STRUCTURE:BODYAvoid 2004
29
Years Analyzed
112
Total Recalls
5735
Total Complaints
380
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
Good Buy · 73/100
Reliability68/100
Value window81/100
Recalls3
Complaints10
Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES
#2 PICK6yr old
2020
Good Buy · 72/100
Reliability66/100
Value window83/100
Recalls2
Complaints28
Top issue: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
#3 PICK5yr old
2021
Good Buy · 72/100
Reliability66/100
Value window84/100
Recalls2
Complaints28
Top issue: AIR BAGS

Toyota Sienna Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2004

7 recalls · 1311 complaints

99 reported injuries

Top issue: STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

#2 WORST
2005

8 recalls · 724 complaints

37 reported injuries

Top issue: STRUCTURE:BODY

#3 WORST
2006

7 recalls · 608 complaints

20 reported injuries

Top issue: AIR BAGS

Federal Defect Investigations

NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 4 past investigations into the Sienna became recalls.

Recently concluded investigations
DP22005 · electrical system · closed Aug 2023→ Became recall

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of October 28, 2026.

Toyota Sienna — Year-by-Year Comparison

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

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
20260152—
68
36
57
Excellent
2025316410—
43
51
46
Good
20242362—
62
64
63
Excellent
20230362—
64
74
68
Excellent
2022310——
68
81
73
Excellent
2021228——
66
84
72
Excellent
2020228——
66
83
72
Excellent
20196342—
58
79
65
Excellent
20186445—
53
73
60
Excellent
2017611110—
43
66
51
Excellent
20162463—
58
59
58
Excellent
2015114815—
43
52
46
Good
201421032—
43
46
44
Excellent
201341034—
43
41
42
Excellent
2012614611—
43
37
41
Good
20111041131—
43
34
40
Good
2010611316—
43
34
40
Good
2009813534—
43
34
40
Good
200872747—
43
34
40
Good
200782218—
43
34
40
Good
20067608201
43
34
40
Caution
2005872437—
43
34
40
Caution
20047131199—
43
34
40
Avoid
20031724—
49
34
44
Excellent
200211208—
43
34
40
Excellent
2001112681
43
34
40
Excellent
2000123116—
43
34
40
Good
19991151141
43
34
40
Good
1998118610—
43
34
40
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
578
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
442
AIR BAGS
394
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
335
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
327
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
272
STEERING
220
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
209

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 73).

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 58).

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 (73/100) — combining a reliability score of 68/100 with a value score of 81/100. It has 3 recalls and 10 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 7 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, UNKNOWN OR OTHER. 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 →