2017 Toyota Sienna Consumer Reviews
Most Helpful Reviews
Positive Review
I just bought this van. I had a 2003 with 120,000 miles on it and though I LOVED it, I do drive a lot and wanted to move to a new van before the old one died. I did speak to owners of both Siennas and Odysseys, and the Siennas were highly recommended. I love this van! Except for the fact that with the 8 seater, you cannot remove the console between the 2nd row captain's chairs. This means my kids have to either jump over or step on it to get to the third row. It also makes it hard for an adult to get to the back seat. Otherwise, I find it very comfortable and roomy!
VS
Critical Review
I purchased my Sienna XLE AWD in late January 2013 and I now have 13,000+ miles on it. I am EXTREMELY disappointed with both the vehicle and Toyota’s response to one particular problem. The radio has a very bad echo which occurs on multiple stations but frequently on one particularly station, which just so happens to be my favorite station. It appears to be a reception related problem since I can duplicate it every time I drive certain routes. Understand that this is a local station, with very good reception, along the same routes, in every other vehicle I own, or have owned. I encountered the problem the first time I drove the vehicle and every time I drive the vehicle. The dealership has “worked” on the problem three separate times. The first two times, they told me they were able to duplicate the problem (on routes nowhere near my normal driving routes). Both times they “did some diagnostics” but were unable to fix the problem. We arranged for a third visit when they could have a Toyota district service rep available to review the problem. They kept the car for three days. At they end of the three days they told me that they had replaced the radio with a radio from another, new Sienna on their lot. It performed exactly as the original radio (with the echo). Therefore, they said, the radio was functioning as designed and there was nothing they could do to solve the problem. The dealership apologized but said that they had worked closely with Toyota and that it was Toyota’s decision. I open a claim with Toyota’s national hotline. I got a call from a very polite man who told me that he had investigated the problem. He gave me enough specifics (both specifics of the problem and the names of service personnel at the dealership) to satisfy me that he had indeed looked into it. His bottom line however, was that, although Toyota acknowledged there was a problem, the radio “was functioning as designed” and therefore they could (would) do nothing to correct it. Really?!?! I guess when you only pay $40,000+ for a vehicle, a working radio is too much to expect. I also asked the dealership (on my first checkup) to look into what I believed was extremely excessive road noise. They did look into it but before they even did so, they said it was most likely, you guessed it, functioning as designed. When I picked the car up after that appointment they told me that the noise level was “normal” for that vehicle due to a combination of wind noise from the design and road noise from the run-flat tires. That was disappointing to hear, but I understand a problem that can’t be fixed until the vehicle is redesigned. My third problem with the vehicle is with the GPS / backup camera screen. I did buy the GPS option, really to get a larger backup screen. THAT WAS A BIG MISTAKE. The screen does not have a visor and the angle of the mounting often renders it useless in bright sunlight. In addition, the “upgrade” to the larger screen for the backup camera, does not include the projection lines for that camera screen, a very useful tool I see on virtually all backup screens on 2013 vehicles. Lastly, the gas mileage is terrible. I knew going in that, with the AWD, it wouldn’t be good but I was hoping for something close to the rating of 20 -21. The actual is 17 – 18. Poor performance in my opinion for a 2013. There are definitely the positives you expect from a mini van – comfortable room for seven people, lots of cargo room, etc. However, I am very disappointed with Toyota Corp. compared to the car company I enjoyed years ago as the maker of my Avalon. That was a great car and we got great service throughout the 212,000 miles we put on her. Unfortunately, Toyota Corp. has changed and this is the last one of their cars I will purchase.
2017 Sienna Reviews
Showing 8 of 215 reviews.
Starts everyday
Sluggish and combersome to drive, hard to park since you can't see the curb with the side view mirrors, back up camera is horri.
Always hearing about how reliable toyotas are. I picked up a 2011 sienna with 185k. I heard these things can last 300k. First thing went was the water pump. Not a big deal considering the mileage. Water pumps do not last for ever. So I had them do the water pump, belt tensioner, idler pulley, thermostat which for some ridiculous reason is buried down there somewhere where you have to take have the vehicle apart to get to it. The book calls for total engine removal to do this job. Most mechanics I spoke to had a work around which required removing motor mounts and jacking the engine up. Still totally ridiculous for for replacing a water pump. That was $1,700.00. Never changed a water pump on any other vehicle I ever owned where the repair exceed $350.00. To add insult to injury the belt came off four times after the repair. Had it back in the shop and also brought it to two other mechanics. No one could figure out why this happened. So far, the belt has stayed on this time. Next we go to lower control arms. Again, a wear and tear issue. The book calls for a 12 hour job that necessitates engine removal. First quote I got was $2,300.00. To replace a lower control arm? Again, fortunately there was a work around that again requires jacking up the motor to get to a bolt on the top of the drivers side lowered control arm. The second mechanic charges me $740.00 for the labor but was kind enough to allow me to provide the parts which save me a little bit of money. So we are now up to over $2,400.00 for simple wear and tear issues. So now I'm thinking I could get some use out of this thing. Wrong again. As it reaches 200k, and the cold weather sits in, they transmission will not shift properly unless warm the truck up for 20 minutes. I'm on year two of owning this thing and the transmission wasn't doing this last year. I got to check the transmission fluid only to discover that this monstrosity of a vehicle has a sealed transmission and is supposedly maintenence free. This leaves me scratching my head since there are two rubber transmission cooling lines. So I guess they last forever two. No I come to find out the oil cooler line is also made I'd rubber and if that goes all of the oil can drain out of the engine in a matter of seconds. There is an after market steel oil cooler replacement configuration but again a very costly repair for precautionary measure. Almost every maintenance repair on this vehicle is labor intensive running easily four hundred dollars and beyond. Good luck with a tune up or changing the rear valve cover gasket. There is essentially nothing you can do yourself on this vehicle except changing bulbs and replacing the battery. Honestly, I'll never buy another Toyota. Maybe you can get 300 k or more out of this but not without spending a ton of money. Oh yeah. Rear ac lines rotted out. Those can be capped off and you can still have front ac. The kit is 80.00 and of course the system must be evacuated and recharged. My advice is, do not buy one of these use that has over 100 k on it. Then you can probably squeeze another hundred out of it before it takes you to the cleaners.
Reliability, comfort, affordability
Fuel filler door hinge prone to failure. Avoid aftermarket transaxles.
We’ve had our 2012 Sienna XLE V-6 2wd for 3-1/2 years, and have used it for everything from cross-country trips to hauling lumber. It seats six in comfort, or can haul a 4’ x 8’ sheet of plywood with the second row captains chairs removed and the rear seat folded. With 140,000 miles on the odometer, you might expect a few issues, but other than a broken fuel filler door the car has been trouble free.
The seats are in great condition, no stains or tears. Floors have always had Weather Tech mats . Outside has a few cosmetic dings.
Toyota van is gone. It no longer belongs to me. Goodbye, so long, farewell. It was a great vehicle. I have fond memories.
Is long
It’s too short
I have more then five years whit my Toyota Sienna 2011 but is time to said god bye whit all the pain of my heart this car is extremely very comfortable and efficient on gas
Relatively simply (less stuff to break) design that Toyota was able to refine over the years resulting in a vehicle that just goes with no mechanical problems. Roomy and practical. Need more vehicles like this.
Very roomy and family friendly
Some cheap interior parts, electronic sensors
Roomy, great family car. Seats up to eight and still has room for luggage. Nothing fancy just a great practical van.
Comfort, cargo, AWD, reliability, technology, V6
None
The Lexus of minivans. Largest, most luxurious, and most reliable minivan on the road. 2019 Limited Premium is nothing but joy to own. AWD V6, chrome accents, premium wheels, fold in side mirrors, auto wipers, auto high beams, safety sensors (including BSM cross traffic alert, lane departure assist), birds eye view(one of the few so nice for a larger vehicle, parking is so much easier), plush rich brown leather, 2nd row captains chairs, two sunroofs, DVD player with headphones, led accents, fold flat 3rd row. And best part is its all Toyota electronics so it all works, year after year. Road trips with family of 4 (with 2 adult sized children) are soooo nice. We have all the cargo we could want and the second row is riding first class with its own climate controls, adjustable captains chairs with elbow rests, sunroof, fully extend your legs, pull up the shade on the window too. When demanded you respectable acceleration that would lay rubber if not for the AWD, yet a very smooth and comfortable ride no matter the weight inside. Can go hours and hours in comfort. Rides as nice a my Lexus RX350 but with a cavernous interior. Well placed touchscreen with apple carplay, a good mix of analog and digital gauges, nothing over the top with technology. Everything is simple and intuitive. And get this I have removed the captains chairs and could get 3 sheets of 4X8 plywood in there with hatch down and locked (better than most trucks!). Put the third row up and the back has perfect bin to contain your groceries. Push button rear hatch and both slider have buttons on the fab too. Charging ports galore, every row has charging USB ports and there is two AC outlets inside as well. Switch to power mode if the 8 speed transmission bugs you and shifts more like a 6 speed. This minivan is the pinnacle in vehicle technology. It does so much better than any crossover SUV in so many categories and is easy to drive, more passenger comfort, vastly superior cargo space transport and more features for the money. I pity people who need an SUV for optics, they are missing out or paying way too much for less. The only that could be better is the mileage averages around 20-22 mpg but it gives you 300hp and never struggles with power and the available cargo more than makes up for that. Best part is I bought it with 14K mileage from a BWM dealer that apparently does not like having minivans on the lot because the snooty BMW buyers. I was able to get this beauty for $38K because they priced it as an XLE by accident. So I got $52K minivan with 14K mileage on it for $38K, best deal I ever got on a vehicle.
