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 2013 Toyota Sienna owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Pressed the button to open the rear passenger sliding door and it would open. When opened manually it would open only about 12 inches. Then when we were driving on the highway the door opened on its own. The door had to be manually closed and now it will not open. This is now a safety concern that in the event of a crash passengers may not be able to exit the vehicle or the door could open again while driving.
The passenger side automatic sliding door came off track and shattered the rear window. Glass flew all over our daughter in her car seat. The van had recall power sliding door service done, but it still failed. Roller bearings were badly worn.
I had the recent sliding door recall done but my driver's side sliding door still isn't working correctly. After the fix the car was hard to start sometimes, as if the battery was getting weak. I put an ammeter on the positive lead of the battery and notices minimal amperage until I started operating the driver side sliding door, then there was a 2.4 amp draw even after the doors were closed and the car was locked. The door also sometimes will open with a popping noise as if the door isn't latching properly sometimes. While testing, the driver side sliding door got to where it would not open or close using the overhead button, the door post button, or the remote door button. While trying to close the door manually it would roll for a short distance and stop. After sitting a few seconds I can close it a little more but then the same thing would happen. …
I have had a sliding door failure, exactly as described in notification zh4 and zh5, and safety recall 16v-858. The rear sliding door would not fully close, or would not latch, and would often re-open automatically. The door exhibited a grinding noise and would often not latch. This on a vehicle just over 3 years old with 48,880 miles on it, always garaged and never in an accident. When I the vehicle in to the dealer on June 13th, 2017, the dealer repaired the problem by replacing the upper door hinge which apparently had failed. I was charged $323.46 and was told it was not covered under my warranty. After the recall was announced, I contacted Toyota and requested reimbursement, which was denied as they said the condition my vehicle exhibited was not covered by the recall. …
After driving the vehicle to the gas station and filling up with gas, the van would not restart. When the start button was pressed, it would just click, after several attempts it was determined that at least the battery was dead. This all happened in 5 degree weather. In an attempt to open the drivers side rear, unlocked sliding power door, it would not open. My wife was unable to open the door to get our 18 month old out of a cold car. In a panic, she had to climb over the center console from the drivers seat to pull him out, and then climb back over to exit the vehicle. When the van was finally jump started and brought to the dealer, they replaced the battery, and just shrugged off the fact that the door wouldn't open when the battery is dead. This is a huge safety concern for us. …
While driving home from the Toyota dealership following routine maintenance my drivers side sliding door opened while traveling at speed. I went online and learned there is a safety recall issued for my vehicle for this problem. I called the dealership and scheduled a visit to have the problem fixed. When I arrived they refused to make the repair because I had a bruno handicapped seat installed so that my wife, who is handicapped, could enter and exit the vehicle. They said I would have to have the seat removed before they could make the repair. I contacted the com[pany that installed the seat who said it would cost a minimum of $500 to remove and reinstall the seat. It is Toyota's door that is defective and I feel they should be responsible for any costs for repair. Their recall notice also states repairs will be made at "no charge" to the customer.
While stationary in driveway, passenger rear door intermittently will not open or will not close. We have noticed this after the vehicle has been turned off, and the key is no longer in the ignition. This has happened multiple times. My son will push the button from the inside of the vehicle, and attempt to use the handle on the inside of the vehicle. On multiple occasions when the door would not open, he had to use the door on the driver's side to get out. There have been other times after he has gotten in the back passenger door, but the door would not close. It takes pushing the button multiple times to get the door to close. This has happened both while the key is not in the ignition and the car is off, and after the car is started. Climate outside has varied during these episodes as well.
The driver side sliding door on a 2013 Toyota Sienna minivan was slow to open do to overnight freezing rain. However, the door did open but then would not automatically reclose. More importantly, the door would not latch when manually closed. The door had to be tied shut in order to drive the vehicle to the Toyota dealer since there was no other way to fasten it. The dealer reported they knew this was part of a Toyota recall but they had no documentation on how to fix it from Toyota so they just replaced the entire motor assembly. Toyota has known about this problem and has done nothing about it. It is a dangerous situation that has to be fixed before someone falls out of a moving vehicle. The door closes and appears latched until you drive and then it flies open.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota Sienna. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the driver's side sliding door opened. The contact stopped the vehicle and switched the door to manual operation. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V858000 (structure). The contact took the vehicle to the dealer (greenfield Toyota, greenfield, ma, [phone]), but the failure was not remedied due to a handicap seat that was installed on the front passenger side. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and wanted the handicap seat removed before the recall remedy could be performed. The failure was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota Sienna. The contact had the sliding doors replaced, but the hinges on the inside of the passenger side sliding door were rusted out. As a result, the door fell off the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs due to the sliding door that was detached from the hinge. The contact called sherman Toyota 1555 (393 court st, binghamton, ny 13904, [phone]) where the contact was advised that the new door hinge would cost to replace. There were no recalls found on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 113,000.
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 2013 Toyota Sienna?
NHTSA has 44 complaints about the body & structure of the 2013 Toyota Sienna, 24% of the model year's 183 complaints. The component named most often is body (41 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Toyota Sienna body problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-858 (door, Nov 29, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2013 Toyota Sienna body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 39,000 miles, and 32% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 2 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.