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2016 Toyota Sienna

Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

75 owner complaints · 5 recalls · data verified July 19, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Cautionwillitcar.com

Buy-rated alternatives from this era

Other 20142018 cars in the same rough price bracket with a clean, matured Buy verdict — worth cross-shopping before you commit to the 2016 Toyota Sienna.

2016
Audi A4
Buy99/100
2015
Lexus ES 350
Buy99/100
2018
Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid
Buy98/100

Why caution?

5 recall campaigns (4 safety-critical). Confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the seller's VIN.

Body & structure problems dominate (35% of complaints).

Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.

Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.

Score breakdown, by factor

Full methodology →

#230 of 389Among the 2016 models with a matured record, the 2016 Toyota Sienna ranks #230, scoring higher than 18% of them. See the 2016 ranking →

Complaint volume98
Severity81
Recall load58
Trend95

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20162025

How it crashes

NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.

5/5 overall

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2016 Toyota Sienna VAN FWD

Front crash
Side crash
Rollover

Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 14%

Stability control: StandardForward collision warning: OptionalLane departure warning: No

No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.

NHTSA crash-test photo, 2016 Toyota Sienna VAN FWD

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2016 Toyota Sienna, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miElectrical system~10k mi · 9 reportsWheels~20k mi · 5 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Body & structure (26) · Seat belts (6) · Airbags (5)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.

Body & structure

35%

26 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years

Our van has recently been having issues with the sliding doors. It has occurred while driving and the warning light as well as the warning for a door open, and the doo…

Read the body & structure complaints →

Electrical system

12%

9 complaints · typically near 10k mi

WHEELS/ TIRES: NEEDED TO REPLACE TIRES AFTER 10,000 MILES ON NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING CONDITIONS ELECTRICAL: VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BLOW/POP FUSES WHEN AN ELECTRONIC DEVIC…

Read the electrical system complaints →

Seat belts

8%

6 complaints

SEAT BELT RECEPTICAL IS TORN UP. SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH.

Read the seat belts complaints →

Wheels

7%

5 complaints · typically near 20k mi · 1 in the last 2 years

EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRONT WHEELS AFTER 20,000 MILES. MINIVAN IS DRIVEN IN NORMAL CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. TIRES ARE ROTATED EVERY 5,000 MILES. A…

Read the wheels complaints →

Check it against this car’s mileage

Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.

miles

We can place 1 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.

Read all 75 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 10 crash/fire/injury reports →

Recalls (5)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Equipment Adaptive/mobility · 25V876000

Rollx Vans (Rollx) is recalling certain GMC Yukon, Sierra, Chevrolet Express 2500, Ford Transit, E-250, Toyota Sienna, Sienna Hybrid, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, Voyager, Pacifica, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Ram Promaster vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. Please refer to Rollx's recall report for specific model year information. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.

Risk: An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Rollx will work with Q'Straint to inspect and replace the retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 5, 2026. Owners may contact Rollx's customer service at 1-800-956-6668.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 19V553000

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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 19V410000

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.

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

Fix: 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.

Structure · 16V858000

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.

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

Fix: 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.

Seat Belts · 16V197000

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Sienna vehicles manufactured February 15, 2016, to February 19, 2016. In the affected vehicles, incorrect front seat belt height adjusters may have been installed. During a crash, this incorrect height adjuster may contact the B-pillar and tear or separate.

Risk: Failure and detachment of seat belt height adjuster would result in the occupant not being properly restrained in a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seat belt height adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 29, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0H.

Questions to ask the seller

Questions worth asking the seller of this Toyota before you buy, drawn from its public record:

  1. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2016 Toyota Sienna. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
  2. Owners of this model report body & structure problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any body & structure symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
  3. Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 10k miles). Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
  4. Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
  5. How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
  6. Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?

Before you hand over money

Verify the recall work was done

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2016 Toyota SIENNA beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2016? See how every Sienna model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 Toyota Sienna against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

See what owners are saying about other cars →

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2016 Toyota Sienna as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.