2021 Toyota REDUNDANT SIENNA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
165 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
28,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 80 of 165 complaints (48.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 73 | 44.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 6.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 1.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 1.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 80 |
| Unknown Or Other | 27 |
| Seats | 17 |
| Air Bags | 16 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Power Train | 8 |
Service Brakes: 80; Unknown Or Other: 27; Seats: 17; Air Bags: 16; Electrical System: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Engine: 8; Power Train: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 154 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 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 37 |
| 2023 | 34 |
| 2024 | 46 |
| 2025 | 26 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2021: 17; 2022: 37; 2023: 34; 2024: 46; 2025: 26; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 73 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11418037 · 2021-05-21 (May 21, 2021)
When the 3rd-row folding seats are down and stored and the breaks are applied suddenly the seat will release and attempt to return a nonstored position. I had a box of water on top of the seat to keep it from moving. Unfortunately when I breaked the box moved and the seat left the stored position and crushed the water bottles. If I had had a pet back there they would have been injured.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11418037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11421745 · 2021-06-21 (June 21, 2021)
With the rear seat entertainment system in use, the rear visibility is completely blocked in conjunction with the standard rear view mirror. This is a major design defect and is avoidable with available options that should be standard. Without being able to utilize all possible ways to view around the vehicle, Toyota has put its owners, occupants, and fellow drivers at unnecessary risk. An easy remedy is Toyota retrofitting and including going forward their digital rear view mirror.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11421745 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11423107 · 2021-07-01 (July 1, 2021)
Van has just over 5k miles. Multiple warnings occurred while at speed on a highway. Primary warning was 'Low Brake Power' and braking became extremely touchy as it seemed to utilize the emergency brake as a backup. This extreme braking is hazardous and could result in an accident caused by braking too quickly - with a possible rear-end collision by traffic to the rear. Additional warnings/malfunctions were listed as well, due to the low brake power: LTA Malfunction (Lane keep assist), Automatic Emergency Brake Malfunction, Parking Brake Malfunc…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11423107 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11423175 · 2021-07-01 (July 1, 2021)
The third row seats in the new Sienna, like most minivans, fold flat into the floor. However, there is no latch to hold the seats in place when folded. I noticed this immediately after taking delivery of the van in April because when the seats are folded, they bounce a bit over bumps. On web forums for the car, other owners mention this as well. However, twice in the last two weeks while I was driving the car, the seats popped up out of the rear well and latched violently into place. The first time this occurred was driving over a pothole …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11423175 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11423207 · 2021-07-02 (July 2, 2021)
A lot Wind noise coming from driver side window and windshield at freeway speed. Report to Toyota service department but nothing was done to resolve the problem
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11423207 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11424288 · 2021-07-11 (July 11, 2021)
Factory installed rear entertainment system completely blocks vision of windshield mounted rear view mirror. Toyota has a video version of this rearview mirror but does not make it available to those who purchase models below the limited and platinum version of the Sienna. They do not disclose the ubstructed view that will occur when purchasing the vehicle with the rear entertainment system. In Canada, Toyota provides this mirror as part of the rear entertainment package. They are cutting corners in the U.S. at the expense of our safety. Please…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11424288 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11426402 · 2021-07-26 (July 26, 2021)
We were driving down the freeway when we got rear ended hard by a large pickup. Then we lost electrical and engine power. The brakes stopped working. The hazard lights stopped working. Luckily we were able to coast to a complete stop as there was no way to stop the car. The police came and took a report. Then the car was towed to a body shop. We're awaiting the insurance company adjuster for inspection.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11426402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11430719 · 2021-08-27 (August 27, 2021)
The adjustable middle seats of this new Sienna have a severe safety issue! As someone who has owned 6 prior Siennas I am very familiar with this vehicle. In past years the middle seats had two levers- -one for adjusting the back of the seat and one for moving the seat forward or back. This changed with the 2021 model that I just bought to one handle that does both functions. And here is the safety issue--when you lift the handle to move the seat forward or back the back of the seat rockets forward with way too much force and speed. When i trie…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11430719 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
22V239000 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc):Control Module:Software
Reported: 2022-04-13 (April 13, 2022)
Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence: Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Skid Control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA03. Lexus' number for this recall is 22LA01.
NHTSA campaign record ↗