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2004 Toyota SiennaProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 2,062 owner complaints about the 2004 Toyota Sienna, most often about the structure. It is covered by 10 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-273 the manufacturer reports only 37% of affected cars repaired.

2004 Toyota Sienna
10
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid8.8× the Sienna median · #1 of 23 years by complaints
Safety recalls10Lowest repair rate 37%Owner complaints2,062190 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage80kStructure, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 17, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2004 Toyota Sienna has problems

2,062 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Structure96274
Latches/locks/linkages30829
Steering1590
Electrical system1328
Tires1242
Vehicle speed control11127
Seat belts983
Power train895
Electronic stability control (ESC)680
24 other systems41135

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

10 recalls

2004 Toyota Sienna recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

37%repaired · 2016 Q4

Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire

Recall 14V-273 · May 22, 2014 · 419,520 vehicles · 155,374 repaired

Risk. If the carrier cable is corroded due to road salt, the spare tire may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

50%repaired · 2015 Q2

Power train: automatic transmission

Recall 13V-429 · Sep 26, 2013 · 614,722 vehicles · 304,321 repaired

Risk. If the shift lever is moved out of the Park position without the brake applied, the transmission will either engage a drive gear or Neutral, increasing the…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Engine and engine cooling

Recall 11V-539 · Nov 9, 2011 · 420,326 vehicles

Risk. IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Structure

Recall 10V-160 · Apr 20, 2010 · 600,000 vehicles

Risk. THE CABLE MAY BREAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND THE SPARE TIRE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 6 more recalls
–no report yet

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

Recall 09V-023 · Jan 16, 2009 · 26,501 vehicles

Risk. IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN BECOME STUCK WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Body: hatchback/liftgate

Recall 08V-244 · Jun 3, 2008 · 196,222 vehicles

Risk. IF NOT REPAIRED, THE GAS STRUTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE LIFTGATE WHEN IT IS OPEN EVENTUALLY, THE GAS STRUTS COULD DETERIORATE TO THE POINT…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Seat belts

Recall 05V-327 · Jul 20, 2005 · 345,443 vehicles

Risk. IF THE SEAT BELT BINDS IN THE BEZEL, THAT EXTRA WEBBING MAY EXIST IN THE SEAT BELT WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN IMPROPERLY FITTED SEAT BELT ON A PASSENGER.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Storage: tank assembly

Recall 03V-291 · Aug 12, 2003 · 34,437 vehicles

Risk. IF THE FUEL TANK BECOMES DAMAGED AND FUEL LEAKAGE OCCURS, A FIRE MAY RESULT IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Toyota.

Mileage at failure

When do structure problems start?

80kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 806 structure complaints. 69% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
41under 30k miles556under 100k miles250100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Structure

187 owners mentioned a cost

$1,700median

Middle half: $1,266 – $2,000

Latches/locks/linkages

68 owners mentioned a cost

$1,600median

Middle half: $1,200 – $2,000

Tires

20 owners mentioned a cost

$1,200median

Middle half: $300 – $1,300

Steering

15 owners mentioned a cost

$680median

Middle half: $512 – $800

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2004 vs. every other Sienna year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sienna median. How we score

'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2004 Toyota Sienna safety ratings

2004 Toyota Sienna in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2004 Toyota Sienna frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2004 Toyota Sienna side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: Optional
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
10 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2004 Toyota Sienna, and the recalls they led to.

  1. SEATBELT MALFUNCTIONEA05010 · closed Aug 2, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-327
  2. UNEXPECTED CLOSING OF POWER LIFTGATEEA06020 · closed Jun 25, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-244
  3. ACCELERATOR PEDAL INTERFERENCEEA08014 · closed Jan 26, 2009
    Led to recall 09V-023
  4. STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BINDINGEA08024 · closed Jul 16, 2009
    No recall
  5. Stabilus Rear Liftgate Struts FailingEQ12010 · closed Dec 31, 2012
    No recall
  6. SEATBELT MALFUNCTIONPE05008 · closed Jun 13, 2005
    No recall
  7. TIRE PRESSURE WARNING SYSTEM FAILUREPE06010 · closed Aug 2, 2006
    No recall
  8. UNEXPECTED LIFTGATE CLOSINGPE06029 · closed Dec 1, 2006
    No recall
  9. ACCELERATOR PEDAL INTERFERENCEPE08025 · closed Aug 8, 2008
    No recall
  10. STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BINDINGPE08041 · closed Oct 28, 2008
    No recall
In owners' words

What Sienna owners report

Recent structure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while the liftgate door was opened, the door had erroneously closed and failed to remain opened. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the rear hatch door struts were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle…
Complaint 11679304 · Aug 8, 2025 · 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the tailgate inadvertently opened, then closed independently. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the tailgate hydraulic struts…
Complaint 11515790 · Apr 6, 2023 · 140,000 miles
Passenger right slider Will not open! Only opens About 8 inches. This is a safety hazzard for a passenger back seat r/h! This is well known condition! Could be deadly, in the right Surcomstance
Complaint 11449803 · Feb 1, 2022

Own a 2004 Sienna?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.