Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the fuel system, body and structure, and transmission. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2019Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2019 Toyota Sienna: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/3
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2019's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2019 Toyota Sienna. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 20–22 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2019 Toyota Sienna, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Most complaints here are about the fuel pump recall, campaign 20V012000, not about a new failure. Owners got the notice, but dealers said the replacement part was not available yet. Some vans sat unused for months, and promised loaner cars did not show up. A few owners report the actual symptom: the van fails to restart after refueling and then starts with the check engine light on. Owners with wheelchair-converted vans also describe long waits.
Hesitation followed by a sudden lurch is the main complaint. It happens mostly at parking-lot speeds of 5 to 25 mph, and also when the van downshifts between 30 and 50 mph. Passengers get thrown back into their seats. Several owners say a new recall fuel pump did not fix it. Other reports cover long recall waits and a dealer turning away a wheelchair-converted van. A separate complaint describes fuel vapors in the cabin and engine bay that the dealer could not trace, which raised fire concerns.
Power sliding doors close on people instead of reversing when something is in the way. Reports include a child's hand and an adult's foot caught in the door, and one child needed hospital treatment at about 50,000 miles. Other complaints cover hood paint that peels and cracks about 2 years after purchase, a fuel door hinge that breaks loose and can block the sliding door, and a popping noise from both front door hinges.
Hesitation and gear hunting come up most. Owners describe lag when pressing the accelerator and lunging between gears, sometimes worse with the air conditioning on, and the problem continues after the fuel pump recall repair. Some vans suddenly lose drive in traffic while the engine keeps running. Check engine and traction control warnings come on, and afterward the van will only use low gears. Other owners report loud transmission whine and replaced transmissions. One whine began at 138k miles, and Toyota said that VIN was outside the recall.
Reports here vary. The microphone tied to the SOS call button stops working, so an emergency call may not connect. One dealer quoted $200 just to diagnose it. Another van lost its power liftgate, backup camera, and several safety features, showed the air bag light, and gave off a burning smell. The dealer blamed an aftermarket remote start. One owner reports mild electrical shocks from the steering wheel and seatbelt that got worse over several weeks.
Two opposite failures are reported. In one, a side impact at about 30 mph crushed the rear sliding door, and neither the side air bags nor the curtain air bags went off. In the other, every front and side air bag fired at low speed with no impact. Glass shattered, smoke filled the cabin, and the driver was hurt. Both reports involve children in the van.
Unintended acceleration in reverse is the pattern here. Drivers say the van sped backward even with the brake pedal pressed. One van hit an occupied car, and the driver was bruised. Another van jumped a curb. One report adds that the front end dips sharply when braking and that the air bags did not deploy in the crash. Both cases involve a loss of control at low speed.
Some LEDs in the passenger-side daytime running light flicker or go dark, and Toyota refused to cover the repair under warranty. The second complaint is really a drivability failure. The van hesitated while pulling into traffic, lit up the dash, and stalled. After a restart it barely moved even at full throttle and had to be towed to the dealer.
Excerpts from complaints Sienna owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
About 2 years after the 9/30/2019 purchase (new), the paint on the front engine hood began peeling & cracking. Calls to Parks Toyota were ineffective. Now the entire hood has pervasive cracks. The hood needs to be removed, sanded & painted with a more substantial, long-lasting paint. The paint used is supposed to contain an additional clear coat for protection.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2026
The fuel door hinge has separated from the fuel door. The fuel door now opens partially and can impede the proper function of the power sliding door as it opens or attempt to close.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2022
sever transmission whine started at 138k miles over a year ago.Toyota will not fix issues under recalled ua80 transmission. Said my vin doesn’t fall within recall.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2025
Transmission has failed and been replaced. This is part of issues from 2017 to 2020 tranny failures, loud whining and needing to be replaced. Tranny failure is very dangerous to the occupants. Toyota has failed to warranty these.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2019 ranks fifth for owner complaints among 8 Sienna years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2019 is the ninth model year of the Sienna's third generation (2011–2020).
It includes the 2018 update.
What changed for 2018
Recall repairs are free at any Toyota dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain modified 2017-2020 Toyota Sienna vehicles. The steering shaft extensions may have been improperly manufactured, possibly causing the extensions to fracture.
Risk: If the steering shaft extension completely fractures, it can cause a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Braun has notified owners, and dealers will replace the steering shaft extensions, free of charge. The recall began July 25, 2019. Owners may contact Braun customer service at 1-800-488-0359.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims.".
Risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.
Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Toyota Sienna mobility van conversions. The brake lines may have incorrect tube nut fittings installed, which may cause a pressure drop within the braking system.
Risk: The reduction in the braking system pressure may cause a loss of braking power in the rear braking system, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Braun has notified owners, and dealers will install an adaptor to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began June 25, 2019. Owners may contact Braun customer service at 1-800-488-0359.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Sienna vehicles. The passenger front door may have incorrect welds inside, possibly affecting the air bag sensor readings for the passenger side front seat and curtain shield air bags.
Risk: The incorrect air bag sensor readings could cause the affected air bags to unintentionally deploy or to not deploy when intended, increasing the risk of a crash and/or injury.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side front door sub assembly with a new one, free of charge. The recall began June 21, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is K1G /K0G.
Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling certain 2019 C-HR, 4Runner, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Sienna, Tundra and Yaris vehicles. The text on the load capacity label may become illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims.".
Risk: If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 19R1.
Cars shoppers compare with the Toyota Sienna, with their own 2019 checklists.
2019 owner complaints, side by side
