2004 Toyota Sienna: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2004 Toyota Sienna: 10 recalls, 2062 owner complaints and up to 20 mpg combined.

Recalls
10 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #03V291000 · 2003 · 34,437 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles, a part of the fuel tank May become damaged when crashed in the insurance institute for highway safety's (iihs) 40 mph frontal offset crash test conditions, due to the severe impact forces generated.
Why it matters: If the fuel tank becomes damaged and fuel leakage occurs, a fire May result in the presence of an ignition source.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank. Owner notification began August 1, 2003. Owners should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #05V327000 · 2005 · 345,443 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain MINI vans, in the middle row seating position, the shoulder portion of the seat belt May bind in the bezel trim piece. The affected seat belt bezel is located on the shoulder portion of the seat in the right side seat of the seven passenger models and the center seating position in the eight passenger models.
Why it matters: If the seat belt binds in the bezel, that extra webbing May exist in the seat belt which could result in an improperly fitted seat belt on a passenger. In the event of a crash, a seat occupant May not be properly restrained increasing the risk of personal injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat belt bezel and clip. The recall began August 5, 2005.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #08V244000 · 2008 · 196,222 vehicles
What's wrong: Toyota is conducting a safety improvement campaign involving 196,222 my 2004-2006 Toyota sienna vehicles equipped with power rear liftgate struts. The gas struts used to help lift and support the rear power liftgate could wear out sooner than expected. As the gas struts deteriorate, the performance of the liftgate will begin to degrade and the power rear liftgate will operate more slowly than when the gas struts…
Why it matters: If not repaired, the gas struts May not be able to support the weight of the liftgate when it is open eventually, the gas struts could deteriorate to the point that the liftgate will fall about ten inches after it reaches the fully open position, at which point the power motor will engage and power…
The fix: Dealers will replace the gas struts with newly designed gas struts that have a longer service life. The campaign began on August 8, 2008, and will be mailed in three phases ending in late December 2008.
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #09V023000 · 2009 · 26,501 vehicles
What's wrong: Toyota is conducting a safety improvement campaign involving 26,501 early 2004 my sienna vehicles. In the event the retention clip used to secure the floor carpet cover is missing, the cover can interfere with the operation of the accelerator pedal if the acceleration pedal is depressed to nearly the full throttle position.
Why it matters: If this occurs, the accelerator pedal can become stuck which could result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the retention clip and floor carpet cover at no charge. The campaign began on January 26, 2009. Owner notification is expected to be completed by early April 2009.
Equipment Vehicle recall #09V234000 · 2009 · 2,204 vehicles
What's wrong: The vehicle capacity weight on the tire and loading information label and the gvwr on the certification label is insufficient for certain vehicles. Some vehicles were accessorized through vehicle processing centers and had accessories installed that caused the vehicle to exceed the gvwr value. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no 110, "tire selection and…
Why it matters: The gvwr is insufficient for the load carrying capacity of the vehicles.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners instructing them to return their vehicle to a Toyota or Lexus dealer for an exchange of the certification label and the tire and loading information label, an installation of the load carrying capacity modification label, if necessary, and a correction to the owner's…
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V036000 · 2010 · 153,418 vehicles
What's wrong: 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Why it matters: A driver May overload a vehicle which May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on May 27, 2010.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #10V160000 · 2010 · 600,000 vehicles
What's wrong: The subject vehicles are equipped with the spare tire stowed under the vehicle. If the vehicle is operated in the cold climate regions of the united states where road salt is frequently used, water splashed backwards with high concentrations of road salt can reach the spare tire carrier and corrode the spare tire carrier assembly cable.
Why it matters: The cable May break due to excessive corrosion and the spare tire May separate from the vehicle, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners with an interim letter initially instructing them to bring their vehicle to authorized dealers to inspect for corrosion. A second notice will be sent when the permanent remedy is available. For more information, please see Toyota's amended recall report of July 19, 2010.…
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #11V539000 · 2011 · 420,326 vehicles
What's wrong: The amount of adhesive agent applied between the outer ring and the torsional rubber damper (inner ring) in the crankshaft pulley May be inadequate. If the adhesive is insufficient, there is a possibility that the outer ring May become misaligned and it May not properly rotate with the inner ring, causing noise and/or illumination of the battery discharge indicator light.
Why it matters: In some cases, the belt for the power steering pump May become detached from the pulley which could result in a loss of power steering and a sudden increase in steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will check the crankshaft pulley to identify whether it was produced by the u.s. Supplier. If so, the dealer will replace the pulley with a new one at no charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during early January 2012.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #13V429000 · 2013 · 614,722 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, due to a problem within the shift lock solenoid, there is a possibility that the shift lever could be moved out of park position without depressing the brake pedal.
Why it matters: If the shift lever is moved out of the park position without the brake applied, the transmission will either engage a drive gear or neutral, increasing the risk of a backover or roll away crash.
The fix: Toyota will mail interim notifications to owners beginning in late October 2013. When parts are available, owners will be sent a second notice and dealers will replace the shift lock solenoid, free of charge.
Tires Vehicle recall #14V273000 · 2014 · 419,520 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles have a spare tire carrier assembly mounted under the vehicle whose attachment cable May corrode due to high concentrations of road salt splashing onto the spare tire carrier.
Why it matters: If the carrier cable is corroded due to road salt, the spare tire May separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota sent owners in August 2014 an interim notification to advise owners of the recall and that dealers will perform an interim remedy to remove the spare tire and relocate it to the luggage compartment, free of charge. Owners are being mailed a second letter as parts become available and dealers…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 8 mention a fire, 180 injuries and 2 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Body & structure (962): the most common themes are door / lock issues (796), noise or vibration (104), rust / corrosion (56).
- Latches & locks (308): the most common themes are door / lock issues (282).
- Steering (159): the most common themes are steering problems (135), noise or vibration (17).
- Electrical (132): the most common themes are door / lock issues (91), electrical failure (32), stalls / loses power (13).
The 2004 Toyota Sienna has 2062 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 25 Sienna model years for complaints (6.0× the average Sienna year). Complaints peaked in 2010 (312 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 75,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2003 (105 complaints, 1 recalls), 2005 (1130 complaints, 12 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 25 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2004 Toyota Sienna.
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FAQ
Does the 2004 Toyota Sienna have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 10 vehicle recalls for the 2004 Toyota Sienna. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2004 Toyota Sienna problems?
Owners have filed 2062 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are body & structure (962), latches & locks (308), steering (159).
What gas mileage does the 2004 Toyota Sienna get?
EPA ratings run up to 20 mpg combined (3.3 L, Automatic 5-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2004 Toyota Sienna repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.