2023 Toyota Sienna Problems

What owners reported to NHTSA about the 2023 Toyota Sienna, its recalls, and what to check before you buy one.

Toyota Sienna, 2021 to 2024 model years
Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0
How the 2023 compares

Too new to judge fully

It has been on the road 3 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older Sienna year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the brakes and stability control.

Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Sienna years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.

Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Toyota Sienna. The most reported problem area is the brakes and stability control (28, 39% of complaints), followed by the electrical system and the seats and seat belts. That ranks 9th of 13 Sienna years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 3 recalls.

Complaints71filed with NHTSA
Recalls3for this model year
Crashes85 injuries reported
Fires0reported in complaints
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Most reported problems

Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2023 Toyota Sienna before you buy.

Brakes and stability control

28 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
  • The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
  • Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Sienna Hybrid. The contact stated that when attempting to apply the brakes while driving at 30 MPH or at lower speeds, the vehicle suddenly lunged forward. The failure occurred approximately 7 times, with the most recent occurrence causing the vehicle to lunge into an intersection, where oncoming traffic…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 35,400 miles
While drive I'm approaching my driveway at about 20 MPH i proceed to turn into my drive and the car does stop or slow down it's like I'm on ice (very scary) Toyota says this is common on hybrids it seems to scary to driveOwner complaint, filed 2026

Electrical system

8 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
  • Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
  • Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving, the fuel gauge indicated there was 121 miles of fuel available. The contact stated that within twenty miles, the fuel gauge indicated that the fuel tank was empty. The contact stated that when the gauge indicated 170 miles available, the fuel usage decreased…Owner complaint, filed 2025
The vehicle has a standard installation of a kick sensor for the rear hatch. I purchased the vehicle used and was able to start the vehicle and drive it for a period of time hoping to charge up the 12V battery. However, upon stopping the vehicle I could not restart it. Even after repeated jumpstart and driving the vehicle for over 45…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Seats and seat belts

7 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
  • Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The seat belt latch stopped working. It appears the locking mechanism failed and it is stuck in the locked state which prevents the seat belt from latching. This is a critical failure in vehicle safety. It had been inspected by Toyota and they do not know what happened and are not willing to fix it unless we pay for it. This issue should…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Seatbelt intermittently would latch since purchasing vehicle, and then completely failed and will no longer latch/clip in. This is 3rd row passenger side.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Lights, wipers and visibility

7 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
  • Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, there was a popping sound coming from the sunroof, and the contact discovered that the sunroof had shattered. Neither the dealer nor an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 70,000 miles
Vehicles equipped with rear entertainment: when tv is folded down, Toyota failed to include a digital mirror to support the ability to see through the rear of the vehicle. When the entertainment system is folded down, the rear view mirror is inaccessible. Many reports are filed online describing the same issue by other owners. Recall…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Transmission and drivetrain

4 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
  • Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
  • Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
  • If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

We had a "hybrid system malfunction" warning on the dashboard and the van slowed down to 20 mph on a climb. With the flow of traffic at 50mph on a two lane road and no shoulder to pull off, this cause a serious risk to us and other drivers. Stopping and starting the car several times did not cause the warning to go away and the owner's…Owner complaint, filed 2023
while braking and coming to a stop the van surges forward (while brakes are being applied). This has nearly caused accidents on 2 occasions, and has happened 2 other times in the past few monthsOwner complaint, filed 2026

Air bags

4 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
  • Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

My 2023 Toyota Sienna LE has experienced a recurring Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbag warning that appears to be triggered by normal movement of the second-row seats. The vehicle has been brought to Cobb County Toyota in Georgia multiple times for this issue. Previous repairs included replacement of the wiring harness.…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The vehicle experienced water intrusion into the interior cabin shortly after delivery in 2023. The water intrusion affected electrical components related to the airbag and Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). The vehicle remains in my possession and is available for inspection upon request. Moisture exposure to airbag and SRS components…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Body, doors and structure

4 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
  • Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
  • Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Sienna Hybrid. The contact stated that her husband pressed the automatic liftgate button to close, unaware that their child was near the trunk. The contact's son's left hand became trapped beneath the liftgate, and her husband had to yank the liftgate open to free the child's hand. The child received…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Sienna Hybrid. The contact stated that while attempting to use the automatic sliding doors, the driver’s and passenger’s side sliding doors failed to close securely. The contact stated that the doors had to be forcefully closed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was concerned that the…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 5,000 miles

Cruise control and acceleration

2 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
  • Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

The complaint was filed on behalf of the contact's employer. The contact drives a 2023 Toyota Sienna Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact stated that the acceleration occurred while the contact was making a right turn. The contact stated that the vehicle shifted from…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 12,000 miles
multiple times this has been an issue. I stepped on the break and the car essentially leaps forward typically when going up down or straight. In November 2024 it happened while going up a hill slowly and I bumped into the vehicle ahead of me. My vehicle had no damage, but the car in front of me had to get a new skid plate and my…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Steering

1 complaintLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
  • On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
  • A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Sienna Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and turning the steering wheel there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the sound came from the front and the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice; however, the…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 52,200 miles

Driver assist systems

1 complaintPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
  • Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
  • Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

The (PCS) Precollision System has been already set to LOW sensitivity, but every once in awhile when pulling in to oncoming traffic the vehicle would think there's still a car and just stalls for a few seconds (nonresponsive to acceleration pedal) leading to a dangerous occurrence where I could be hit by a vehicle because I've basically…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Toyota Sienna complaints by year

Compare the 2023 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.

Compare with similar 2023 minivans

Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.

CarVs. its other yearsRecallsMost reported
2023 Toyota SiennaToo new to judge3Brakes and stability control
2023 Honda OdysseyToo new to judge5Electrical system
Compare side by side

2023 Toyota Sienna recalls

This is every recall issued for the 2023 Toyota Sienna, not what is still open on one car. A recall that was fixed does not show up any differently here. Check a VIN at NHTSA to see what is still open on the car you are looking at, and ask the seller for proof any recall work was done.

Seats Recliner

Oct 2026 · NHTSA campaign 26V690000
Risk
A seat back that is not secured may fail to properly protect an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix
Dealers will update the supplemental restraint system (SRS) electronic control unit (ECU) software.
Full recall summary

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Sienna Hybrid 7-passenger vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to remain secured in the event of a crash.

Equipment Latch / anchor

Dec 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V877000
Risk
An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix
Dealers will inspect and replace the retractors, free of charge.
Full recall summary

Vantage Mobility, LLC (VM) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Honda Odyssey, 2021-2025 Chrysler Pacifica, and Toyota Sienna vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.

Seats Recliner

Feb 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V086000
Risk
An improperly tightened seatback may not adequately restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix
Dealers will tighten the seat assembly bolts, free of charge.
Full recall summary

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Sienna Hybrid vehicles. The bolts for the seatbacks on the third-row seat assemblies may not be tightened properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints," 207, "Seating Systems," and 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

2023 Toyota Sienna questions

What are the most common problems with the 2023 Toyota Sienna?

The most reported problem areas on the 2023 Toyota Sienna are the brakes and stability control (28 complaints), the electrical system (8 complaints) and the seats and seat belts (7 complaints).

Is the 2023 Toyota Sienna a good year to buy?

Too new to judge fully. It has been on the road 3 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older Sienna year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the brakes and stability control. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Sienna years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.

How many recalls does the 2023 Toyota Sienna have?

NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2023 Toyota Sienna. The most recent, from Oct 2026, covers the recliner. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.

Which Toyota Sienna years should I avoid?

The Sienna years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2012. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2019, 2020 and 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.

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Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.