AI Damage2017 Toyota Sienna: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Toyota Sienna filed 156 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and electrical system. The maker issued 126 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 156
- involving a crash
- 13
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 126
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 24% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 13% of all complaints
- 3 Wheels 10% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 10% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 9% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 9% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 4% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 38 complaints (24% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Electrical system: 20 complaints (13% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 25.
- Wheels: 16 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Engine: 15 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Structure: 14 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 31.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 8-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 156 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 38 | 1 | 5 |
| Electrical system | 20 | 3 | 25 |
| Wheels | 16 | 0 | 1 |
| Engine | 15 | 1 | 3 |
| Structure | 14 | 1 | 31 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 11 | 5 | 7 |
| Visibility | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| Steering | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| Air bags | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated that while driving alone at 70 MPH and attempting not to hit tire tread in the road, she crashed into the median, her vehicle drove into a ditch, the vehicle spun twice, and then crashed head-on into a tree where it came to a stop.
There were no warning lights or messages prior to the incident. The airbag system has not yet been inspected or confirmed defective by a service center, but I am willing to make the vehicle available for inspection if needed.
Had there been a fire I wouldn't be making this report! Doors need to be operable regardless of situation when none of them are jammed from an accident!
The impact of the crash caused the vehicle and the shelf to extensively damage the dry wall of that area of the garage, as well as to damage the pedestal supporting the house water heater, which resulted in the water heater detaching away from the wall and being destroyed.
The air bags did not deploy despite the front end collision. At the body shop, upon tear down the passenger side rail was damaged as well as the air bag sensors were crushed. One would think if the sensors were crushed the air bags would have deployed prior.
While driving approximately 40 mph and attempting to stop the vehicle, the brakes failed. As a result, the vehicle rear ended the preceding vehicle. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The air bag did not deploy. A police report was filed. There were no injuries.
Front row seatbelts did not engage, nor did front airbags deploy. Our sienna hit the stopped vehicle in front of us upon impact as well. Only right side curtain airbags deployed and middle row seatbelts restrain. This resulted in multiple injuries to the front row passengers, including a severe concussion.
Lost steering ability from some cause after a lane change, on a highway, vehicle continued into the shoulder and would not allow correction into the lane. Possible cause in my opinion may have been a l. Front tire blow out or a steering linkage issue or possibly the stability control system. The vehicle was new.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 410 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sienna has 77 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 156, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Wheels. Wheel runout, cracks, signs of a wheel strike.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free
This is caused by the phone Hands Free volume being too low.
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air…
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and…
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix…
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and…
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used…
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from…
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical…
Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal…
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal…
Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow…
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad…
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can…
- Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal…
Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination.
- This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for…
This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
- This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life…
This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life Coolant, effective March 1, 2024. These products are ordered through the Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC)…
NHTSA lists 126 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Toyota Sienna?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, electrical system, wheels. Total complaints: 156. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (13%), warning lights, check engine (13%), jerking, harsh shifts (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Toyota Sienna?
NHTSA lists 126 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 Toyota Sienna from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.