The 2008 Toyota Sienna has 5 recalls, with the most serious risks being a potential rollaway if the transmission shifts out of Park without the brake pedal depressed, and a fire risk from a short-circuiting seat heater element.
The transmission concern appears in two related recalls: in both cases, a fault in the shift lock assembly allows the gear selector to move out of Park without the driver pressing the brake, which can cause the vehicle to roll or engage a drive gear unexpectedly, raising the risk of a rollaway or backover collision. The seat heater fire risk applies to vehicles fitted with certain aftermarket seat heaters distributed through Southeast Toyota Distributors; if the copper heating element is damaged, it can short circuit and ignite a fire.
Two additional recalls involve the spare tire carrier, and while they are closely related, they cover slightly different model year ranges and affected regions, both limited to states where road salt is common. In both cases, the steel cable that holds the spare tire under the vehicle can corrode and snap, allowing the spare to drop onto the road or strike another vehicle. Any vehicle registered or originally sold in the northern and mid-Atlantic states should be checked for this issue, as a loose spare tire in traffic presents a serious hazard to other drivers.
