2005 Toyota SIENNA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,130 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
66,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 927 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 178 of 1,130 complaints (15.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 125 | 11.1% |
| Steering behavior | 78 | 6.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 30 | 2.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 29 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 0.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 178 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 165 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 110 |
| Steering | 77 |
| Seat Belts | 76 |
| Electrical System | 61 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 59 |
| Structure | 57 |
Structure:Body: 178; Structure:Body:Door: 165; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 110; Steering: 77; Seat Belts: 76; Electrical System: 61; Vehicle Speed Control: 59; Structure: 57
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 124 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 180 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 212 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 165 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 173 |
| 150,000 and above | 73 |
Under 25,000: 124; 25,000 to 49,999: 180; 50,000 to 74,999: 212; 75,000 to 99,999: 165; 100,000 to 149,999: 173; 150,000 and above: 73
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (212). 203 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 48 |
| 2006 | 60 |
| 2007 | 64 |
| 2008 | 72 |
| 2009 | 103 |
| 2010 | 169 |
| 2011 | 128 |
| 2012 | 110 |
| 2013 | 70 |
| 2014 | 65 |
| 2015 | 70 |
| 2016 | 45 |
| 2017 | 32 |
| 2018 | 31 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 19 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2005: 48; 2006: 60; 2007: 64; 2008: 72; 2009: 103; 2010: 169; 2011: 128; 2012: 110; 2013: 70; 2014: 65; 2015: 70; 2016: 45; 2017: 32; 2018: 31; 2019: 19; 2020: 19; 2021: 13; 2022: 3; 2023: 7; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 125 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 78 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 30 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10112305 · 2005-02-28 (February 28, 2005)
EVER SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW IT HAS CONTINUED TO EXHIBIT OCCASIONAL PROBLEM WITH BRAKE PEDAL BECOMING HARD, WITH LITTLE OR NO PLAY, NECESSITATING THE NEED TO PUSH VERY HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO AFFECT STOPPING. NORMALLY THE BRAKES ARE VERY GOOD. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY PARTICULAR CAUSE FOR THIS I.E. PADS BEING WET, ROAD SALT, ETC. IT ONLY OCCURS OCCASIONALLY AND SEEMS TO GO AWAY AFTER DRIVING FOR 20-30 MILES. WHEN IT DOES OCCUR THOUGH IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP.
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112305 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116445 · 2005-04-05 (April 5, 2005)
WHEN BRAKING HARD AT HIGHWAY SPEED BRAKES APPLY TO MUCH BACK PRESSURE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE BRAKES TO SEEM DEFECTIVE. I ALMOST CRASHED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,920 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155449 · 2006-04-16 (April 16, 2006)
IN REFERENCE TO MY 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA LE AWD MINIVAN, EQUIPPED WITH DUNLOP RUN FLAT TIRES. I AM SCHEDULED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR OF MY TIRES TOMORROW AS A FEW WEEKS AGO I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN THAT THE TIRES SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR AND NEEDED REPLACING. I BELIEVE THE TIRES SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS THEY ARE FAILING AFTER SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. ONE YR(19,000 MILES). THEY HAVE EXTREME WEAR AND MY VAN STEERING WHEEL SHAKES EXCESSIVELY OVER 55 MPH (THE REASON I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN THE FIRST PLACE).MAKING ME VERY…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155449 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10202002 · 2007-09-05 (September 5, 2007)
2005 TOYOTA SIENNA INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FAILURE. VEHICLE JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND OTHER INTERNET SEARCHES REVEALED NUMEROUS OTHERS WITH SAME EARLY FAILURE. TSB EXISTS FOR PROBLEM, BUT REPAIR IS EARLY AND EXPENSIVE. *TR UPDATED 10/03/07. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122416 · 2005-05-29 (May 29, 2005)
I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING LOT. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, PLACE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE, LIFTED MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT MY FOOT EVEN TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE VAN STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT, WENT OVER THE CURB OF THE PARKING LOT, DOWN AN EMBANKMENT INTO A RAVINE AND HEADED TOWARDS A TREE. THE PASSEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10122416 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138711 · 2005-10-05 (October 5, 2005)
DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE VEHICLE HAS SEVERE HESITATION, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON A WET ROAD OR ON A SNOWY ROAD. GAS PEDAL AND TRANSMISSION DO NOT SEEM TO CONNECT. NO CRASHES. NO POLICE REPORTS. NO FIRES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO TOYOTA DEALER 5 TIMES; THE MECHANIC CAME BACK AND SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK (11/08/05) THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWN SHIFT VERY HARSH ON TURNS AND ON HILLS. THE SERVICE DEALER PLACED AN UPGRADED COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE BUT THE PROBLEM WORSENED. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 4,585 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131608 · 2005-08-04 (August 4, 2005)
TWO COMPLAINTS 1. ONE THE REAR DOORS DO NOT LATCH IN THE OPEN POSITION WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE OPEN RESULTING IN INJURY TO CHILDREN'S HANDS. 2. AUTO SHUT-OFF FOR INTERIOR LIGHTS DOES NOT WORK RESULTING IN DEAD BATTERY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131608 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10183687 · 2007-02-27 (February 27, 2007)
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING OUR TOYOTA SIENNA 05, THE VAN WOULDN'T START. WE HAD A DVD PLAYER INSTALLED WHICH THE DEALERSHIP THOUGHT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THEY FOUND A PINCHED WIRE AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR WAS DEAD AGAIN. THEY SAID WE LEFT OUR DOME LIGHTS ON WHICH CAUSED THE DEAD BATTERY, EVEN THOUGH THIS CAR HAS AN AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF OF THE DOME LIGHTS SYSTEM. THE CAR WOULDN'T START AFTER LISTENING TO THE RADIO FOR 15 MINUTES WITH THE IGNITION OFF. THE CAR WOULDN'T START AFTER LEAVING THE SIDE DOORS OPEN FOR 30 MINUTES.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10183687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177782 · 2007-01-04 (January 4, 2007)
TOYOTA 2005 SIENNA MINI VAN XLE FWD - ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEED ROLL (AROUND 5 TO 10 MPH) THE CAR ESSENTIALLY EXPERIENCES A STALLING CONDITION WHERE IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE FOR A FEW SECONDS. MORE GAS PEDAL DEPRESSION RESULTS IN A SUDDEN OCCASIONALLY ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454369 · 2012-04-06 (April 6, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. THE RADIATOR CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND OVERHEAT DUE TO LOSS OF FLUID. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454369 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10215079 · 2008-01-16 (January 16, 2008)
GAS TANK PUNCTURED. GAS TANK IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC WITH NO OUTER COVERING TO PROTECT BEING PUNCTURED FROM UNDERNEATH. WE RAN OVER WOOD, PUNCTURED GAS TANK AND LEAKED GAS ALL OVER FREEWAY WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10215079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10315292 · 2010-03-01 (March 1, 2010)
DRIVER SIDE, REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL ONLY OPEN A 6-8 INCHES. IT IS NOT A POWER DOOR. SEEMS TO BE LINKED TO THE CABLE MECHANISM THAT DISABLES DOOR IF GAS CAP DOOR IS LEFT OPEN. HAVE MADE SURE GAS TANK DOOR IS SHUT PROPERLY, CHILD PROOF DOOR SAFETY IS NOT INTERFERING AND WINDOW IS ALL THE WAY UP AS WELL AS VARIOUS OTHER SUGGESTIONS WITH NO RESULTS. DOOR IS STILL ONLY OPENING 6-8 INCHES. SEEING AS HOW THE OTHER PASSENGER DOOR IS A POWER DOOR, I AM WORRIED THAT IF EGRESS FROM THE VEHICLE IS NECESSARY FROM THIS DOOR WHICH WILL NOT OPEN, MY P…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315292 at NHTSA ↗