2007 Toyota Sienna Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about body and door hardware: the power rear hatch that drops or closes on its own, power sliding doors that stop working, and the rubber hatch handle that deforms in heat. Engine complaints center on the oil cooler and VVT-i pressure hoses that burst and can drain the oil quickly, while airbag warnings and stability-control (VSC) false activations appear on higher-mileage vans. Many complaints come in between roughly 60,000 and 130,000 miles, and most describe gradual wear or a part letting go rather than sudden electronic failure.

1. 1
   Engine

   Oil cooler / VVT-i hose bursts and loses oil

   • 34 complaints (9%)
   • median 111,335 mi at 8.3 yrs old (32 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2026

   Owners report smoke, a burning smell and a large oil loss while driving, later traced to a split rubber oil cooler hose or VVT-i oil pressure line. Several describe the hose failing more than once after replacement, and some note the oil drained fast enough that continuing to drive risked engine damage. Complaints say the dealer replaced the hose; one notes the oil pressure line was quoted for replacement. Mostly between about 70,000 and 145,000 miles, during normal driving at road or highway speed.

   What to check: Have a shop inspect the rubber oil cooler and VVT-i oil lines for cracking or weeping, and check the oil level and underside for fresh oil residue before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “As I was driving the van, I noticed a smell like burning rubber, although all gauges were normal and no check engine light was on. Since I was close to home, I pulled into the garage and noticed smoke coming from under the hood and a trail of oil on the drive way. Within a few minutes, there was a large puddle of oil under the vehicle as well. I had it towed to the mechanic and was told the oil cooler hose had broken. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11297477, filed 2020-01, 144,000 miles

   “Driving my kids to school, which is 3 miles away, and I suddenly smell smoke. When I was coming back, I suddenly here a noise. All of a sudden, the vehicle stops. I had to hire a wrecker to bring it to my house. Once the vehicle was at my house, I tried to find what the cause of the noise was and when looking under the vehicle, I notice the oil had come out from somewhere. I opened the hood of the vehicle to check for the oil and it was empty. About a month ago, the dealer made the oil service. I wonder what happened.”

   NHTSA complaint #10544511, filed 2013-09, 112,671 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light stays on or flashes

   • 36 complaints (10%)
   • median 88,770 mi at 6.4 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,100 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2020

   Complaints describe the airbag indicator lighting up or flashing intermittently, sometimes going out when connectors under the front seats are moved. Owners report dealers diagnosing a passenger airbag sensor, a front airbag assembly or wiring harness, with repair quotes over $1,000 in one case. Some complaints also describe airbags not deploying in a collision, though those reports are separate from the warning-light complaints. Reported from about 59,000 to 126,000 miles, appearing both while driving and at rest.

   What to check: Turn the key to on and confirm the airbag light goes out after the self-test; if it stays lit or flashes, ask for the stored airbag codes and any prior sensor or harness repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The airbag light on dash flashes on and off at start of engine and continues while car is running. After researching this problem I quickly found out this is a known issue with numerous complaints. I also understand that if airbag light is flashing that airbags are not going to deploy in event of frontal impact. I feel this is safty issue and the manufacturer should recall these vehicles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11364213, filed 2020-10, 125,000 miles

   “Last wednesday morning another car rear ended my Sienna at high speed at stop sign while I was waiting for my turn to proceed. I was travelling with my family. Sienna got totaled due to this. Side doors, back door, back bumper, cargo and third row seat area all got impacted due to this and everything caved inward by few inches. My entire family has been shaken to the core and me and my wife are sufferings from severe pain in back and neck since the accident. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11377200, filed 2020-11, 84,000 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Power sliding door quits or cable snaps

   • 65 complaints (18%)
   • median 60,575 mi at 5.8 yrs old (54 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,405 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2019

   Complaints describe power sliding doors that stop opening or closing from the remote, dash button or interior handle, or that only respond to a sustained pull on the outside handle. Several owners were told a cable or release motor had broken and had it replaced, in some cases more than once or on both sides. A few mention the door not staying latched, and dealers variously cited a broken cable, a failed motor or a lubrication issue. Reported from very low mileage up to about 147,000 miles, with many cases in the 45,000 to 105,000 mile range.

   What to check: Cycle both sliding doors several times with the remote and the dash button and confirm they latch and unlatch reliably; ask whether door cables, latches or motors have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Left side rear mechanism broke. Cable snapped on the sliding door. Almost hit my child in the face. Power sliding no longer operable must open manually which is very hard for a child. Cost to repair is $2000.00 by the local Toyota dealership. Toyota did cover it under warranty after I called the Toyota customer care number because it was just days after the 3 year warranty had expired. 8/11 right side rear mechanism broke (other door). Cable snapped again. Told we should not use door until repaired which we will be paying for this time. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10427636, filed 2011-09, 30,000 miles

   “The passenger sliding door will not close when the buttons on remote or dashboard is pressed. This could lead to a scenario where someone is trapped inside the vehicle and cannot get out. Especially, like a small child.”

   NHTSA complaint #10554282, filed 2013-12, 91,230 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Power liftgate drops or recloses on its own

   • 31 complaints (9%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2021

   Owners describe the power rear hatch opening to the top and then releasing or closing by itself, sometimes falling onto whoever is loading the back. Some say the struts or hydraulic arms lose hold so the door becomes very heavy to lift; others report the drive motor keeps pulling the door down and the alarm sounds. Complaints mention dealers replacing the lift struts or arms, and some owners say the problem returned after repair. Mostly reported between about 45,000 and 115,000 miles, on vans several years old.

   What to check: Open and close the hatch several times and watch whether it holds at the top on its own; ask whether the lift struts or hatch motor have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I opened the automatic liftgate to my 2007 Toyota Sienna and upon it reaching the fully open position at the top, it immediately dropped and started to close automatically, which may have caused me an injury if I hadn't quickly moved out of the way. Every time I open the liftgate, whether I do it using my key fob, from the interior of the car, or by lifting the handle, the same thing happens causing risk of injury to me and my children. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10486093, filed 2012-11, 74,000 miles

   “The rear hatch will close hard by itself on me or anyone else who is trying to load the back of the Sienna. This has happened several time over the years. Toyota fixed the problem at least twice, but the condition continues to occur. If I had a small child in my arms or my pet dog they would be injured as the hatch door closes on its own. The door alarm sounds and the hatch closes within a few seconds of opening it. It is difficult to override the automatic closing by keeping the hatch open by hand. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10444280, filed 2012-01, 50,000 miles
5. 5
   Vehicle speed control

   VSC / slip warning triggers braking and power loss

   • 61 complaints (17%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (49 state mileage)
   • 18 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,500 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2026

   Owners describe the VSC and slip indicators lighting up with an alarm on dry pavement, followed by braking, steering-wheel shake and a loss of acceleration. Some say the vehicle overrides the accelerator and slows abruptly, and that shops have been unable to find a fault or reproduce it. A related group of complaints describes hesitation or failure to accelerate when pulling away from a stop. Mostly reported from about 66,000 to 122,000 miles, at speeds from about 10 to 70 mph on ordinary roads.

   What to check: Test drive at highway speed and on a curvy road, watch for VSC or slip lights, and ask whether any wheel-speed sensor, yaw sensor or ABS-related codes have been logged.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “As I drive on dry roads at speeds between 35 - 65mph, my car indicator lights and alarm sound off about vsc (vehicle stability control) and slippery road lights on my dashboard. My vehicle's steering and braking are affected by it. It starts to rattle the steering wheel and the braking pumps - causing a reduction in speed and control for the driver. It caused me to fear a possible vehicular accident so much that I pulled off the road. The problem then disappears and doesn't reappear until I encounter a similar driving condition. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11349661, filed 2020-08, 140,000 miles

   “When driving in perfectly dry conditions and going anywhere from 30-70 MPH on a winding road or highway, the vsc lights will come on and the alarm will sound and you can't accelerate. It's very scary and dangerous because you are not in control of the vehicle. It happens every time we go for a drive on a winding road or highway. I have read hundreds of similar complaints from other Sienna owners. It's clearly a widespread problem. Toyota needs to issue a recall as all the repair shops we have gone to cannot figure out how to fix the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #11365893, filed 2020-10, 90,000 miles

Buying note. Check the power doors and hatch and the condition of the engine oil hoses carefully, since those are the most frequently reported problems and repairs can be costly. Ask for service records showing whether hoses, door cables and any airbag or stability-control diagnostics have already been addressed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.