Is the 2021 Toyota Sienna a bad year?
165 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sienna years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2021 Toyota Sienna are in line with other Sienna years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2021 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 80,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 80 (48%) | too few with a mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Seats | 17 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 16 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 13 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 10 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 5 (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 80,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 165 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 7 report an injury · 11 say the car was towed.
6 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Feb 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2021 Toyota Sienna: 1
The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases 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: 30
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2021 Toyota Sienna. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may experience a MIL ON condition with the following DTCs: P043F00, P043E00, P24007E, P24007F, P24187E
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels…
Engine Oil Leak between the Lower Oil Pan and Crank Case
Some 2021 - 2023 Highlander HV, RAV4 HV and Sienna HV vehicles equipped with Rear Motor Generator, MGR (Q610), may duplicate an abnormal noise (Drone, Growl…
Neighbouring years
2020 Sienna: 38 complaints, keep it · 2022 Sienna: 119 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 2021 Toyota Sienna a bad year?
165 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sienna years. At 80,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota Sienna?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (80), seats (17), air bags (16), electrical system (13), speed control (10).
How many recalls does the 2021 Toyota Sienna have?
1 recall campaign list this model year: Stability control (NHTSA 22V-239). 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.