2012 Toyota SIENNA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
247 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
58,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 119 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 84 of 247 complaints (34.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 9.3% |
| Steering behavior | 16 | 6.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 3.6% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 1.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 1.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 84 |
| Structure:Body | 55 |
| Unknown Or Other | 28 |
| Electrical System | 24 |
| Power Train | 16 |
| Steering | 15 |
| Wheels | 12 |
| Service Brakes | 11 |
Air Bags: 84; Structure:Body: 55; Unknown Or Other: 28; Electrical System: 24; Power Train: 16; Steering: 15; Wheels: 12; Service Brakes: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 29 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 22 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 26 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 22; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 26; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 9
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 128 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 119 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2012: 12; 2013: 9; 2014: 18; 2015: 9; 2016: 13; 2017: 119; 2018: 15; 2019: 17; 2020: 10; 2021: 4; 2022: 5; 2023: 7; 2024: 1; 2025: 6; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 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 10444924 · 2012-01-23 (January 23, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE OR ACCELERATE, BOTH PEDALS WOULD BE DEPRESSED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TWO PETALS WERE TOO CLOSE IN PROXIMITY. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAVEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,300.
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10456744 · 2012-04-28 (April 28, 2012)
JOINING HIGHWAY IN A SITUATION WHERE VEHICLES GIVING WAY CAUSE HESITATION AND THEN GIVE WAY CAUSING BRAKING THEN ACCELERATION REPEATEDLY, TRANSMISSION REFUSED TO DOWNSHIFT ON KICK DOWN, VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, ACTUALLY SLOWED SIGNIFICANTLY FORCING FOLLOWING VEHICLES TO BRAKE .VEHICLE EVENTUALLY BEGAN TO PICK UP SPEED.GENERALLY POOR RESPONSE FROM TRANSMISSION IN ALL MODES. TRANSMISSION DROPS OUT OF DRIVE AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSING ENGINE TO RACE BEFORE TAKING UP DRIVE, VERY HARD TO OPERATE VEHICLE SMOOTHLY.. EXCESSIVE ENGINE VIBRATION AND NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456744 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10882569 · 2016-07-05 (July 5, 2016)
45MPH FRONT END IMPACT DID NOT DEPLOY AID BAG. DRIVER SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES FROM HER FACE IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL.
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10882569 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10464253 · 2012-07-05 (July 5, 2012)
BRAND NEW VEHICLE LASTED ABOUT A WEEK, WIFE PARKED CAR, WENT INTO STORE, CAME OUT AND VAN WOULD NOT START, WIFE AND KIDS WERE STRANDED IN ROUGH PART OF NEIGHBORING CITY, BATTERY DEAD, TOYOTA SERVICE TESTED CHARGING SYSTEM AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG, THEY DIDN'T REPLACED BATTERY AS A PRECAUTION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 420 miles reported. Look up ODI 10464253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10610813 · 2014-07-15 (July 15, 2014)
IN NOV 2013, THE BATTERY LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD TURNED ON. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF THAT HAPPENING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT MOVE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE CAR?S ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN JAN 2014, THE BATTERY LIGHT TURNED ON AGAIN, SO I DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ONCE AGAIN WITH THE ALTERNATOR. THEY REPLACED THE SIENNA?S ALTERNATOR AGAIN. IN MAR 2014, THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON YET AGAIN. I BROUGHT IT …
Owner-reported narrative. 21,433 miles reported. Look up ODI 10610813 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10531559 · 2013-07-24 (July 24, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO BRAKING POWER AND AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY, HE CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE HORN THEN BEGAN TO SOUND AS SMOKE FILLED THE INTERIOR CABIN. THE SIX OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE BECAME TRAPPED INSIDE AND WERE ABLE TO CLIMB OUT OF A PARTIALLY OPENED WINDOW AS THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED, THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10531559 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10578736 · 2014-04-16 (April 16, 2014)
2012 TOYOTA SIENNA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL. THE MORE SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE SPEEDOMETER CONTINUED TO DECREASE. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER. HER HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO RE-START THE VEHICLE, BUT NOT HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC DID NOT REVEAL A PROBLEM. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. SHE MANAGED TO RE-START THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE F…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10578736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10468304 · 2012-07-30 (July 30, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT, HE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS UP TO 8,000. THE CONTACT FORCEFULLY APPLIED THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE THEN DECELERATED AND THE CONTACT DROVE HOME SLOWLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND TOWED THE VEHICLE IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE AND ATTRIBUTED IT TO A DRIVER'S ERROR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10468304 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10494985 · 2013-01-28 (January 28, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A KNOCKING AND SWOOSHING SOUND COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE NOISE WOULD BECOME LOUDER WHEN THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THAT THE NOISES WERE NORMAL AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 836 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,384. UPDATED 2/12/13 *CN
Owner-reported narrative. 836 miles reported. Look up ODI 10494985 at NHTSA ↗