Problems · by component
2008 Toyota Sienna electrical system problems
45 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Toyota Sienna cite electrical system, 10% of all 429 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
45
10% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Issues with VSC. The sensor alarm goes off when driving at more than 50 mph and slightly turning the steering wheel. The car brakes itself and this is DANGEROUS. It happens all the time, it has been more than 5-6 years and we are to the point of not using the car on the freeway to prevent a potential fatal accident. I found posts describing the same issue with this model of Toyota. Car should be recalled to get this fixed.”
“Driving on dry pavement in mountainous terrain the slip indicator light/sound activates temporarily and the brakes can engage by themselves! Usually happens during right turns. I've been to several automotive specialists for mechanical & electronic diagnosis. I've replaced the lower control arm & the clock spring behind the steering wheel but the issue persists. Online searches indicate this is a common problem with Toyota siennas that is extremely difficult to diagnose & very costly to replace all the possible problematic components! I've had this problem since buying the car used several months ago.This should be a recall issue!!!!!!!!!!!”
“Anti skid/slip malfunctions, Brakes are automatic applied while turning a corner. When this happen one dry road surfaces it was harder to control the car. This happen multiple times in the pass. Yes my safety and others on the road was put at risk. Yes been confirmed by independent service centers. 4.) UNKNOWN 5).No. The warning indicator light and buzzer comes on at the time the incident happens.”
“BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, AND CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES MAKE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE IN WET WEATHER WHEN BACKING UP AND SOMETIMES WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING ALSO A 🔊 NOISE AND BRAKES SEEM TO SLIP HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE IT SCARES ME CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT CONTINUES TO PERSIST. BOTH IN HIGHWAY DRIVING AND REGULAR STREET DRIVING”
“WHEN USING HEATED SEAT FEATURE DRIVERS SIDE REMAINS HEATED EVEN LONG AFTER BEING OFF. HAVE CHECKED FUSES AND STILL SAME ONLY USE SEASONAL. SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE HEAT IS ON WHEN NOT IN USE”
“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSC LIGHT AND TRAC OFF LIGHT ON AND OFF LIGHT INTERMITTENT. AT ANY TIME THE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. IT IS NERVE BREAKING KNOWING THAT THE WARNING LIGHT AND THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE FIXED BY TOYOTA. I HAVE MY TOYOTA SIENNA 2008 AND IT HAVE A VERY LOW MILES DUE TO LIGHTS SAFETY REASONS THAT CAN NOT BE SOLVED BY TOYOTA. EVERY TIME WE COMPLAIN, WE WERE ALWAYS TOLD THAT BRING THE CAR IN WHEN THE LIGHT GOES ON. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN THE LIGHT GOES ON IT WILL BE OFF WHEN WE GET TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE NOTICED WHEN THE CAR REACHED APPROXIMATELY 98,000 MILES. THE CAUSE OF THE ON AND OFF LIGHTS ARE UNKNOWN.”
Showing 6 of 45 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.