Wrench.Pro

2008 Toyota Sienna Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2008 Toyota Sienna has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Power sliding door cable corrosion and failure.” Toyota's owner's manual splits service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1 because it covers short trips, extreme temperatures, dusty roads, or heavy idling. The intervals below reflect Schedule 1 — the schedule Toyota recommends for typical real-world use.

Save this car as:

No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2008 Toyota Sienna.

Reported to NHTSA

Power sliding door cable corrosion and failure

STRUCTURE

52 NHTSA complaints · 2015-01 → 2026-08

“POWER SLIDING DOOR CABLE GOT RUSTED AND SNAPPED. JAMMED THE DOOR. TOYOTA COVERS THE DOOR LATCH BUT NOT THE CABLE. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10680296
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SLIDING DOOR MALFUNCTIONED AND COULD BE OPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECENT FAILURES WERE NOT RELATED TO THE ORIGINAL RECALL, BUT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11145026
“OUR LEFT REAR SLIDING DOOR WON'T FUNCTION OR OPEN ANY MORE. THE CABLE BROKE. THEN 2 DAYS LATER THE RIGHT REAR SLIDING DOOR WON'T FUNCTION OR OPEN ANYMORE. SAME PROBLEM. CABLE WAS SEVERED OR SNAPPED. LOOKS LIKE IT WAS RUSTED ON BOTH CABLES, BOTH SIDES, AND SEVERED IN THE SAME”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10882433

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Electronic stability control triggers unexpected braking

STEERING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES

36 NHTSA complaints · 2015-04 → 2025-02

“WHILE DRIVING THE VSC/ABS SYSTEM COMES ON UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO BRAKE AND EFFECT STEERING. IT IS MOST FREQUENTLY NOTICED WHEN STEERING ON CURVES 30-40 MPH. I HAVE REPLACED TIRES, FRONT STEERING COMPONENTS AND DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE. I BELIEVE WHEEL SPEED/YAW SENSOR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11258777
“2008 Toyota Sienna. Driving down steep right turns, VSC light comes on, urgent beeping alarm and tires grip and grip vehicle brakes going 20-30+ mph on dry road. Very scary and dangerous, and has continues repeatedly over the past year on curvy right turns. Local mechanics don't”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11420705
“WHEN THE CONTACT SWITCHED LANES OR MADE A TURN, THE BRAKES ACTIVATED ON THEIR OWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FLAT OR CURVED ROADS AND WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES WORKED PROPERLY, BUT SOMETIMES THEY DID NOT WORK AT ALL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11222907

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Spare tire carrier cable recall remedy delay

WHEELS

11 NHTSA complaints · 2015-02 → 2022-04

“The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, the spare tire hatch control cable snapped and dropped the spare tire onto the roadway. The vehicle rode over the spare tire on the passenger’s side rear wheel causing a jolt to the”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11460697
“THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V273000 (TIRES); HOWEVER, THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10780608
“RECEIVED LETTER,7/24/14, ADVISING THAT MY 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA HAD A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE CABLE, HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON 8/26/14, MY SPARE TIRE WAS RELOCATED TO THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT OF MY VAN WHICH RENDERED THE AREA”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10681544

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine oil leak and timing component failure

ENGINE

6 NHTSA complaints · 2015-01 → 2024-04

“The contact stated while pulling into a grocery store, he heard an abnormal ticking sound. The contact stated upon parking and inspecting the outside of the vehicle, he noticed that engine oil was leaking onto the ground. Additionally, the oil dipstick was dry upon inspecting”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11499391
“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 serviced at a manufacturer prior to doing a trade in with the”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11585798

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Dashboard surface melting and windshield glare

VISIBILITY/WIPER

16 NHTSA complaints · 2015-02 → 2023-11

“INSIDE DASHBOARD IS VERY STICKY AND ALWAYS SHOWS A GLARE ONTO THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING (SAFETY ISSUE); THE DASHBOARD DURING THE SUMMER TIME IS VERY MALLEABLE, IF YOU GENTLY PRESS ON IT, IT MOVES AS IF IT WAS MELTING SLOWLY. THIS HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A FEW YEARS, WHEN I”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11301825
“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 not per Toyota's chat forum). Cracking I can deal with. But”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11554652

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front suspension coil spring fracture

SUSPENSION

11 NHTSA complaints · 2015-03 → 2019-03

“BOTH FRONT SPRINGS BROKE. PART OF THE LEFT FRONT SPRING CONTACTED THE TIRE, DAMAGING IT. IF VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN IT WOULD HAVE RIPPED THE SIDEWALL AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. THIS WAS PRECEDED BY A CLANKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11185608
“SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS BREAK AT VERY LOW MILEAGES (AROUND 40K OR 50K MILEAGES) IMPAIRING RIDE, STEERING AND BRAKING MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. BESIDES THE SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS CORRODING, THERE SEEMS TO A LARGER PROBLEM OF THE ENTIRE UNDERBODY CORRODING WITH THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10945591

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1, or 10,000 miles under Schedule 2. Toyota covers the first 2 oil changes through ToyotaCare.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends rotation at every oil change to maximize tire life on FWD and AWD models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 5,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends measuring pad thickness at each service.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 36 months. Critical for the integrity of the ABS, VSC, and brake assist systems.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Earlier under Schedule 1 if driven on unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Toyota labels ATF as 'lifetime fill' on most automatics, but recommends inspection and replacement every 60,000 miles under severe service. Use Toyota WS or Type-IV — no substitutes.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 120,000 mi

Toyota iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated for 120,000 miles. Earlier replacement reduces fuel economy and can cause misfires on direct-injection engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Super Long Life Coolant (SLLC)

Every 50,000 mi

Toyota SLLC (pink): first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000 miles. Do not substitute green or orange coolant — it will damage the cooling system seals.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner in dusty climates. Located behind the glove box on most Toyota and Lexus models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Serpentine / Drive Belt Inspection

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect the serpentine belt and tensioner every 60,000 miles. Toyota uses long-life EPDM belts that rarely fail before 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Timing Chain — No Replacement

On condition / lifetime

Toyota's 2AR-FE, 2GR-FKS, A25A-FKS, and most Toyota engines built since 2010 use a timing chain rated for the life of the engine. No scheduled replacement.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Pro only

Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

76 crashes 1990–2024

How the 76 occupant deaths break down

31

driver deaths

45

passenger deaths

76

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2008 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

37

complaints mentioning a crash

4

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2008 Toyota Sienna reflects Toyota's published service intervals and the Maintenance Required Light system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

Check another vehicle →