Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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).
Was driving on highway at 60-65 mph. The car continued to accelerate. Pressed on brake and wasn't slowing the vehicle. The driver was weaving in and out of cars as the van started to creek up to 92 mph. The driver and passengers thought they were going to crash and possible die. The driver tried the brake multiple times and nothing. The driver said the accelerator pedal wasn't pressed all the way down to the floor. It was half way and driver had to go down and pull up on the pedal while driving. The van then started to slow and driver was able to pull over to have the van evaluated . The throttle body was reached and cleaned of carbon because it said that this may have been part of the issue. Never has this van taken off like this. The throttle body cable wasnt loose or disconnected either. So far we havent been able to recreate but 3 people could have been killed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. While driving, there was an abnormal grinding noise coming from underneath the vehicle. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road and powered off the engine. The contact noticed smoke coming through the vents and from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted, but the gear shifter failed to move out of park. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and later towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 168,000.
Three year old child was able to put the car into neutral without depressing the break pedal and car rolled away. Car was parked in a flat driveway, and went across the street and hit a speed limit sign and did damage to the front bumper. I do have a photo unable to upload of bumper. Not covered under the 2005 shift lock solonoid recall by Toyota.
On April 18, 2018, I parked the car in garage, shifted to park, turned the key off, and removed key. While getting out I noticed that car began to roll. While in park, locked with key out, I noticed that the vehicle could be rolled forward or backwards. After inspection I found that the transmission shift cable had become detached from the shifter. (see first photos) apparently, Toyota secures it with some type of plastic grommet which deteriorates with age, disintegrates, and causes the detachment. (second photos) even though the vehicle appears to be locked and in park, it is actually in whatever gear it was in when the detachment occurred. Our driveway is on an incline, and had I parked on the driveway when this occurred instead of the garage, the vehicle would have rolled into the street creating a serious risk of injury or death. …
On May 2, 2016, the driver suddenly lost all ability to shift the 2004 Toyota Sienna minivan's automatic transmission, and therefore operate the vehicle, upon attempting to shift from *d* to *r*, I.e., drive to reverse. The vehicle was stationary at the time, while preparing to pull into a space in a parking lot. The root cause of the event was the vehicle's shift cable had broken at the cable's termination with either the shift lever or the transmission. Repair required replacement of the defective cable, Toyota part number 33820-08020. The sudden inability to shift the transmission caused the driver to be stranded, obstructing other vehicle traffic. If this event had occurred in traffic, such as when attempting to parallel park, the disabled vehicle would have presented a collision danger to the driver as well as to other vehicles.
A 7-year old boy was climbing from the back seat to the drivers seat of a 2004 Toyota Sienna minivan. He was the only person in the van at the time, the van was not running, there were no keys in the ignition.. Yet somehow, the van's transmission was taken out of park and put into gear. As the parking brake was not set, the van rolled backwards down the driveway, through a fence and into a ravine with the child inside. The child also used the steering wheel during the event (which should not be possible). No one was hurt, but damage to the vehicle and the property is extensive. It is unclear as to why the transmission and steering column lock failed on this van or if this is an isolated defect. After the accident, the transmission lock appears to be working normally.
The steering angle sensor, pn# 89245-08011 failed. The van can not be driven over 23 MPH. The brakes come on automatically over 23 MPH and the engine will not respond to accelerate. The steering seems strange (anti-lock brake light coming on) but I was able to keep the van in my lane of traffic. I am concerned that this sensor or others will fail and the van will automatically apply the breaks and loose power preventing me from maneuvering the van to the side of the road. I do not know what would have happened if I was travelling at highway speed. I consider this a major safety problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the transmission failed to respond. In addition, whenever shifting into the park position, the vehicle would roll a short distance. The contact engaged the emergency brake when parked behind another vehicle due to the unintended rolling. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 13V429000 (power train) however, the failure caused internal damage to the transmission. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the shift lever in the park position, the vehicle rolled backwards. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by engaging the emergency brakes. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the gear shifter cable fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer mas not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 12/23/16
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. On several occasions, it took several attempts to shift the vehicle into park. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 13V429000 (power train); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2005 Sienna vehicles manufactured January 10, 2003, through August 10, 2005; and model year 2007-2009 Sienna vehicles manufactured February 20, 2007, through December 12, 2008.
Remedy: 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.
Transmission complaints in other Sienna years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2004 Toyota Sienna?
NHTSA has 89 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2004 Toyota Sienna, 4% of the model year's 2,062 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (42 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Toyota Sienna transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 13V-429 (automatic transmission, Sep 26, 2013). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Toyota Sienna transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 63,000 miles, and 34% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.