Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 429 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Toyota Sienna, and it carries 9 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 | 81 | 19% |
| Engine | 29 | 7% |
| Power train | 29 | 7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 27 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 24 | 6% |
| Steering | 15 | 3% |
| Tires | 14 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 13 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 13 | 3% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 11 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear passenger’s side sliding door independently unlatched and opened. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer whe
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
The contact owned a 2008 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while he was away, the fire department called to notify him that his vehicle had caught fire while parked in the driveway. The contact's neighbor was alerte
NHTSA complaint: Firerelated
Throttle stuck while in reverse pulling out of a parking spot and accelerated resulting in backing into the building
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
I have had the traction control go on while driving on the highway even when I turn it off. Sometimes the VSC and TRAC OFF lights go on while driving. The roads are dry. Whenever I take it in to the mechanic, all the lig
NHTSA complaint: Steering
ODOMETER - FALSE - REPORTING -MONTANA TITLE - SIGNED AND NOTARIZED BY SELLER (CARVANA) "Federal and State State Law require that the owner state the mileage of a vehicle upon transfer of ownership. If you fail to compl
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The head gasket that was repaired failed and the radiator system also failed. Im not sure if these issues are dealer related or manufacture related as i spoke to the previous owner and they stated they had the vehicle se
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The material used by Toyota to manufacture the dash is breaking down. Toyota is aware of this issue due to cracking and offered a limited extended warranty which I never received any notification (and many others did no
NHTSA complaint: Visibility/wiper
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated at a high rate of speed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact desperately pressed on the
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2008 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.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affec
Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Priu
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact
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 2004-2005 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
| Reliability raw | 50 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 70 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 92 | excellent |
| Performance | 67 | 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 429 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 81 of them (19%). There are 9 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 50/100 (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 70/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2008 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 66/100. 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.