Is the 2008 Toyota Sienna a bad year?
429 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sienna years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2008 Toyota Sienna are in line with other Sienna years. Body structure, speed control and engine stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2008 Sienna owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 82,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 117 (27%) | 50k–105k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 51 (12%) | 25k–89k miles · around this mileage | — |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 50 (12%) | 53k–104k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 45 (10%) | 38k–103k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 43 (10%) | 34k–142k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 38 (9%) | 34k–90k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 33 (8%) | 79k–170k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Tires | 19 (4%) | 13k–87k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 14 (3%) | 62k–102k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 29 (7%) | 100k–174k miles · ahead | — |
| Latches and locks | 13 (3%) | 26k–66k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seat belts | 13 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 12 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 12 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 82,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 429 complaints: 37 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 17 report an injury · 3 say the car was towed.
3 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Aug 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
On a rainy sunday afternoon I was driving 65 MPH on the interstate when the check engine, VSC and trac off lights came on.
The vehicle came to a stop at a stop light and the odour of something burning entered the cabin.
During a recent trip to alabama from virginia, our 2008 Toyota sienna suddenly accelerated while pressing the brake pedal instead of braking.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 82,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2008 Toyota Sienna: 9
The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed. If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring. 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 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. If the carrier cable is corroded due to road salt, the spare tire may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. 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 subject vehicles are equipped with the spare tire stowed under the vehicle. The cable may break due to excessive corrosion and the spare tire may separate from the vehicle, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
These vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
These vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. This does not meet the standard requirements.
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. The gvwr is insufficient for the load carrying capacity of the vehicles.
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." Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 136
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2008 Toyota Sienna. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 - 2025 model year Toyota vehicles
The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been…
TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power…
Some vehicles may exhibit a leak or oil seep from the engine's oil cooler pipes
Neighbouring years
2007 Sienna: 364 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2009 Sienna: 207 complaints, keep it.
Every Toyota Sienna year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · All Sienna years side by side
Other Toyota models: Toyota 4Runner · Toyota Avalon · Toyota C-HR · Toyota Camry · Toyota Camry Hybrid · Toyota Camry Solara · Toyota Celica · Toyota Corolla · Toyota Corolla Cross · Toyota Corolla Matrix · Toyota Echo · Toyota FJ Cruiser · Toyota Grand Highlander · Toyota Highlander · Toyota Highlander Hybrid · Toyota Matrix · Toyota Prius · Toyota Prius c · Toyota Prius v · Toyota RAV4 · Toyota RAV4 Hybrid · Toyota RAV4 Prime · Toyota Sequoia · Toyota Sienna Hybrid · Toyota Tacoma · Toyota Tundra · Toyota Venza · Toyota Venza Hybrid · Toyota Yaris. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2008 Toyota Sienna a bad year?
429 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sienna years. At 82,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Toyota Sienna?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: body structure (117), speed control (51), engine (50), electrical system (45), brakes (43).
How many recalls does the 2008 Toyota Sienna have?
9 recall campaigns list this model year: Seats (NHTSA 16V-396), Seats (NHTSA 14V-743), Tires (NHTSA 14V-273), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 13V-429) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.