2010 Toyota Sienna Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report problems with the power sliding doors and the rear liftgate — cables that snap or jam, doors that stop opening, and a liftgate that closes on its own, frequently described as happening during ordinary use and at moderate mileage. A second cluster of complaints describes unintended or unexpected acceleration, often accompanied by a soft brake pedal, and many of those came in on very low-mileage vehicles. Remaining reports center on steering noise and play, dashboard and door-latch surfaces that melt or turn sticky in heat, and transmission noises or failures.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Power sliding door cable breaks or jams

   • 51 complaints (30%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (47 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,850 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2019

   Complaints describe one or both power sliding doors suddenly failing to open, either electrically or by hand, with the operating cable snapped, frayed, or hung up in the track; in some cases owners say the door could only be freed after the cable was cut. Several report the door jammed partly open so passengers could not exit normally, and that children riding in the rear had to leave through another door. Owners frequently mention paying $2,000 or more for the repair and say they were told the door was not covered under warranty or an extended coverage program that applied to earlier model years. Reported from roughly 12,000 to 165,000 miles, often on vehicles several years old and with the power doors used routinely.

   What to check: Operate both sliding doors several times, power and manual, and listen for cable noise or a door that stops partway. Ask whether either door cable or latch has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2012 first, my driver side rear power door stopped working due to a broken cable. It was very difficult to shut the door manually even with the power switch shut off. I had to call my husband to come and assist me in closing the door so I could safely drive with my three children. This repair was not included in sb-0280-10 which Toyota extended the warranty on certain issues. Though, the repair was covered by Toyota as a one time good will per representatives. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10643435, filed 2014-10, 38,000 miles

   “Takata recall. Toyota Sienna 2010. Power sliding door on passenger side - the cable for power door operation snapped out of nowhere. The power function no longer works and I have an 18 cable hanging out the side of my car now. Car is only 6 years old with 85,000 miles and estimate for repair is over $2,000. It was purchased as certified preowned but we were told the doors are not covered under warranty for this year. I'm reading online of many other owners having the exact same issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10886018, filed 2016-07, 85,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration with soft brake pedal

   Mentioned in 12 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the van surging forward or accelerating on its own while parking, waiting at a light, or driving at low speed, and in several accounts the brake pedal felt soft or had little effect when pressed. Owners say the vehicles struck posts, garage walls, or other cars, and a number report the dealer could not duplicate the condition. Some complaints involve cruise control dropping out on its own or the vehicle gaining speed when the driver had leveled off. Many reported under 25,000 miles, including several within the first few hundred miles; a few appear around 70,000 to 105,000 miles.

   What to check: Test the brake pedal feel during a slow-speed lot maneuver and ask whether the throttle body, pedal assembly, or cruise control system has had any service.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Uncontrolled acceleration where depressing the brake pedal was soft and did not have any effect in stopping the vehicle. I was pulling into my garage and as I neared the point where I wanted to stop, I pressed on the brake pedal. This had no effect and the vehicle continued to accelerate. The vehicle proceeded through the other end of the garage. There is a drop from the floor of the garage to the ground on the back side of the garage. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10336385, filed 2010-06, 10,000 miles

   “I was advised that I had to replace my steering rack because of multiple leaks. I have spoken with quite a few people including my Toyota service advisor and was advised that the Toyota steering racks frequently fail between 75k and 90k and have to be replaced. This happens immediately after the 75k warranty ends. Also, when I drive speeds between 50-70 MPH, and level out the speed, my car picks up speed when I am not initiating the action.”

   NHTSA complaint #10703926, filed 2015-04, 87,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering clunk and rack/shaft wear

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a clicking or clunking felt or heard near the steering column, sometimes with the VSC and traction control lights coming on and a chime, and in a few cases a brief jerk in the steering or brakes. Others report play in the steering wheel or a clunk when turning at low speed, and several say the dealer recommended replacing the steering rack or intermediate shaft. One owner notes the horn and steering-wheel functions stopped working along with an air bag warning light. Mostly reported between about 62,000 and 130,000 miles.

   What to check: Turn the wheel lock to lock at low speed and listen for clicking or clunking; check for steering play and ask whether the rack, intermediate shaft, or spiral cable has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I took my 2010 Sienna in for a 80000 mile service, was told that the boots around steering rack was in bad shape. I was told that the steering needed to be replaces and the power steering unit would flushing. I had experienced no steering problems with my car. The car less than 77000 miles. The is no evidence of oil leakage. Is this typical for replacing the steering rack at $1400?”

   NHTSA complaint #10703218, filed 2015-04, 76,200 miles

   “When entering a slight curve in the road at moderate in town speeds there is a clicking sound to the left of the steering wheel in the dash then the traction control sensor lightt goes on. While freeway driving, it has happened 3 times out of the blue and warning buzzers sounded vsc light and traction control light went on and the steering jerked...engine lost power ...very scary.I had rack and pinion steerling assembly replaced at about 40,000. The problem started at about 110,000 miles. I had all the wheel sensors replaced at about 115,000. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11349820, filed 2020-08, 110,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission noise, harsh shifting, or failure

   • 9 complaints (5%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2026

   Complaints describe humming or grinding noises, hard or lurching shifts, and in some cases the van losing power and stopping, with one owner reporting parts of the transmission found on the road. Owners mention being quoted several thousand dollars for replacement, and some say Toyota covered part of the cost while others say they were told the vehicle was outside warranty. Reported from very low mileage up to about 143,000 miles, with many reports between 73,000 and 110,000 miles.

   Recall 17V657000

   What to check: Drive at low speed and on the highway listening for humming or grinding, feel for harsh shifts, and ask for transmission service records or replacement history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is the second time I had to replace my transmission in my Sienna. Each time it happened, I was on vacation. The first time I replaced it was less than 2 years ago, april 2014. There was an issue with the car shifting hard and humming on acceleration. Luckily I made it home and was able to fix it. Spent $1, 404.43 which was 30% of the cost, Toyota paid for 70% of it. Now march of 2016, the car lurched, was smocking and slowed down while I was on vacation in the middle of the road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10852296, filed 2016-03, 91,000 miles

   “There are multiple problems. Initially there was a whistling noise while driving. The dealer replaced the transmission of the brand new van. The whistling noise was reduced but there are a bunch of other problems. 1. On start the RPM goes to about 1600. 2. There is constant load humming noise coming from the transmission/engine. 3. The vehicle pickup makes a knocking noise sometimes overall I definitely don't feel safe driving this vehicle. The dealer and manufacturer says all this is considered to be 'within normal range'.”

   NHTSA complaint #10315851, filed 2010-03, 50 miles

Buying note. Open and close both power sliding doors and the liftgate repeatedly before buying, since door cable and liftgate complaints are the most common here, and budget for potential repairs if they act up. Also check the dashboard and door latches for sticky surfaces in the heat, and verify steering and transmission service history.

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.