Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the reliability record is poor enough to outweigh everything else here.
Owners have filed 2,062 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Toyota Sienna, and it carries 10 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 722 | 35% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 150 | 7% |
| Structure | 142 | 7% |
| Steering | 105 | 5% |
| Tires | 105 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 87 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 64 | 3% |
| Power train | 63 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 62 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 52 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact's mother owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. While the contact's mother was driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the warning lights illuminated on and of
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
Shifter not shifting into park even when in park causing it to roll even when you think it’s in park
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while the liftgate door was opened, the door had erroneously closed and failed to remain opened. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that
NHTSA complaint: Structure
The Traction Control System commonly malfunctions while making turns on curving road sections. I will lose power through turns as the TCS light blinks on my dashboard and makes a beeping sound. On some occasions the brak
NHTSA complaint: Steering
Vehicle often applies brakes on its own . At first it was only in turns . However now it does it when driving straight on the the freeway or just down the street at 45mph. I have fixed my alignment ,new tires, all of the
NHTSA complaint: Steering
While driving typically around 35 mph and either left or right turn the vehicle traction control engages and the van brakes and steering is affected. The roads have always been dry and in each instance the speed of the
NHTSA complaint: Steering
Was driving on highway at 60-65 mph. The car continued to accelerate. Pressed on brake and wasn't slowing the vehicle. The driver was weaving in and out of cars as the van started to creek up to 92 mph. The driver and pa
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and the speed of the vehicle increased to over 90 MPH. During the
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 2004 Toyota Sienna. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2004-2011 Sienna vehicles originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oh
Risk: If the carrier cable is corroded due to road salt, the spare tire may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota sent owners in August 2014 an interim notification to advise owners of the recall and that dealers will perform an interim remedy to remove the spare tire and relocate it to the luggage compart
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE
Risk: IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF
Fix: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2005 Sienna vehicles manufactured January 10, 2003, through August 10, 2005; and model year 2007-2009 Sienna vehicles manufactured February 20, 2007, through December 12, 2008. In the affected vehicles, due to a problem within the shift lock solenoid, the
Risk: If the shift lever is moved out of the Park position without the brake applied, the transmission will either engage a drive gear or Neutral, increasing the risk of a backover or roll away crash.
Fix: Toyota will mail interim notifications to owners beginning in late October 2013. When parts are available, owners will be sent a second notice and dealers will replace the shift lock solenoid, free o
TOYOTA IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN INVOLVING 26,501 EARLY 2004 MY SIENNA VEHICLES. IN THE EVENT THE RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER IS MISSING, THE COVER CAN INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IF THE ACCELERATION PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO NEARLY T
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN BECOME STUCK WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RETENTION CLIP AND FLOOR CARPET COVER AT NO CHARGE. THE CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON JANUARY 26, 2009. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY EARLY APRIL 2009. OWNERS MAY C
| Reliability raw | 44 | below average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 67 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 92 | excellent |
| Performance | 66 | good |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other minivans & vans in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 2,062 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 722 of them (35%). There are 10 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 44/100 (below average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 67/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2004 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip, because the reliability record is poor enough to outweigh everything else here. Its overall ownership score is 64/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.