repaired · 2019 Q1
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. If the shift lever can be moved from the "Park" position without depressing the brake pedal and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may roll,…
2009 Toyota SiennaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 207 owner complaints about the 2009 Toyota Sienna, most often about the structure. It is covered by 10 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-396 the manufacturer reports only 24% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 6, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2009 Toyota Sienna has problems
207 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
97Structure10 crash/fire/injury
28Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
14Air bags8 crash/fire/injury
13Vehicle speed control
12Steering
11Tires
10Engine
6Power train
6Service brakes
3514 other systems7 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 97 | 10 |
| Electrical system | 28 | 2 |
| Air bags | 14 | 8 |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 8 |
| Steering | 12 | 2 |
| Tires | 11 | 0 |
| Engine | 10 | 5 |
| Power train | 6 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 4 |
| 14 other systems | 35 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
10 recalls
2009 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.
repaired · 2017 Q4
Front assembly: seat heater/cooler
Risk. If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Front assembly: seat heater/cooler
Risk. Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
repaired · 2016 Q4
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
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.
Show 6 more recalls
repaired · 2015 Q2
Power train: automatic transmission
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…
no report yet
Structure
Risk. THE CABLE MAY BREAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND THE SPARE TIRE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
no report yet
Other: labels
Risk. A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
no report yet
no report yet
Other: labels
Risk. THE GVWR IS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE VEHICLES.
no report yet
Other: labels
Risk. INCORRECT LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING OVERLOADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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?
81kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 78 structure complaints. 72% were reported before 100,000 miles.
12under 30k miles56under 100k miles22100k 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
13 owners mentioned a cost$1,600median
Middle half: $1,500 – $2,600
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
2009 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
2009 Toyota Sienna safety ratings
2009 Toyota Sienna w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 4 stars (16.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Sienna owners report
Recent structure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The driver's side sliding door was stuck and I was struggling with it. Suddenly, the quarter panel window shattered (the window between the door and the back of the car) and the door came halfway off the track. It's important to note that this was not the window of the door I was struggling with…
The cables for the rear power sliding doors snapped on my car causing the door to be jammed shut. When the second one broke approximately two weeks later it's snap back whipping nearly hitting my three-year-old son
The rear passenger side sliding door cable and motor assembly on the Toyota Sienna failed, causing the door to become completely inoperative (cannot open nor close) and the broken cable nearly cut my wife as it broke under tension and came flying out toward her as she was trying to close the door…
Own a 2009 Sienna?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.