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 2012 Toyota Sienna owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Sienna. The contact was unable to use the driver's side cargo door. The contact stated that the door was possibly frozen; however, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the door opened unexpectedly. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V858000 (Structure); however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 201,235.
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that the rear passenger side power sliding door cable broke. The driver-side power sliding door was malfunctioning. There was an abnormal clunking noise detected. The door failed to close with the automatic button. The contact had to manually close the door. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the door needed to be replaced and was informed the repair coverage had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V858000 (Structure).
The automatic side doors of this Toyota sienna le have malfunctioned twice between expensive repairs. When the hardware comes off the guide rail, it hits the window behind the door and shatters in covering the interior and occupants with glass. I had the window repaired after I had the door hardware replaced after its first failure in spring of 2024. The door gave no indication it was failed until I noticed the window bulging and nearly broke again. The Toyota dealer didn't seem very interested in covering the cost of the repairs I made in 2024 and can't get me in until mid August which leaves me without transportation for a month.
On August 27, 2016 I was driving our 2012 Toyota Sienna on an interstate highway. Traffic was terrible and I rear-ended another vehicle in stop-and-go traffic. The impact was minor, but the engine caught fire and burnt the car to the frame. My wife and I were able to exit the car before it burned. When I exited the car, I took my keys with me. However, I was not able to open any of the doors and everything I had in the back of the van burned. Thankfully, our children were not in the car. If they had been, I would have needed to break windows to attempt to remove them from the car.
I met an accident when a car (at speed around 65 MPH) crossing the red light coming from my right hit my car at my right front and none of the SRS bags did not deploy. We were 4 passengers at the time of the accident and we all had minor injuries. All the SRS bags for other car has been deployed that hit my car. I am really concerned we all 4 would have been killed and it has been considered as the fatal accident by police report.
I have brought the Sienna into Toyota on 3 separate occasions, as it was clunking when it closed. I was told there was nothing wrong with it each time, but the liftgate was clearly not aligned. Water is now coming through the top of the lift gate. I did back up into a tree, and had damage to the back quarter panel and it was repaired by a body shop. Toyota is stating that this caused the liftgate to be misaligned and that is causing the water to come through the liftgate. However, it was not until I ran the minivan through a touch free carwash and water was applied under pressure that I noticed the water coming in. My complaint is I believe that if the liftgate could be misaligned by quarter panel damage, what would happen under extreme stress of a car accident. …
I have brought the Sienna into Toyota on 3 separate occasions, as there was clunking when the lift gate closed. I was told there was nothing wrong with it each time, but the liftgate was and is clearly not aligned. Water is now coming through the top of the lift gate. I did back up into a tree, and had damage to the back quarter panel and it was repaired by a body shop. Toyota is stating that this caused the liftgate to be misaligned and that is causing the water to come through the liftgate. My complaint is I believe that dealership is avoiding realigning the lift gate. I originally brought this in under the manufacturer warranty and I have an extended warranty. There was no vehicle damage to the van upon initial visit. …
Takata recall 'received notice for NHTSA campaigns: 17V006 (air bags) & 16V858 (structure) for our family vehicle. We have 4 small kids that require car seats so it is not feasible for the front passenger seat to not be used. Per notice, I called Toyota and visited a local dealership in February 2017 to discuss the issue and request a rental or discount on a replacement vehicle. Was informed rentals were limited to $35/day which would only provide a mid-size car (would not fit my family) and no replacement vehicle option was available. Then in March 2017, the sliding door opened while driving. Thankfully we had just left the house and no one was injured, but we are fearful for our lives and the safety of our children as we do not know when this May happen again. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Toyota Sienna. While driving 40 MPH, the rear passenger sliding door opened independently without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was no fault code and the mechanic was not able to duplicate the failure. The contact stated that the failure recurred with both the driver and passenger sliding doors. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V858000 (structure). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000. Updated 06/01/17 the consumer stated the sliding door opened while driving and also parked freeing a pet dog. The electric doors were used to put a wheel chair in the vehicle. The manufacturer suggested to disconnect the electric doors by removing the fuses indefinitely. Updated 09/06/2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that the power sliding door did not properly function. The door opened more than twice without warning. There was an abnormal noise progressing and the contact had to manually maneuver the door due to the failure. An independent mechanic was unable to provide a repair remedy and recommended that the vehicle be taken to the dealer. The dealer was notified of the failure and provided extensive diagnostic testing. The contact also informed the dealer that a recall notice was received for NHTSA campaign number: 16V858000 (structure), but the dealer had not provided a proper remedy. The parts were not available. The contact was uncertain if the vehicle would be repaired. The vehicle was at the dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Related recalls
Structure › Body › Door
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Toyota Sienna minivans manufactured January 4, 2010, to August 12, 2016. If the power sliding door is unable to be opened when commanded, such as if the door is frozen shut, the door may subsequently open unexpectedly, possibly while the…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the junction block, rear sliding door wire harnesses, and install two sub wire harnesses, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2017.
Body complaints in other Sienna years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2012 Toyota Sienna?
NHTSA has 72 complaints about the body & structure of the 2012 Toyota Sienna, 29% of the model year's 247 complaints. The component named most often is body (55 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Toyota Sienna body problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-858 (door, Nov 29, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2012 Toyota Sienna body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 miles, and 16% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 5 injuries 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.