VehicleVerdict

2014 Toyota Sienna problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2014 Toyota Sienna carries two red flags at once: 207 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture). It is one of the Sienna years to avoid.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across body & structure (46), other (29), and electrical system (19), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

207

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

1

Investigations · 1 open

8

Crash-involved

3

Fires reported

3

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2014 compare to other Sienna years?

Sienna NHTSA complaints by model year, 2014 highlighted2,588 complaints1996: 3 complaints1997: 2 complaints1998: 352 complaints1999: 250 complaints2000: 459 complaints2001: 238 complaints2002: 225 complaints2003: 124 complaints2004: 2,588 complaints2005: 1,418 complaints2006: 1,284 complaints2007: 450 complaints2008: 570 complaints2009: 270 complaints2010: 227 complaints2011: 813 complaints2012: 331 complaints2013: 226 complaints2014: 207 complaints2015: 291 complaints2016: 98 complaints2017: 199 complaints2018: 85 complaints2019: 58 complaints2020: 48 complaints
Sienna NHTSA complaints by model year, 2014 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Sienna years to avoid →

What are the most common 2014 Toyota Sienna problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Body & Structure4622%
Other2914%
Electrical System199%
Tires & Wheels157%
Airbags147%
Speed Control115%
Fuel System105%
Engine105%
Brakes105%
Steering84%
Suspension73%
Transmission73%
Latches & Locks63%
Seat Belts52%
Visibility & Wipers42%
Seats21%
Lighting21%
Driver Assistance21%

Does the 2014 Toyota Sienna have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

19V553000BrakesJuly 25, 2019 · 303 units

Defect

Vantage Mobility International, LLC (Vantage) is recalling certain 2012-2018 AMS Genesis wheelchair vans, built on a Toyota Sienna vehicles. The rubber brake hoses that attach to the rear wheel assembly may be too short, causing them to rub against the rear axle trailing arm.

Consequence

The contact may cause failure of the rear brake hoses, resulting in a loss of vehicle control and reduced braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Vantage will notify owners, and dealers will install a set of rear brake hoses that will provide the proper clearance, free of charge. The recall began December 16, 2019. Owners may contact Vantage customer service at 1-800-488-9082.

19V410000BrakesJune 4, 2019 · 705 units

Defect

Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Toyota Sienna mobility van conversions. The brake lines may have incorrect tube nut fittings installed, which may cause a pressure drop within the braking system.

Consequence

The reduction in the braking system pressure may cause a loss of braking power in the rear braking system, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy

Braun has notified owners, and dealers will install an adaptor to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began June 25, 2019. Owners may contact Braun customer service at 1-800-488-0359.

19V005000AirbagsJanuary 9, 2019 · 1,299,448 units

Defect

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS250, IS350, 2011-2016 4Runner, 2011-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2011-2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, 2011-2017 Lexus GX460, and 2011-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Toyota is also recalling certain 2010-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS350, 2010-2016 4Runner, 2010-2013 Lexus IS250, 2010-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2010-2014 Lexus IS-F, and 2010-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.

16V858000Body & StructureNovember 29, 2016 · 744,437 units

Defect

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Toyota Sienna minivans manufactured January 4, 2010, to August 12, 2016. If the power sliding door is unable to be opened when commanded, such as if the door is frozen shut, the door may subsequently open unexpectedly, possibly while the vehicle is moving.

Consequence

If door opens while the vehicle is moving, there would be an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants.

Remedy

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the junction block, rear sliding door wire harnesses, and install two sub wire harnesses, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G04.

14V576000Fuel SystemSeptember 19, 2014 · 15,872 units

Defect

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Toyota Avalon, Camry, Sienna, and Highlander and model year 2015 Lexus RX350 vehicles. Fuel may leak from the one of the fuel delivery pipes in the engine compartment.

Consequence

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace any of the suspect fuel delivery pipes free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

14V414000TransmissionJuly 8, 2014 · 263 units

Defect

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Sienna vehicles manufactured June 17, 2014, through June 24, 2014. The affected vehicles have a transmission shift control cable whose protective cable sleeve may have been damaged during assembly. This could cause the control cable to bind or separate during gear shift operation causing incorrect gear selection. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect."

Consequence

If the transmission shift cable separates while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the transmission shift control cable, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in early August 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Open NHTSA investigations

EA21002

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“MY SON WAS GETTING INTO THE VAN VIA THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR. HIS BACKPACK BUMPED THE SENSOR, AND THE DOOR OPENED AND FROZE HALFWAY OPEN. I DISENGAGED THE AUTOMATIC OPENING, BUT THE DOOR HAD DIFFICULTY CLOSING. I NOTICED THAT THE CABLE TO THE SLIDING DOOR HAD SNAPPED. I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · January 6, 2021

“AFTER A SHORT 10-MIN DRIVE, PARKED THE VAN IN MY HOUSE'S DRIVEWAY. wHEN I STOPPED, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. WHICH DEVELOPED INTO FLAMES AND THE FRONT OF THE VAN WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. iMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. VAN IS TOTALY BURNT. MANAGED TO MOVE TWO…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · April 12, 2022 · fire

“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2014 Toyota Sienna. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 59,500. It was later discovered upon checking the paperwork that the mileage was 176,047.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · March 27, 2026

“I HAVE ABOUT 30K MILES ON THE VAN AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE ALIGNED THREE TIMES AND ROTATE THEM AS PER THE OWNERS MANUAL BUT IT CONTINUES TO JUST CHEW TIRES, ESPECIALLY THE FRONT TIRES. I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AS A "KID SHUTTLE" SO THERE IS NO HARD DRIVING, NO GRAVEL ROAD'S AND NO OFF ROADING.…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · September 7, 2016

“I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-95 TO FLORIDA FROM NC, TRAVELING 70 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE WHEN I NOTICED A CAR COMING UP FROM BEHIND DRIVING ALMOST ON THE CENTER LINE. I STAYED IN MY LANE AND THE CAR CAME UP AND IMPACTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE, ROTATING THE CAR 90 DEGREES AND SENDING ME AND MY FAMILY OFF…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · April 17, 2014 · crash

2014 Toyota Sienna — common questions

Is the 2014 Toyota Sienna reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 207 complaints put the 2014 model at #17 of 25 Sienna years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the Sienna years to avoid.

What are the most common 2014 Sienna problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are body & structure (46 complaints), other (29 complaints), electrical system (19 complaints).

Does the 2014 Toyota Sienna have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2014 Toyota Sienna. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2014 Toyota Sienna under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — an investigation remains open (Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Toyota Sienna years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Sienna years to avoid are 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2008, 2000, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014. The cleanest record among Sienna years belongs to 1997.

How safe is the 2014 Toyota Sienna?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2014 Toyota Sienna earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.