The 2005 Toyota Sienna has 6 recalls, with the most serious risks being an unintended rollaway from a faulty shift lock and a spare tire that can separate from the vehicle at highway speeds and strike other cars.
The shift lock issue appears across multiple recalls: the shift lever can be moved out of Park without pressing the brake pedal, which can allow the vehicle to roll or engage a drive gear unexpectedly. This raises the risk of a rollaway or backover crash, particularly if someone is standing behind the vehicle. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve this issue, which is why it surfaces in more than one filing.
The spare tire concern is similarly persistent. On vehicles registered or originally sold in northern and mid-Atlantic states where road salt is common, the cable that holds the spare tire under the cargo floor can corrode to the point of snapping and dropping the spare tire onto the road, where it becomes a hazard for following traffic. This issue also appears across more than one filing, reflecting a history of incomplete resolution.
There is also a fire risk on vehicles fitted with certain aftermarket heated seats installed through Southeast Toyota Distributors. The copper heating element inside the seat cushion can short circuit and ignite, raising the risk of a cabin fire.
