Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Toyota Sienna owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Driver's side seat belt buckle stopped locking in seat belt. Buckle unit then came apart. I called toyota; was informed that there was a recall on this matter. I was told that I was 2 years past the scope of the recall. I informed them I never received a notice of recall so how would I be aware of problem until it occurred. Spoke to supervisor was told I was no longer covered under recall. Went to 2 mechanics and was unable to obtain needed part. I feel that for this safety item there should be no time limit on a recall and I felt Toyotas help in remeding the situation was poor especially as they tout their vehicles safety.
The front driver's side seat belt has a tendency to fold over and get jammed in the slot where it retracts. A quick seach online has found many owners with this similar issue. When this issue occurs, it pretty much leaves us in an unprotected and dangerous state. Surprisingly, what appears to be a similar problem has prompted a recall for the second row passenger seats, but not for the front driver's side. Based on the numerous customer complaints online, it appears Toyota's only solution is to have customers replace the seatbelt system for hundreds and hundreds of dollars. In regards to this kind of safety concern, I as the consumer feel that Toyota should be responsible to replace this obvious design flaw/or production defect immediately by issuing a recall particularly for the driver's side front. …
The problem: front seat belts intermittently fail to retract. This issue has been observed to occur when getting into the car and fastening the seatbelt. This issue occurs infrequently but repeatedly. Toyota has provided a "warranty enhancement" for this problem. However, the problem cannot be duplicated "on demand" at the dealership (Toyota of puyallup), so the dealership is refusing to fix the problem. I have repeatedly explained to the dealership and Toyota corporate that the issue is intermittent and cannot be duplicated "on demand", and Toyota corporate has in fact affirmed that the issue is indeed "intermittent." but they still refuse to replace the seatbelt mechanism with an updated version that purportedly remedies the problem, simply because the issue cannot be duplicated at the time when the car happens to be at the dealership for servicing. …
Toyota has offered a warranty extension on defective driver/passenger seatbelt mechanism, however, when I visited the dealer and after they have confirmed that my seatbelts are defective, they cannot provide an estimate on when the parts needed for repair would be available. I opened a case with Toyota corporate, however, after numerous phone calls and promises for callback and resolution they have not returned a single phone call. This is a safety issue and needs to be addressed asap not after someone dies in an accident due to defective seatbelts. Symptoms include seatbelts not retrieving, getting stuck, and overall not advancing in or out requiring that they be loose when driving. Seatbelts are getting stuck at different times, but most frequently when being operated such as extended or retracted. …
Tl contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. While driving 40 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle did not stop. There were 30-40 yards between the contact's vehicle and the preceding vehicle. The brake pedal extended to the floorboard. The brakes grabbed momentarily, but then became "mushy." the contact crashed into the preceding vehicle and caused injuries to the occupant in the other vehicle. The passenger's seat belt did not engage properly, causing the passenger to strike the dashboard and sustain minor injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed from the scene. The failure and current mileages were less than 55,000.
Seat belt buckle unlatches itself while driving (city streets as well as highway) or stationary. This occurs ever after shoving the tongue back and forth in the latch several times and it remains latched. Later, it will unlatch itself. It has occurred mostly on straightaways, but also in turns. I removed the latch assembly and blew compressed air through it. Two large red plastic pieces came out, but the problem returned on the next drive. This situation has been going on for about two weeks now. It has occurred from zero to 65 miles an hour.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that the front driver side seat belt failed to properly restrain her. While driving and while also in park, the seat belt would release and unsecured the contact. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the seat belt assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 113,310.
1) seatbelt twists and gets jammed in the guide near the retractor. Seat belt pulls out, but then will not retract as it is wedged in the guide.this has happened numerous times, but now it is quite wedged. And unusable at the moment. 2) cable that pulls the side door open and closed has rusted and broken. This was subject to a Toyota voluntary service campaign, but my problem started after the expiration of the service campaign.
Front seat belts fail to retract back. I spend atleast 15 mins to retract it back with pliers each time it happens. Huge safety issue as my family with kids use the van. The issue is happening since I bought the van (used) in jan2015 and it happened again today 4/12/2016
Was getting into van to drive and pulled the seatbelt across my chest, it was slack so pulled a little more to get it to retract and come out, it would not, kept coming out and stuck all the way out now. Would not go back in.
Related recalls
Seat belts
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt bezel and clip. The recall began August 5, 2005. Owners May contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA investigations
Seatbelt malfunction
Odi received ten consumer complaints alleging that the middle-row passenger seatbelt webbing frequently jams in the integrated seatbelt guide housing slot.during normal body movement of the occupant, the webbing jams in the slot due to a dislodged cover plate, thus causing excess slack in the seatbelt assembly.Toyota?s letter response to the agency identifies 40 other consumer and field reports and 3,073 warranty…
Seatbelt malfunction
The shoulder portion of the middle-row seatbelt webbing feeds through an opening in the seatbelt bezel located at the top of the seat.the bezel also contains a clip that covers a narrow slot in the bezel.the clip May become dislodged from use and allow the seat belt to become stuck in the narrow slot exposed by the dislodged clip.
Seat Belt complaints in other Sienna years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat belt problems on the 2004 Toyota Sienna?
NHTSA has 98 complaints about the seat belts of the 2004 Toyota Sienna, 5% of the model year's 2,062 complaints. The component named most often is rear/other (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Toyota Sienna seat belt problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-327 (seat belts, Jul 20, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Toyota Sienna seat belt problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles, and 23% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 4 injuries to seat belts problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.