KnownCarProblems2008 Toyota Sienna Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 429 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Toyota Sienna, most often about the body and structure (27% of complaints, typically around 82,000 miles). It is 5th of 21 Sienna model years by number of complaints and has 9 recalls.
Most common 2008 Toyota Sienna problems
Body and structure
117 complaints · 27%Half of these problems showed up before 82,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Power sliding door cable broke. Research into this problem shows that it can cause door to jam in the open position. Problem was frequent enough that Toyota covers the repair for vehicles manufactured 2004-2007. The problem persists in the years manufactured after this, as mine is a 2008, but the $1200.00 repair is…
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the spare tire became detached from the vehicle causing the contact to drive over the tire and experience a failure with the brakes. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The mechanic stated…
Speed control
51 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 43,000 miles.
I own and drive a 2008 Toyota Sienna. I pulled out of car wash and drove over to a car vacuum center at less than 5mph. As I approached the vacuum area I touched the brake and the car accelerated fast, ran into a metal post ,metal fence and over a curb almost hitting individuals in the area. This occurred in palmetto…
I approached the intersection of cortz rd. And 34 st. In bradenton, fl in heavy traffic. The traffic light changed from red to green, the line of traffic started to move forward. I applied accelerator and brake as needed with traffic, then the car in front of me stopped suddenly ,I let up on the accelerator and…
Engine
51 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 77,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
The rubber in the oil cooling line broke down and drained most of the oil from the engine. From looking at the different boards this seems to be a common problem with this hose. Toyota even re-designed the hose with a metal sleeve because of this.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while traveling 25 MPH, the check engine light illuminated. The steering wheel became very difficult to control and had to be towed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The VIN was not provided.…
Electrical
45 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, instrument cluster/panel.
The passenger side automatic door cable snapped. The car is only 6 years old. I did some research on the internet and there are widespread reports of this being a common design flaw with Toyota Sienna automatic doors. I called the dealership and they indicated it was $1600 to repair the cable. That is outrageous! I…
I was getting things out of back with power lift gate up. While leaning in vehicle the power lift gate came down without warning and caught me. It did not continue to crush me but it did not reverse so I had to use a pretty good force to push it up (my wife probably would not have been able to do it). It did it a…
Brakes
41 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 95,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Vehicle would engage brakes by itself and vsc and traction control lights would start flashing and beeping when going around curves or hitting bumps in the road. This was frightening, and caused me to not in good conscience sell the vehicle outright to another person, so I lost thousands of dollars by trading it in.…
Traction light notified me of a brake problem. Van would stop and lock the brakes. Dealer determined the problem was the ABS brake actuator. Replaced in june of 2015. Van was being driven on city street
Transmission
38 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.
The contact owns 2008 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated without the keys in the ignition and the emergency brake not engaged her child release the gear shift from park and the vehicle rolled into the mailbox. No one was injured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated they cannot duplicate the problem and there…
We have owned the Sienna for 4 years and 53,000 miles without incidence. We have had it serviced by the Toyota dealer and have had all scheduled maintenance. One afternoon, after driving the Sienna all day, we pulled it into our driveway (which is on a slight incline) and placed it into park. After doing this, instead…
Other or unspecified
34 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 89,500 miles.
The rear hatch suddenly closes at a fast speed when it is cold. This will happen repeatedly, we have had close calls with this now since november. Toyota shows no recalls for this.
Cable mechanism on both power sliding doors broke. The cables have snapped. One door is jammed shut and is unable to open. I hear the motor working, but I see the cables on the outside of the van and I see the cables snapped in half.
Steering
33 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 97,000 miles.
While driving the vsc/ABS system comes on unexpectedly causing vehicle to brake and effect steering. It is most frequently noticed when steering on curves 30-40 MPH. I have replaced tires, front steering components and dealer cannot duplicate. I believe wheel speed/yaw sensor calibration is affecting the vsc system.…
We had been noticing a small leak under our 2008 Toyota Sienna for a few months so we took it in to the Toyota service center to have it checked out. A Toyota service technician told US that the passenger side power steering rack boot is torn and the seal is leaking, so it needs to be replaced. He said this is a very…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Toyota Sienna recalls
Seats: seat heater/cooler
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on july 14, 2016. Owners may contact set customer service at 1-866-405-4226. Set number for this recall is set16b.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota distributors, llc (set) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4runner, highlander, sequoia, and sienna, 2005-2010 avalon and tundra, 2006-2008 camry solara, 2006-2010 highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 rav4 and tacoma, 2007-2010 fj cruiser, 2007-2011 camry hybrid, 2009-2010 venza, 2010-2012 prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Seats: seat heater/cooler
Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in january 2015. Owners may contact set customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota distributors, llc (set) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 prius and corolla, 2009-2011 venza, 2006-2010 avalon, 2007-2010 fj cruiser, 2005-2011 sienna and sequoia, 2006-2011 tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, camry, highlander, tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 rav4 and 4runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
Wheels and tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
Risk: If the carrier cable is corroded due to road salt, the spare tire may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota sent owners in august 2014 an interim notification to advise owners of the recall and that dealers will perform an interim remedy to remove the spare tire and relocate it to the luggage compartment, free of charge. Owners are being mailed a second letter as parts become available and dealers will replace the spare tire carrier assembly with an improved one, free of charge. The remedy campaign is being performed in phases. The first phase of the recall began july 7, 2015. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Note: 2004-2010 siennas subject to this recall were sub
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain model year 2004-2011 sienna vehicles originally sold in, or currently registered in, connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia, wisconsin and the district of columbia. The affected vehicles have a spare tire carrier assembly mounted under the vehicle whose attachment cable may corrode due to high concentrations of road salt splashing onto the spare tire carrier.
Transmission: automatic transmission
Risk: If the shift lever is moved out of the park position without the brake applied, the transmission will either engage a drive gear or neutral, increasing the risk of a backover or roll away crash.
Fix: Toyota will mail interim notifications to owners beginning in late october 2013. When parts are available, owners will be sent a second notice and dealers will replace the shift lock solenoid, free of charge. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2005 sienna vehicles manufactured january 10, 2003, through august 10, 2005; and model year 2007-2009 sienna vehicles manufactured february 20, 2007, through december 12, 2008. In the affected vehicles, due to a problem within the shift lock solenoid, there is a possibility that the shift lever could be moved out of park position without depressing the brake pedal.
Body and structure: structure
Risk: The cable may break due to excessive corrosion and the spare tire may separate from the vehicle, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners with an interim letter initially instructing them to bring their vehicle to authorized dealers to inspect for corrosion. A second notice will be sent when the permanent remedy is available. For more information, please see toyota's amended recall report of july 19, 2010. The safety recall is expected to begin on october 12, 2010. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 1998 through 2010 sienna passenger vehicles manufactured between august 7, 1997 and january 4, 2010, currently registered in or originally sold in connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, washington district of columbia, virginia, west virginia, and wisconsin. The subject vehicles are equipped with the spare tire stowed under the vehicle. If the vehicle is operated in the cold climate regions of the united states where road salt is frequently used, water splashed backwards with high concentrations of road salt can reach the spare tire carrier and corrode the spare tire carrier assembly cable.
Equipment: labels
Risk: This does not meet the standard requirements.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact gulf states toyota at 713-580-3300.
Full defect summary
Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Equipment: labels
Risk: A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Equipment: labels
Risk: The gvwr is insufficient for the load carrying capacity of the vehicles.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners instructing them to return their vehicle to a toyota or lexus dealer for an exchange of the certification label and the tire and loading information label, an installation of the load carrying capacity modification label, if necessary, and a correction to the owner's manual. This remedy will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on december 10, 2009. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2009 sienna and 2009 lexus gx passenger vehicles. The vehicle capacity weight on the tire and loading information label and the gvwr on the certification label is insufficient for certain vehicles. Some vehicles were accessorized through vehicle processing centers and had accessories installed that caused the vehicle to exceed the gvwr value. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no 110, "tire selection and rims," and 49 cfr part 567.
Equipment: labels
Risk: Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall began on august 18, 2009. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling 27,080 model year 2005 through 2010 passenger cars built from september 1, 2005 to may 4, 2009. These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2008 Toyota Sienna
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Toyota Sienna?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: body and structure (117 complaints, typically around 82,000 miles); speed control (51 complaints, typically around 43,000 miles); engine (51 complaints, typically around 77,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Toyota Sienna have?
- 9 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 2, 2016 (seats). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Toyota Sienna?
- It is 5th of 21 Sienna model years by number of complaints, with 429 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.