2006 Toyota Sienna: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2006 Toyota Sienna: 11 recalls, 1017 owner complaints and up to 19 mpg combined.
Recalls
11 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
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.
Equipment Vehicle recall #09V223000 · 2009 · 27,080 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Why it matters: Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall began on August 18, 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 #10V035000 · 2010 · 271,417 vehicles
What's wrong: 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between September 1, 2005 and June 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Why it matters: This does not meet the standard requirements.
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. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on May 27, 2010.
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.…
Seats Vehicle recall #10V270000 · 2010 · 4 vehicles
What's wrong: The six way power seat base May have a defective (cold) weld on the pivot pin which is welded to the swivel plate. The weld could fail.
Why it matters: The seat occupant May be injured if the seat base pin were to break.
The fix: The swivel plate will be replaced free of charge if necessary. The recall began on June 8, 2010.
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…
Seats Vehicle recall #14V743000 · 2014 · 3,233 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May experience compression of the seat cushion which May damage the seat heater wiring.
Why it matters: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015.
Seats Vehicle recall #16V396000 · 2016 · 7,749 vehicles
What's wrong: The electrical wiring in the seat heaters May be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Why it matters: If damaged, the copper strand heating element May short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #17V657000 · 2017 · 310,475 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, due to a problem within the shift lock assembly, the shift lever May be moved out of the 'park' position without depressing the brake pedal.
Why it matters: If the shift lever can be moved from the "park" position without depressing the brake pedal and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle May roll, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shift lock solenoid and reapply the grease, free of charge.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 53 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (307): the most common themes are warning light on (147), fails to deploy (29).
- Body & structure (261): the most common themes are door / lock issues (207), noise or vibration (23), rust / corrosion (11).
- Electrical (85): the most common themes are door / lock issues (51), electrical failure (18), warning light on (13).
- Latches & locks (67): the most common themes are door / lock issues (63).
The 2006 Toyota Sienna has 1017 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 25 Sienna model years for complaints (3.0× the average Sienna year). Complaints peaked in 2011 (157 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 71,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2005 (1130 complaints, 12 recalls), 2007 (364 complaints, 10 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 19 | Regular |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | 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 2006 Toyota Sienna.
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FAQ
Does the 2006 Toyota Sienna have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 11 vehicle recalls for the 2006 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 2006 Toyota Sienna problems?
Owners have filed 1017 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (307), body & structure (261), electrical (85).
What gas mileage does the 2006 Toyota Sienna get?
EPA ratings run up to 19 mpg combined (3.3 L, Automatic 5-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2006 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.