KnownCarProblems2013 Toyota Sienna Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 183 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota Sienna, most often about the body and structure (24% of complaints, typically around 39,000 miles). It is 11th of 21 Sienna model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2013 Toyota Sienna problems
Body and structure
44 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
The cable of my automatic doors of my Toyota Sienna snapped. When I tried to open the door using my key fob, the door opened, but them proceed to make a high pitched beeping noise (like when you try to lock the doors while one of the doors is open). The doors do not automatically close and it needs to be manually…
Recently noticed that after a heavy rain, water is leaking into the vehicle on passenger side and along the upper console where switches for the sunroof are located. Opened slide and felt water along the front edge of opening for sunroof. Cannot tell where rainwater is entering but believe it might be the sunroof seal.
Other or unspecified
33 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 57,000 miles.
Smelled burning or smoldering inside of vehicle while driving. After stopping to inspect, noticed that a wire for sliding electric door was just hanging (drivers side exterior of rear quarter panel). The wire was burned and was just hanging there. The electric sliding door would not work afterwards. Took siena to…
The passenger side cable attached to the sliding door has stripped, causing an internal jam, disallowing the door from closing fully. Even manually closing the doors does not work, and the door is open roughly 60% of the way. The van is still able to drive with the door open.
Air bags
22 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 37,000 miles. Parts named most often: sensor.
The contact owned a 2013 Toyota Sienna. While driving 25 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle due to a medical emergency. As a result, the contact crashed into a few objects along the road and the vehicle flipped over. All of the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained minor injuries that required…
1. Faulty tk airbags - I got a notice over mail about it. 2. My side door opened during driving, I then found out there is a recall for sliding power doors (electric issue) - I contacted local Toyota dealership, but they said they cannot handle it in the next 5 months as they have no parts.
Electrical
22 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 64,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument panel.
Smelled burning or smoldering inside of vehicle while driving. After stopping to inspect, noticed that a wire for sliding electric door was just hanging (drivers side exterior of rear quarter panel). The wire was burned and was just hanging there. The electric sliding door would not work afterwards. Took siena to…
2013 Toyota Sienna recall dated 11/16. I purchased it in 6/17 from a Toyota dealership with the safety issue unresolved( vehicle power sliding door). Why is vehicle allowed to be sold with documented safety problem.
Transmission
14 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 83,000 miles.
Van started having a propane/musty smell inside cabin while driving on highway. Van just had cabin filters replaced and auto shop stated the rear differential and coupler were blown and to get a used part and replace it would be $4300. The van is a 2013 with 86,000 miles on it. The rav-4 has the exact same part under…
The viscous coupling on the rear axle of my AWD Sienna started making noise and needed to be replaced. Apparently there has been a recall for the rav4 for the same part, but not the Sienna. My auto shop has told me this is a fairly common problem. The bearings in the coupling fail and start to make a very loud whine.…
Brakes
12 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 61,000 miles.
Brakes locked up while trying to leave a parking lot. Many warning lights came on including vsc, ABS, and traction control and the computer said needs immediate service. The Toyota service manager said they've never seen this and that the actuator needs replaced. I've noted that there are 2 other instances of this…
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Sienna. After starting the vehicle, it independently accelerated. In addition, all the warning indicators illuminated, the steering wheel seized, and the brakes did not function. The vehicle was able to stop after the emergency brake was applied. The vehicle was towed to an independent…
Steering
11 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 76,000 miles.
When at low speeds, turning left or right...there is a clunking sound. Forums suggest that the issue is either the intermediate steering linkage. If this fails will it cause lock up or loss of steering? This should be looked into. So far, I have had only this 'clunking' sound.
Our van has 93,800 miles on it and is making a grinding noise when we turn left and right while moving at slower speeds. We took the van in and were told that the struts need replaced and it was unsafe to drive. This is low miles for this vehicle and would be still under warranty if it was not older than 5 years. This…
Wheels and tires
11 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: tread/belt.
I bought my Sienna 12/27/2012. In october 2014 while driving home from lake tahoe, the car began shaking violently while traveling down hill. Upon returning home the car continued to shake anytime the brakes were applied. Took the car to the dealer and they said the rotors were warped and needed to be replaced. The…
I have an all wheel drive Toyota Sienna with run-flat tires that I bought new. The tires had catastrophic wear down to the belts on the in only 25000 miles, especially on the rear. Suspension alignment check at the dealer showed that the rear suspension was "in-spec" and additionally was not adjustable. The ealer told…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 Toyota Sienna recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began november 20, 2019. 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 j0a, j0b, and j0c. Lexus' numbers for this recall are jli, jlj, and jlk.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4runner, 2003-2006 tundra, 2003-2013 corolla, 2009-2010 corolla matrix, 2004-2005 rav4, 2002-2007 sequoia, 2011-2013 sienna, 2008-2012 scion xb, 2008-2009 lexus is-f, 2007-2012 yaris and lexus es350, 2010-2017 lexus gx460, 2002-2010 lexus sc430, 2006-2012 lexus is250 and is350 and 2010-2015 lexus is250c and is350c vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Brakes: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: The contact may cause failure of the rear brake hoses, resulting in a loss of vehicle control and reduced braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Vantage will notify owners, and dealers will install a set of rear brake hoses that will provide the proper clearance, free of charge. The recall began december 16, 2019. Owners may contact vantage customer service at 1-800-488-9082.
Full defect summary
Vantage mobility international, llc (vantage) is recalling certain 2012-2018 ams genesis wheelchair vans, built on a toyota sienna vehicles. The rubber brake hoses that attach to the rear wheel assembly may be too short, causing them to rub against the rear axle trailing arm.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began february 15, 2019. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "zone a" toyota: g0p, lexus: glg; "zone b" toyota: g0r, lexus glh; "zone c" toyota: h0a, and lexus: hla.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 toyota 4runner, 2014-2015 scion xb, lexus is350c, is250c, 2014 toyota sienna, lexus is-f, and 2014-2017 lexus gx460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands or "zone a." toyota is also recalling certain 2011-2013 toyota corolla, corolla matrix, lexus is250, is350, 2011-2016 4runner, 2011-2015 scion xb, lexus is350c, is250c, 2011-2014 toyota sienna, lexus is-f, 2011-2017 lexus gx460, and 2011-2012 lexus es350 vehicles ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north car
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the toyota, scion and lexus owners. General motors will contact the pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began on january 29, 2018. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "zone a" toyota: g0p, lexus: glg; "zone b" toyota: g0r, lexus glh; "zone c" toyota: h0a, and lexus: hla.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2013 scion xb, toyota corolla, corolla matrix, sienna, 4runner, lexus is250, is350, is250c, is350c, is-f, and gx460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of al, ca, fl, ga, hi, la, ms, sc, tx, pr, as, gu, the mp (saipan), and the u.s. Vi or "zone a." toyota is also recalling certain 2010 scion xb, toyota corolla, corolla matrix, yaris, 4runner, lexus is250, is350, is250c, is350c, es350, is-f, gx460, and pontiac vibe vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of az, ar, de, dc, il, in, ks, ky, md, mo, ne, nv, nj, nm, nc, oh, ok, pa, tn, va, and wv or "zone b." toyota is also recalling certain 2009 scion xb, toyota corolla, corolla matrix, yaris, lexus is250, is350, es350, is-f, and pontiac vibe vehicles ever registered in the states of ak, co, ct, id, ia, me, ma, mi, mn, mt, nh, ny, nd, or, ri, sd, ut, vt, w
Body and structure: door
Risk: If door opens while the vehicle is moving, there would be an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the junction block, rear sliding door wire harnesses, and install two sub wire harnesses, free of charge. The recall began on july 28, 2017. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is g04.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 toyota sienna minivans manufactured january 4, 2010, to august 12, 2016. If the power sliding door is unable to be opened when commanded, such as if the door is frozen shut, the door may subsequently open unexpectedly, possibly while the vehicle is moving.
Seats
Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Fix: Southeast toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on march 21, 2013. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota distributors, llc (set) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 tacoma, 4runner, camry, camry hybrid, prius, and rav4; model year 2009-2010 avalon, fj cruiser, and highlander hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year corolla, sienna and tundra; model year 2009-2013 highlander and venza; model year 2012 prius v; and model year 2010-2012 sequoia. During modification by set to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest dvd systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2013 Toyota Sienna
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Toyota Sienna?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: body and structure (44 complaints, typically around 39,000 miles); other or unspecified (33 complaints, typically around 57,000 miles); air bags (22 complaints, typically around 37,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2013 Toyota Sienna have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 17, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2013 a bad year for the Toyota Sienna?
- It is 11th of 21 Sienna model years by number of complaints, with 183 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.