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How Many Miles Can A Toyota Sienna Last? (+Reliability Scores)

How Many Miles Can A Toyota Sienna Last? (+Reliability Scores)

How many miles can a Toyota Sienna last? When you’re in the market for a new or second-hand Sienna, that’s a very reasonable question to ask. After all, you’re probably looking to get the most bang for your buck. In this blog, we’ll look at this question in great detail but first, let’s start with a quick answer:

On average, a Toyota Sienna lasts between 240.000 – 270.000 miles. A Sienna needs to go to the garage for unscheduled repairs about 0.41 times per year, with a 15% chance of severe problems. Furthermore, Sienna owners spend an average of $544 per year on repair costs.

We’re certainly not done. Below, we’ll explain in more detail how many miles a Sienna can last. After that, we’ll also show you how much a Sienna costs annually and which production years are the most and least expensive. Furthermore, we also discuss the common problems that the car can have. Read on!

How Many Miles Can A Toyota Sienna Last?

Today, we will analyze how many miles a Toyota Sienna can last. We conducted in-depth research on several different platforms to answer these questions. First, we have to look at the Toyota Sienna as a group. For this, we went to Autotrader.com to gather our sample size.

We took a pool of 6.166 Toyota Sienna units and divided them into groups based on the miles they had already driven. The results of this research are displayed in the table below.

Amount Of MilesPercentage Of Cars
Cars With 150.000+11.47%
Cars With 100.000 – 149.00018.86%
Cars With 45.000 – 99.99939.22%
Cars With 0 – 44.99930.45%

By themselves, these numbers don´t say a lot. However, it just so happens that we´ve written hundreds of these articles for different passenger vehicles. For this reason, we know that it´s typical for cars to have a percentage of 3-5% crossing the 150.000 miles mark.

And here we have the Toyota Sienna, a vehicle that has 11.47% of its available second-hand units cross the 150.000 miles mark already. Typically, those are numbers that we would expect with vehicles that have been out of production for a while. However, the Sienna is still being sold.

So it seems that the stereotype of the high-mileage, extremely reliable minivan is true at first glance, at least for the Sienna. However, there´s more to the question than just this table. Let´s continue.

used 2007 blue Toyota Sienna LE advertisement on autotrader.com. The vehicle has an asking price of $2990 and a mileage of 368.255.
At the time of updating this article, this is the highest mileage Toyota Sienna on Autotrader.com

How Reliable Is A Toyota Sienna Compared To Its Competitors?

Even when you see a vehicle having hundreds of thousands of miles on the gauge cluster, more proof is necessary to know for sure what you are buying is, in fact, the most reliable and long-lasting vehicle. After putting the Sienna against its competitors, one thing was sure; not many competitors could beat Toyota’s reliability.   

The table below shows that the Sienna has both the highest recorded and the highest expected mileage. The Honda Odyssey puts up a good fight as well. However, the Sedona and the Pacifica fall behind.

ModelSample SizeExpected MileageHighest Mileage
Toyota Sienna6.166255.000368.000
Honda Odyssey7.322225.000340.000
Chrysler Pacifica6.541200.000270.000
Kia Sedona1.298200.000250.000

We have to clarify that this is a pattern we´ve seen in multiple other articles we´ve written. Toyota´s reliability is incredible compared to the other car makers, and Honda is often very close. However, it´s no surprise that Chrysler and Kia fall behind. They´re both brands that are known for making decent cars, but they don´t carry the reliability of a Toyota. We´ll look deeper into this in the following subheading.

How Reliable Is A Toyota Sienna Compared To Other Toyotas?

We took several Toyota models and examined their reliability based on the same data. We took the mileage numbers of these models and compared them with the mileage numbers of the Toyota Sienna. 

What becomes clear from this table immediately is the fact that Toyota builds vehicles with an incredible lifespan. Typically, car brands have vehicles that last between 200.000 – 250.000 miles. Anything above that is very rare.

However, Toyota has many vehicles with an expected mileage of 250.000 or higher including flagship vehicles like the Prius or their long-lasting Sequoia SUV.

The Sienna does hold up well; however, funnily enough, it´s one of the shortest living vehicles of Toyota. This is logical because Toyota builds many trucks and SUVs which are known for their ridiculously good lifespan. Overall, this is definitely a plus for Toyota.

ModelSample SizeExpected MileageHighest Mileage
Toyota Avalon2.763255.000360.000
Toyota Camry18.503270.000349.000
Toyota Yaris992215.000260.000
Toyota RAV417.027240.000300.000
Toyota Sequoia 1.735275.000370.000
Toyota Sienna6.166255.000290.000
Toyota Highlander13.499270.000350.000
Toyota Corolla17.297265.000340.000
Toyota Tundra13.370305.000390.000
Toyota Tacoma17.910325.000395.000
Toyota 4Runner14.092315.000360.000

How Much Does Maintenance Cost Per Year?

Toyota Sienna can not be considered reliable if it takes a fortune to maintain. In this section, we will go through several model years and see how much they cost in terms of repairs and maintenance. The data we used was gathered from Repairpal and Caredge.com.

The data in this section speaks for itself. The average maintenance cost came out to be $544, which is a very good number because an average minivan costs around $647 in annual maintenance costs. The 2013 and 2016 model is the best model year because it’s typically the most reliable and requires less maintenance compared to competitors.

What´s interesting to note as well is that the maintenance costs are pretty steady for practically all model years. This indicates that at first glance, no model years have gigantic structural problems that cause annual maintenance costs to rise.

Year Of ManufacturingToyota Sienna Maintenance Cost
2023$220
2022$252
2021$303
2020$385
2019$453
2018$534
2017$522
2016$553
2015$534
2014$551
2013$544
2012$566
2011$570
2010$568
2009$522
2008$446
2007$385

Owners’ Reviews Of The Toyota Siennas Reliability

Besides knowing all the data, it’s, of course, also essential to see how owners experience the Sienna. For this, we went to Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, and Cars.com. All three platforms have gathered hundreds of reviews from actual car owners. We summarized our findings in the image below.

Owners ratings of the fourth generation Toyota Sienna on kelley blue book, edmunds and cars.com
Owners’ reviews of the fourth-generation Toyota Sienna (2021 onwards)

The results that are displayed above are aimed at the fourth generation of the Sienna. The previous generation (2010 – 2020) was received very well throughout the years. However, the newer generation is not pleasing everyone so far.

The main stumbling point for most owners is not so much a reliability problem, it´s more that the car is not living up to the expectations of the owners. They complain about fake leather seats, a rear middle seat that´s awkward, the fact that the car feels basic even though it has a $50,000+ price tag, a buggy rear entertainment system, and so on. The quote below sums up the sentiment of this newer generation quite well so far:

(…) Its nice-looking minivan does its job, either very well or poorly. Great for daily kid transportation, somewhat uncomfortable during long trips.

Source, 2021 owner

Toyota Sienna Common Problems

Besides knowing the factors we´ve already discussed, it´s also of vital importance to understand the common problems the Sienna has had throughout the generations. This gives us a more complete understanding of the vehicle as a whole.

NOTE: Before buying a used car, I always like to make sure the vehicle isn´t having any problems that you should be aware of. The easiest way to do this is by buying an OBD2 scanner. These scanners can easily be plugged into any car you’re interested in, and they’ll give you a rundown of potential problems.

Deactivation Of Stability Control

The most recent generation of the Sienna has only been around since 2021. However, there´s one recall we do want to share with you. This is related to the Skid Control ECU software, which may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. The recall involved updating the software, so the problem wasn´t severe in the end.

Unable To Open/Close Sliding Doors

The sliding doors on the Toyota Sienna are a notorious problem for all generations manufactured in 2015 or earlier. On repairpal.com, we see that 800+ owners have reported this problem which involves the cable in the door malfunctioning, which, in turn, damages the electric motor.

On average, this problem occurs after 106,000 miles. Replacing the electric motor of the sliding doors will cost around $1,500 and is, therefore, something that needs to be inspected carefully before buying.

Cracks In The Dashboard

Models manufactured in 2008, before that, or in 2010 have problems with the cracking of the dashboard. This problem typically occurs after 83,000 miles, and 279 owners have stated they have this problem. The only solution is to replace the dashboard, which will cost $200 for the parts, excluding labor.

Failing Oxygen Sensor

Models manufactured pre-2013 or 2015 have problems with a failing oxygen sensor which 195 Sienna owners report. The problem occurs after an average mileage of 118,000 miles. The symptom of a failing oxygen sensor is the check engine light illuminating and very high fuel consumption which can add up quickly even if you’re only using the recommend 87 octane. The cost of replacing the oxygen sensor is around $350.

Oil Leaks And Loss Of Oil Pressure

Toyota Sienna manufactured between 2007 – 2016 can have considerable oil leaks, which is a problem that 68 owners report. The problem occurs when the VVT-oil line bursts, which will leave a considerable oil spill on the ground. Continuing to drive with this problem will result in complete engine failure.

The problem typically occurs after 112,000 miles, and the only solution is to replace the cable completely. Replacing the cable will cost around $300 – $400, including labor costs.

EVAP System Fault

2007, 2008, and 2015 Toyota Sienna have a problem with the evaporative emission system, which usually occurs after 129,000 miles. Symptoms of this problem are a check engine light, a loose or worn gas cap, or a failing charcoal canister. Replacing the canister would be the most significant problem, with a replacement costing around $550 – $600.

Is a Toyota Sienna A Smart Buy?

Finally, we have to answer whether the Sienna is a minivan that´s worth getting. When we look at the potential mileage the vehicle can drive, we can do very little else than conclude that it has a great lifespan. It beats its competitors in this category easily. Furthermore, the Toyota brand has proven to produce cars with a great lifespan as well.

Moving on to the annual maintenance costs, we see these are almost a hundred dollars lower than the average for minivans. Another positive point for the Sienna. Furthermore, the Sienna did have some problems within the third generation, but the 2013 and 2016 models specifically have had almost none.

Owners’ ratings for the fourth generation Sienna (from 2021 onwards) aren´t as good as we would like them to see. Therefore we advise staying away from those. Most likely, it´s better to get a Sienna that was made between 2016 – 2019 if you´re looking for a newer model.

Toyota Sienna Maintenance Schedule

To keep your Toyota Sienna healthy for a long duration, make sure to give it proper care. You have to make sure there is no rust formation on the body, which you can encounter by keeping your van clean — The mud carries water with it, which in turn causes rust. 

Apart from the aesthetics, take care of the maintenance schedule as well. On-time maintenance is necessary to have your vehicle in pristine condition. 

Before/On Every 10,000 Miles

  • This is the generic inspection interval where all the essential components are checked. If there is an issue, the problem-causing component would either be fixed or replaced. The checklist for this interval includes
  • Brakes inspection
  • Fluids inspection
  • Tire rotation
  • Suspension component inspection
  • Lubrication where required
  • Cabin air filter replacement

Before/On Every 20,000 Miles

  • This is where you need to thoroughly inspect the components and see if there is anything out of the ordinary. The checklist includes:
  • Inspect the exhaust system
  • Inspect the PCV system for any leaks
  • Inspect the brake pads and rotors; replace if necessary
  • Inspect the fuel pump and replace it if necessary

Before/On Every 40,000 Miles

Before/On Every 60,000 Miles

  • Replace the coolant, even if it is the 100k mile coolant. The coolant tends to accumulate debris with the passage of time. 
  • Replace the spark plugs if it has not been replaced before. Make sure to check for the authenticity of the spark plugs you are going for; there are plenty of knockoffs circulating the market, which will cause misfiring at high speed.

Closing Thoughts

The Toyota Sienna stands out as a reliable option, particularly if you’re seeking a family-friendly vehicle that offers longevity.

Averaging between 240,000 to 270,000 miles, with less frequent unscheduled repairs, it indeed promises to offer good value for your money. However, it’s essential to note that keeping repair costs, which average $544 per year, to a minimum requires awareness of potential issues and proactive maintenance.

Safe and happy travels!

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