Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Toyota Sienna owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle briefly hesitated before shifting hard into gear. The contact stated that after the failure, there was an abnormal whining sound coming from underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to provide a specific diagnosis for the cause of the failure; however, the contact was informed that there were known issues with the transmission of similar vehicles. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the Customer Support Program Bulletin: ZJC. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 40,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH and coming to a stop, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated the brake pedal was rigid. The contact stated the failure reoccurred while driving. The brake warning light and traction control warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who could not determine the cause of the failure. The dealer advised the contact to take the vehicle back to the dealer she purchased the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer who sold her the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 14,500.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH with her four children in the rear seats, the vehicle started jerking and decelerated independently. Additionally, the transmission was slipping. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact continued driving; however, the transmission continuously slipped out of gear. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the failure was associated with Toyota UA80 Transmission program. The dealer contacted the manufacturer who agreed to cover the repair of the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, reversing, and then while driving 20 MPH, there was an abnormal whining sound coming from the front of the vehicle. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was currently being diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: TSB-0160-18 (Transaxle Whine Noise, Harsh Shift, MIL ON, or Reduced Power); however, the VIN was not included in the bulletin. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware of a hard shift and a high-pitched whining sound while the transmission was shifting. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. In addition, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Parked the car on an incline (our driveway) like we have a 100 times before. Went inside to unload groceries. Came back to the car and from the passenger seat reached over to press the auto-off button. When that was pressed the car started to roll down our driveway with our daughter in the back seat. It rolled across the street, hit the side of our neighbors house, and landed in the woods. My wife sustained major injuries to her arms, legs, hands, and back. She was also 9 months pregnant. Toyota dealership says there's nothing wrong after a 30 minute inspection.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30-40 MPH and releasing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle made an abnormal whining sound that progressively became louder. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and denied assistance in covering the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000
We have started to experience the transmission whine at that is specified in Toyota's CSP ZJC documentation. We took our vehicle into our local Toyota Dealership Service Center and they confirmed that the whine was a transmission issue and that the only course of action to take would be to replace the transmission. Our vehicle was manufactured in the specified window (manufacture date 10/2016, manufacture data window from the program 7/2016-2/2018), it has the specified transmission model (UA80), we are within the coverage window stated in the support materials (within ten years of first use), we are experiencing the same transmission symptoms described in the program support materials (whining transmission noise), and we have been recommended by our local Toyota Service members to replace the transmission. …
I am writing to report a safety defect regarding the 8-speed automatic transmission in my 2017 Toyota Sienna. The vehicle exhibits severe hesitation during acceleration, harsh shifting, and a high-pitched whining noise, specifically consistent with the 'whine of death' described in Toyota's Customer Support Program ZJC and related Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0160-18.Despite these identical symptoms, my vehicle's VIN is not included in the coverage list. This hesitation during acceleration creates a serious safety issue, as the car fails to accelerate unexpectedly when attempting to merge or cross traffic. My vehicle is equipped with the UA80F/E transmission, which is documented to have a faulty assembly (improperly bent washer tab). …
I have a 2017 Sienna AWD with a UA80 Transmission and the Check AWD System light appeared. I was able to drive it to Towne Toyota in Ledgewood, NJ and they detected the Sienna having DTC Codes P07407E, P27137F and P27567F. They they recommended a transmission replacement costing $9260.84 before tax that I can't afford right now. I am still able to drive the Sienna but Towne Toyota said that the Transmission will eventually fail. After some research, I discovered there is "ZJC UA80 Warranty_Enhancement" by Toyota. I am troubled that the service folks in Towne Toyota did not make me aware of this program! I am afraid to drive the vehicle knowing that the Check Engine Light may reappear. Or worse, the transmission can completely fail unexpectedly that may prevent me or other vehicles from avoiding a collision. It could also strand me on a busy highway and can possibly put my family at risk.
Transmission complaints in other Sienna years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2017 Toyota Sienna?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2017 Toyota Sienna, 24% of the model year's 155 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2017 Toyota Sienna transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2017 Toyota Sienna, though it has 10 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2017 Toyota Sienna transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 42% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires 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.