Problems · by component

2008 Toyota Sienna structure problems

117 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Toyota Sienna cite structure, 27% of all 429 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
117
27% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the structure

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“MY VEHICLE HAS 138,000 MILES AND WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT FIXING THE SLIDING DOOR, I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL WAS OVER IN 2016; HOWEVER, I KNOW OF A PERSON THAT WAS ABLE TO HAVE HIS VEHICLE FIXED BY TOYOTA. IN FACT, TOYOTA REPLACE BOTH THE DOOR SLIDING COMPONENTS / LATCHES. FOR MY VEHICLE I TRIED GETTING TOYOTA TO FIX THIS LAST YEAR AND TRIED AGAIN TODAY BUT TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER THESE REPAIRS. I WANT IT DOCUMENTED THAT THIS VIN HAS NOT BEEN FIXED REGARDING THE SLIDING DOOR AND SHOULD A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ARISE IN THE FUTURE DUE TO THESE DOORS, THIS WILL SERVER AS DOCUMENTATION. THE ISSUE BEGAN ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THIS YEAR I HAD TO TAKE IT ON MYSELF TO TRY AND FIX THE ISSUE DUE TO TOYOTA NOT WILLING TO COVER THE COSTS. THE CABLE FOR THE SLIDING DOOR HAD FRAYED AND WHEN THE DOOR WAS MANUALLY OPENED, IT WOULD ONLY OPEN SOME BUT NOT FULLY. THE ROLLER LATCH FOR THIS DOOR ALSO APPEARS TO BE BENT AND NOW THE DOOR IS CLOSE TO HITTING THE SIDE PANEL WHEN OPENED; I HAD TO REMOVE THE CABLE COMPONENTS MYSELF TO ALLOW THE DOOR TO OPEN. I BELIEVE THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COSTS FOR HAVING BOTH DOORS MECHANISMS REPLACED IS $4,000 AND…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2020StructureODI 11361310
“LIFT-GATE FRAME CRACKING AROUND LEFT HINGE. SAFETY HAZARD AS THE LIFT-GATE COULD BECOME UNSECURED WHILE DRIVING, OR DURING OPERATION, RESULTING IN INJURY OR CRASH. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 29, 2020StructureODI 11331498
“INSIDE DASHBOARD IS VERY STICKY AND ALWAYS SHOWS A GLARE ONTO THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING (SAFETY ISSUE); THE DASHBOARD DURING THE SUMMER TIME IS VERY MALLEABLE, IF YOU GENTLY PRESS ON IT, IT MOVES AS IF IT WAS MELTING SLOWLY. THIS HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A FEW YEARS, WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA THEY SAID THERE WAS A REPLCEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS IN WHICH OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED IN 2015 AND EXPIRED ON 2018, I EXPLAINED WE NEVER RECEIVED THIS NOTICE AS WE ARE AT THE SAME ADDRESS SINCE 2000 AND ARE THE ORIGINAL NEW OWNERS OF THE VAN, THEY DID NOT AGREE TO REPLACE AS THE PROGRAM HAD EXPIRED. I EXPLAINED THE SAFETY RISK NOT TO MENTION ITS A KNOW ISSUE, THEY SAID YOU DIDN'T RESPOND IN TIME SO THEY WILL NOT PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THE SUPERVISOR WAS RUDE AND SAID THE SAME THING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 25, 2020Structure, Unknown or other, Visibility/wiperODI 11301825
“BOTH MY POWER SLIDING DOORS HAVE FAILED WITHIN THE PAST WEEK, AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THEM. THEY DO NOT OPEN AT ALL BECAUSE THE CABLES ARE SNAGGED, AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, PASSENGERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE SAFELY AND QUICKLY THROUGH THE LIFTGATE OR FRONT DOORS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THEM AND NOT LEAVE SAFETY TO CHANCE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2019StructureODI 11232719
“WHEN I OPEN THE LIFT GATE FROM THE CONSOLE OR KEY FOB AND THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS ABOUT 32 DEGREES OR LESS THE LIFT GATE GOES UP THEN COMES RIGHT BACK DOWN. IF I REPEAT THE OPENING PROCESS SEVERAL TIMES IT FINALLY STAYS UP. I HAVE BEEN HIT SEVERAL TIME BY THE LIFT GATE WHEN I THOUGHT IT WAS OPEN, IT TAKES A LOT OF STRENGTH TO STOP IT ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. WHAT WOULD IT DO TO A CHILD? THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND IN PARK OR IF THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING AT ALL. IN MY GARAGE, PARKING LOTS, ETC, WHEREVER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. THIS STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT 2011 AND CONTINUES GETTING WORSE EACH YEAR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 1, 2019StructureODI 11173559
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CAPISTRANO TOYOTA (33395 CAMINO CAPISTRANO, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA 92675, (949) 276-6886) TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V858000 (STRUCTURE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SLIDING DOOR MALFUNCTIONED AND COULD BE OPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECENT FAILURES WERE NOT RELATED TO THE ORIGINAL RECALL, BUT THE CONTACT DISAGREED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2018StructureODI 11145026

Showing 6 of 117 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Structure

Remedy pending

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998 THROUGH 2010 SIENNA PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 7, 1997 AND JANUARY 4, 2010, CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE SPARE TIRE STOWED UNDER THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN THE COLD CLIMATE REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES WHERE ROAD SALT IS FREQUENTLY USED, WATER SPLASHED BACKWARDS WITH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT CAN REACH THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER AND CORRODE THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER ASSEMBLY CABLE.

StructureReported Apr 20, 2010NHTSA 10V160000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.