Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Toyota Sienna owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for a recall repair, the mechanic discovered large holes in the center of the subframe caused by rust. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 218,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the liftgate was opened and raised; however, the liftgate failed to remain open and raised as intended. The contact stated that when the liftgate was raised, the liftgate independently fell due to faulty liftgate struts. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.
My 2006 Toyota Sienna, driver side front door started giving me popping sound on June 2nd 2015. Initially it was very minor, in couple of days it increased a lot. I recall receiving "warranty extension" letter in the past regarding same from Toyota motor corporation. Some time in year 2013. However I was not experiencing issue. So, I just filed letter along with me other warranty documents in vehicle glow box. I took vehicle to dealer along with "warranty extension" letter. Dealer refused to repair, as Toyota would not cover , as warranty extension is expired. As per Toyota and dealer , by the time I received letter, extension was already expired.(2006 year model vehicle , expiration is around 2011) informed Toyota motor corporation USA. Opened cased with them, however they would not cover repair. I am left with no option but to absorb the cost or live the noise. …
Noticed for several months a binding in closing electric side doors. A few weeks ago, I could not close the sliding door. Noticed a broken cable. The cable was frayed. It is also frayed on the other side of the car. I went to the Toyota dealer to get it repaired free. My odometer had 124,000 miles. The Toyota extended technical warranty ended at 120,000. This is a major safety issue. The other night I drove home in 28 degree weather with the sliding door open, because it would not close. We had to break the cable to get the door closed when we finallt got home. Children can fall out of open side doors on Toyota vans!! This is a serious manufacturing problem, and Toyota should have to replace the cables at any date that they break so children can get in or out of the car safely, and owners do not have to drive around with their doors open. It also runs down the battery!! …
I have a 2006 Toyota Sienna xle. There is a recall ssc-c80. The recall service was performed by a dealership on 01/09/2009. Everything had been fine since then. On 05/17/2016 I went to fremont Toyota for another service. They checked my van and perform the same recall service (ssc-c80) without notifying me. Now the back hatch won't close automatically (via button). It must be closed manually. I went to fremont Toyota and was told that I have to replace the motor for $$$$. I notice that there is another (same) complaint (10355452) that the new struts (68905-ae015) are too strong for existing hatchback motor. I think that the old struts were perfect (was put on in 2009) to match with the existing motor. I even asked the dealer to reverse the work to put the old struts back as I never had a problem since 2009 and I never asked the dealer to perform the service. They refused. …
Passenger-side powered sliding door suddenly malfunctioned; no preceding odd noises or other trouble signs. The door will slide backwards to open position and latch there as it should, but upon button-push to close, it rolls forward about two-thirds of the way, then stops and retracts. Same problem no matter which of the several door switches is used. Worse: the door cannot be manually pushed beyond the malfunction point to shut it. I fear damage to mechanism and dealer service department backlash if I force it. Obviously not safe to drive in this condition. Luckily did not occur on a long family trip! Car must be garaged out of weather until problem resolved. Here is the issue I would like NHTSA to consider: a motorized door should have been provided with a bypass procedure which would allow damage-free manual closing for any and all mechanism failures. …
I have a Toyota Sienna with 69,451 miles. I have had both rear sliding doors repaired twice each. The doors still do not engage and lock. I have two children and multiple times the doors have opened while driving. Toyota recently has a recall on this issue, but it only dates back to 2011. This is an issue for many earlier models and I am furious it was not included. Toyota says there is nothing else they can do for me. When one of my children falls out the back and gets injured is not the time to address it. I demand that the 2006 model be included in the recall for safety issues, not just for me and my children, but for many, many others who have complained about the same issue. Please address this problem before someone gets hurt or worse. Thank you for your prompt attention. The date the incident occurred below is from when I first began having a problem.
The plastic on the dashboard is cracking as if it was slashed with a razor knife. I looked up the problem on the internet and numerous sites have people reporting the problem going back to 2004 models. The Toyota dealer service department just says the van is out of warranty and the cracks are due to age (which they probably are to some degree) but present no safety issues. I refute that claim. If the dash is cracking then I assume the integrity of the airbag system is compromised. Have older siennas been tested that have a cracking dashboard? My wife's 2000 avalon also has a plastic dash and it is not cracking at all. Neither are my two sons old 4runners or my daughters 2005 Sienna. I'm very concerned about the front airbags and their proper deployment in an accident.
Passenger front door makes loud popping/cracking noises whenever opened or closed. It sounds like the door will fall off. I filed a NHTSA complaint about this same problem in 2014. In 2012-2013 the door had the same problem, and it was repaired by a body shop. They re-welded it. The shop re-welded this - again. Now the door has been repaired twice. My driver's side door weld was fixed under warranty at 32,00 miles. Toyota issued a warranty coverage enhancement for this (the "door check mounting panel," pol07-04, issued 10/22/07), which extends up to 5 years or 100,000 miles. My vehicle was not covered for the passenger side welds because it was past 100,00 miles.
VIN: [redacted] year: 2006 make: Toyota model: Sienna number of open recalls: 1+ recall for instrument panel NHTSA recall number: opens new window takes away from VIN lookup section> 14V273 recall date: May 22, 2014 manufacturer recall number: e1s the dealer (kings Toyota, kings mall) and manufacturer are not repairing the vehicle after several requests and after sending recall notices. As a result I still have same defective spare tire carrier and instrument panel (crack appeared already). They keep saying that they will revert with no response there after.
Related recalls
Structure
Toyota is recalling certain model year 1998 through 2010 sienna passenger vehicles manufactured between August 7, 1997 and January 4, 2010, currently registered in or originally sold in connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, new hampshire, new jersey, new york,…
Remedy: 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.
Structure › Body › Hatchback/liftgate
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA investigations
Stabilus Rear Liftgate Struts Failing
Please see the attached closing resume summary.It has been attached to this document as a PDF.
Body complaints in other Sienna years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2006 Toyota Sienna?
NHTSA has 261 complaints about the body & structure of the 2006 Toyota Sienna, 26% of the model year's 1,017 complaints. The component named most often is body (100 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Toyota Sienna body problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 10V-160 (structure, Apr 20, 2010); NHTSA recall 08V-244 (hatchback/liftgate, Jun 3, 2008). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Toyota Sienna body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 12 injuries and 1 death to body & structure 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.