The fullsize van market is a very particular segment with potential buyers looking for ample space and tons of practicality. The Toyota Sienna is one of the major players in the market and managed to sell over 124,000 units, suggesting the vehicle is reliable. For a van with such high volumes, the complaints are at a low 138 in total and have been recalled 6 times. With a constant rise in the user network, Toyota forecasts a much more large audience for the Sienna in the future. The major competitors for Toyota in this segment are the Dodge Grand Caravan, The Honda Odyssey, and the Nissan Quest. Even though the majority of users found the van to be perfect, let us go through the limited complaints that have been registered on NHTSA to understand the Sienna better.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Dashboard lights – Users complained that in order for the dashboard/instrument lights to turn on, they had to engage the parking lights or the headlights. The instruments don’t light up after starting the van and the dealers claimed it to work as designed.
- Door – The automatic sliding door was said to stop working and the users would smell something burning. The vehicle was taken to the dealers and it was found that there was an electrical short that burned the wire and damaged the sliding door motor. The motor and the wiring had to be replaced.
- Reverse camera – The reverse camera was said to not have an audio warning when nearing an obstacle. This led many drivers to ram into their garage door and reports say that Toyota made this move to cut down on cost.
Mechanical Problems
- Engine – The users found the car to misfire and lose power while driving. There was also an odd noise from the engine area that they never heard before. A local mechanic inspected the car to find out a blown head gasket and needed a replacement. There were also reports that the car stalled without any warnings and to be towed as the engine would not start. The dealers found that a spring in cylinder 4 broke and caused damage to various other components. Also, the engine oil was said to have metal shavings from the broken bits and suggested getting a complete engine replacement.
- Brakes – Multiple users found a drastic decrease in the braking power of the vehicle and they even need to pump the pedal at times as the brakes would feel loose and inoperative. The car needed to be towed as driving a vehicle with weak brakes is unsafe. The mechanics inspected the brake assembly to find a failed master cylinder, due to which the brake fluid was lost and resulting in poor braking performance.
Safety Problems
- Seatbelt – It was said that the rear seatbelt would not release, leaving the passenger stuck. This can become a serious issue in the event of a crash. The belt had to be cut in order to set the passenger free and the dealers simply replaced the belt assembly without giving any explanation.
- Airbag – The front passenger airbag sensor fails to recognize the occupant and this lead the airbag to stay inactive. The airbag module and a new sensor were required to solve the issue.
2014 Toyota Sienna recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
25th July 2019 |
19V553000 |
Rear brake hoses may be too short. |
The contact may cause failure of the rear brake hose, leading to loss of vehicle control. |
Dealers will install a set of rear brake hose that will provide proper clearance. |
|
2. |
4th June 2019 |
19V410000 |
Incorrect tube nuts on brake lines. |
Reduction in the braking system pressure may cause a loss of braking power. |
Dealers will install an adaptor to correct the issue. |
|
3. |
9th January 2019 |
19V005000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode. |
Inflator explosion can send sharp metal fragments striking the occupants or the driver, resulting in an injury or death. |
The front passenger airbag inflator will be replaced. |
|
4. |
29th November 2016 |
16V858000 |
Power sliding doors may open while driving. |
Doors that open when not commanded to can lead to an occupant falling off the vehicle. |
Dealers will replace the junction block, rear sliding door harness, and install two sub wire harnesses. |
|
5. |
19th September 2014 |
14V576000 |
Fuel may leak from the fuel delivery pipe. |
A fuel leak in the presence of a heat source can increase the risk of fire. |
Any of the suspect fuel delivery pipes will be replaced. |
|
6. |
8th July 2014 |
14V414000 |
Transmission shift cable/ Rollaway/ FMVSS 102 |
Affected vehicles may have a damaged protective cable sleeve over the transmission shift control cable. This can cause the control cable to separate during gear shifts. |
Dealers will replace the transmission shift control cable. |
Should you buy the 2014 Toyota Sienna?
At $27,805, the 2014 Toyota Sienna is a bang for the buck as this van maintains a balance between performance and reliability. The complaints are fairly low when compared to the number of Sienna’s sold and that clearly portrays the van to be accepted by the mass audience. We would ask you to get the brake assembly inspected as there are chances of the van having a faulty master cylinder and another thing users will have to adjust is the dash lights that turn on only when the headlights are engaged. Apart from that, the Toyota Siena is one of the best vans out there. Honda has an equally well-equipped vehicle but the Sienna feels much easier to drive and also offers better reliability.
