NHTSA (USA)Critical
This page covers 13 recalls, 609 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2011 Toyota Sienna.
18 mpg combined
13.1 L/100km
Minivan - 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
The 2011 Toyota Sienna received an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program testing for US-market vehicles. In frontal crash tests, it earned 3 stars. Side crash protection was rated at 5 stars, the highest rating. Rollover resistance received 4 stars, while side pole crash testing also resulted in 4 stars. This NHTSA rating applies to the 2011 model year until the next redesign.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2011 Sienna, the two heaviest complaint areas are airbags and structure. On the airbag side, owners most commonly describe the airbag warning light illuminating intermittently, sometimes clearing on its own after a restart, with the underlying system showing no obvious trigger. The structural complaints center heavily on the power sliding doors, where owners report the cable mechanism snapping, doors failing to open fully, or the automatic function stopping working entirely, leaving doors operable only by hand. Electrical complaints, while lower in volume, include warning lights for ABS, stability control, and tire pressure appearing together, often without a clear triggering fault. The sliding door cable failure pattern stands out because multiple owners describe both sides eventually failing, with the door sometimes binding or not fully opening after the cable breaks.
609
Total Complaints
34
Crash-Related
7
Fire-Related
24
With Injuries
By System
The 2011 Toyota Sienna has 13 recalls, the most serious being a Takata passenger airbag inflator that can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
The airbag issue appears across multiple recalls covering different production periods and geographic registrations, but the core danger is the same: the passenger-side front airbag inflator can rupture in a crash, turning the inflator housing into shrapnel directed at whoever is seated in front of it. On the drivetrain side, the front right driveshaft on a narrow range of vehicles can break without warning while driving, cutting power abruptly and raising the risk of a crash. Certain vehicles also have a heated seat concern: aftermarket seat heaters installed by a regional distributor can develop a short circuit in the copper heating element, which can cause a fire.
Several recalls involve the brakes and sliding doors. The stop lamp switch sits close to the parking brake pedal, and a driver's foot can knock the switch bracket out of position during normal parking brake use, causing brake drag, warning lights, and reduced braking force. The power sliding doors carry their own issue: if a door is frozen or otherwise blocked and the motor stalls trying to open it, the door can later swing open unexpectedly, including while the vehicle is moving. On vehicles registered in northern, high-salt states, the cable holding the spare tire under the vehicle can corrode and let the tire drop onto the road.
Two recalls flag label errors where the tire and loading information placard displays incorrect cargo and occupant weight limits, which can
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
At a glance
What can fail
Driver or passenger front airbag inflators previously replaced under an earlier recall may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to humidity, high temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the affected front airbag inflator, assembly, or sub-assembly depending on vehicle model.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature cycling.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator or air bag assembly depending on your vehicle model.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The power sliding door may freeze shut and become unable to open when commanded. Once thawed or unfrozen, the door could open unexpectedly, potentially while the vehicle is moving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the junction block, rear sliding door wire harnesses, and install two sub wire harnesses at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
When ice or obstruction blocks a power sliding door, the motor can stall and draw excessive current, tripping the door's circuit breaker. If the latch is unlatched when this happens, the door may open while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the junction block and rear sliding door wire harnesses with updated versions and install two sub-harnesses to connect them.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electrical wiring in aftermarket seat heaters with copper strand heating elements can be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed, potentially causing electrical issues.
What the fix does
Dealers will disconnect the seat heaters at no charge and refund the purchase price of the accessory.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant breakdown after long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator or entire air bag assembly at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The cable attaching the spare tire carrier under the vehicle may corrode from road salt exposure in certain regions, potentially causing the spare tire to become insecure.
What the fix does
Dealers will relocate the spare tire to the luggage compartment and replace the spare tire carrier assembly with an improved version, free of charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The vehicle capacity weight placard does not display the correct rated load for the combined weight of cargo and passengers.
What the fix does
Toyota will mail a corrected placard and revised owner manual information at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Tire and Loading Information label shows incorrect weight limits for occupants and cargo. This could allow the vehicle to be overloaded, reducing handling control and increasing crash risk.
What the fix does
Updated Tire and Loading Information label and owner's manual overlay will be installed. Some owners can choose to remove the trailer hitch or replace tires and rims with Extra Load Tires.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front right drive shaft may break because it did not receive proper heat treatment during manufacturing.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the drive shaft and replace it with a new one if it was not correctly manufactured.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The plastic buttons on second row seatbacks that mark the location of child seat anchor bars may be installed slightly outside the position limits set by safety standards.
What the fix does
Manufacturing process has been updated to ensure buttons are installed within the correct position limits going forward.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The brake stop lamp switch bracket, mounted on the service brake pedal support, can be damaged by the operator's foot when applying the parking brake due to their proximity.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the bracket assembly at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The brake stop lamp switch bracket can be damaged by the parking brake pedal, potentially causing brake lights to stay on or service brakes to partially engage, leading to brake drag, noise, vibration, and reduced braking performance.
What the fix does
The service brake pedal support assembly will be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
