2006 Toyota SIENNA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,017 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
71,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 820 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 283 of 1,017 complaints (27.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 112 | 11.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 82 | 8.1% |
| Steering behavior | 69 | 6.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 33 | 3.2% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 0.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 0.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 283 |
| Structure:Body | 100 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 98 |
| Electrical System | 81 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 61 |
| Steering | 59 |
| Unknown Or Other | 53 |
| Service Brakes | 50 |
Air Bags: 283; Structure:Body: 100; Structure:Body:Door: 98; Electrical System: 81; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 61; Steering: 59; Unknown Or Other: 53; Service Brakes: 50
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 100 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 144 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 191 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 178 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 142 |
| 150,000 and above | 65 |
Under 25,000: 100; 25,000 to 49,999: 144; 50,000 to 74,999: 191; 75,000 to 99,999: 178; 100,000 to 149,999: 142; 150,000 and above: 65
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (191). 197 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 | 1 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 28 |
| 2008 | 30 |
| 2009 | 52 |
| 2010 | 156 |
| 2011 | 157 |
| 2012 | 106 |
| 2013 | 105 |
| 2014 | 80 |
| 2015 | 73 |
| 2016 | 64 |
| 2017 | 32 |
| 2018 | 46 |
| 2019 | 23 |
| 2020 | 20 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2005: 1; 2006: 12; 2007: 28; 2008: 30; 2009: 52; 2010: 156; 2011: 157; 2012: 106; 2013: 105; 2014: 80; 2015: 73; 2016: 64; 2017: 32; 2018: 46; 2019: 23; 2020: 20; 2021: 13; 2022: 5; 2023: 7; 2024: 3; 2025: 1; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 112 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 82 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 69 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 10159005 · 2006-06-05 (June 5, 2006)
BRAKES SQUEALED WITHIN DAYS OF PURCHASING NEW SIENNA 8-SEAT MINI-VAN. IT WAS RETURNED TO BE FIXED TO DEALER WHO "GLAZED" THE BRAKES. WITHIN DAYS THEY WERE SQUEALING AGIN. IT WAS AGAIN RETURNED TO DEALER WHO REPLACED REAR DRUMS AND SHOES. WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE BRAKES WERE SQUEALING AGAIN. IT WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DEALER WHO AGAIN REPLACED REAR DRUMS AND SHOE BUT WITHIN 24 HOURS, THE BRAKES WERE AGAIN SQUEALING. IT HAS LESS THAN 4000 MILES AND HAS HAD LESS THAN A WEEK WHEN THE BRAKES HAVE NOT BEEN SQUEALING. ADDITIONALLY, IT TAKES …
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170041 · 2006-10-05 (October 5, 2006)
2005 TOYOTA SIENNA AWD. REAR DISC BRAKES...CLIP RUST CAUSES THE CALIPER PISTON TO STAY EXTENDED AND KEEP THE DISC BRAKE PAD IN CONTACT WITH THE DISC. BRAKES WEAR EXCESSIVELY... BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN 23000 MILES WITH WEAR ON THE DISC. DEALER STATES THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM. CLIP REPLACED WITH NEW CLIP AT CUSTOMER REQUEST, DISC RESURFACED. BOTH AT CUSTOMER EXPENSE. SERVICE PERSON STATES THEY ARE GETTING SEVERE RUST ON THESE CLIPS, COULD CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 23,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169222 · 2006-09-25 (September 25, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED AND ACTIVATING THE IGNITION SWITCH, AN ARCHING CAME OFF AND BURNED THE EAR PIECE OF A CELL PHONE TRAUMATIZING THE CONTACT'S EAR. NO WARNING SIGNAL WAS PRESENT DURING THE NUMEROUS INCIDENTS. THE SPARK COULD BE HEARD AND SEEN EVERY TIME THERE WAS AN OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO CHECKED ALL ELECTRICAL GROUNDING BUT NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/11/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169222 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10210727 · 2007-12-03 (December 3, 2007)
I BOUGHT A 2006 SIENNA 10/30/2005. JULY 2, 2006 AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON, MAKING THE AIRBAG NOT WORKING. 3 TIMES HAD TO BRING CAR BACK, THEY FIXED WITH GARBAGE TIE TOLD BY ADVISOR. NOW I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SAME THING AND ALL I GET IS A RUN AROUND, AND I AM TOLD IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. HOW CAN A 2 YEAR CAR WITH APPARENTLY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM NOT BE COVERED? ON A SAFETY ISSUE? WOULDN'T IT BE CONSIDERED A SHOP COMEBACK, SINCE THE DEALERSHIP TRIED FIXING IT 3 TIMES PRIOR, AND I WAS TOLD TO GO BACK THERE, AND NOT TREATED ANY BETTER THAN IN THE P…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10210727 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10187219 · 2007-04-06 (April 6, 2007)
THE DUNLOP RUN FLAT TIRES ON THE 2006 SIENNA MINI-VAN ARE HORRIBLE. AT 10,000 MILES THEY WERE WEARING VERY FAST. THEY ARE LOUD ON THE ROAD, AND RIDE VERY ROUGH WITH VIBRATION THAT CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE GAS PEDAL. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID THE VIN DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10187219 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10209365 · 2007-11-19 (November 19, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THEY REPAIRED. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209365 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167547 · 2006-09-07 (September 7, 2006)
VEHICLE SURGES WHILE GENTLY APPLYING ACCELERATOR AND CAN'T DECIDE WHICH GEAR TO BE IN. TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO HESITATE, ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE AT 5-10 PMH AND WHILE TURNING. DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS COMPLETELY NORMAL. THE DRIVE-BY-WIRE SYSTEM CANNOT REACT QUICK ENOUGH TO CHANGES IN ACCELERATION. AFTER DAYS OF RESEARCH I SEE THIS IS OCCURRING ON AVALON, CAMRY, LEXUS ES300-330, HIGHLANDER, BMW,AUDI, VW TOUAREG, SUBARU...SHALL I KEEP LOOKING. OBVIOUSLY THE DRIVE BY WIRE TECHNOLOGY IS NOT MATURE AND DANGEROUS. RE-PROGRAMMING IS NEEDED. TO DATE TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10167547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10211333 · 2007-12-10 (December 10, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HAS TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS AND FAILS TO RESHIFT INTO THE CORRECT GEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL WAS THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000. UPDATED 03/06/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER WAS NOT INFORMED THE VEHICLE HAD POWER ASSIST BRAKES. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, A MORE POWERFUL BRAKING WOULD BE APPLIED. AT THAT POINT, THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A …
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10211333 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10317603 · 2010-03-12 (March 12, 2010)
LTR FM (CA) RE DEFECTIVE MODIFIED GAS TANK DESIGN FOR A 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN BY FREEDOM MOTORS OF BATTLE CREEK, MI. *TGW THE VEHICLE WAS MODIFIED FOR HANDICAP USE. THE DEALER MADE A CHANGE TO THE GAS TANK. HOWEVER, ANOTHER DEALER STATED THE WARRANTY HAD BEEN VOIDED. THE DEALER THAT MADE THE MODIFICATIONS, STATED THE WARRANTY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN VOIDED. THE CONSUMER STATED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD STALL OUT WHEN COMING TO A STOP. NONE OF THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS COULD FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL RECENTLY. THE VEHICLE ALSO KI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10317603 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10318656 · 2010-03-12 (March 12, 2010)
2006 TOYOTA SIENNA. CONSUMER MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH FUEL TANK DESIGN. *TGW THE VEHICLE WAS MODIFIED FOR HANDICAP USE. THE DEALER MADE A CHANGE TO THE GAS TANK. HOWEVER, ANOTHER DEALER STATED THE WARRANTY HAD BEEN VOIDED. THE DEALER THAT MADE THE MODIFICATIONS, STATED THE WARRANTY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN VOIDED. THE CONSUMER STATED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD STALL OUT WHEN COMING TO A STOP. NONE OF THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS COULD FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL RECENTLY. THE VEHICLE ALSO KICKED BACK FUEL WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO FUE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10318656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10276272 · 2009-07-09 (July 9, 2009)
IN NOVEMBER 2006 I PURCHASED A LOWERED FLOOR TOYOTA SIENNA WITH AUTOMATIC WHEELCHAIR RAMP. THE PURCHASE WAS MADE THROUGH MC MOBILITY IN MENTOR OHIO, MODIFICATIONS DONE BY BRAUN CORP IN INDIANA. FIRST THE GAS TANK HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED WHICH CAUSED MALFUNCTIONS IN THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS. THIS TOOK SEVERAL MONTHS TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX. THEN AN AC TUBE RUNNING FROM FRONT TO BACK HAD NOT BEEN STRAPPED IN PROPERLY, CAUSING IT TO WEAR THROUGH. THIS TOOK ABOUT TWO MONTHS TO RESOLVE. THE MOST PERSISTENT PROBLEM I…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276272 at NHTSA ↗