The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Sienna Hybrid. The contact stated that when attempting to apply the brakes while driving at 30 MPH or at lower speeds, the vehicle suddenly lunged forward. The failure occurred approximately 7 times, with the most recent occurrence causing the vehicle to lunge into an intersection, where oncoming traffic managed to avoid a collision. On that same day, the failure occurred 3 to 4 times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that a software update titled "Braking Comfort" was available to improve brake performance; however, the software update was not performed. The failure mileage was approximately 35,400.
Toyota Sienna Hybrid sudden acceleration problems
11 of the 502 owner complaints about the Toyota Sienna Hybrid describe sudden unintended acceleration, most of them for the 2023 model year.
- owner complaints
- 11
- worst model year
- 2023
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.
By model year
- 20243
- 20236
- 20221
- 20211
Often reported together
What owners say
I purchased my 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid new in March 2021. For several years I have had an intermittent braking problem: when I apply the brakes, especially while slowing down or driving downhill, the vehicle sometimes lurches or feels like it suddenly accelerates forward instead of slowing. I must press the brake pedal again to stop. This happens without warning and is frightening, especially with my children in the car. I first reported this to a Toyota dealer on 10/10/2023 at about 41,192 miles, and again on 7/11/2024 at about 55,637 miles. On the second visit the dealer reprogrammed the Brake ECU under TSB T-SB-0047-24. The technician could not reproduce my exact concern but said the bulletin described a similar condition. The problem has returned despite the update. Online owner forums show other Sienna owners with very similar braking complaints; some paid for repairs themselves, others sold their vehicles over safety concerns. I have seen claims that too few complaints have been filed to trigger a recall, though I cannot verify that. What concerns me is that Toyota issued a TSB for a similar condition, yet the problem persists. I have owned this vehicle since new and reported the problem multiple times. I have dealer service records from both 2023 and 2024. I ask the federal safety agency to investigate whether this is a widespread safety defect and whether a recall is needed before someone is seriously hurt.
I am reporting an ongoing braking-safety problem with my 2022 Toyota Sienna XSE Hybrid. During low-speed braking, at the transition from regenerative to conventional hydraulic/friction braking, the expected deceleration can change abruptly. The vehicle can briefly surge forward even though I continue braking. This reduces the gap to the vehicle ahead, requiring significantly harder and faster brake-pedal input to avoid a collision. This affects the predictability of stopping distance. I purchased the vehicle on June 17, 2024 as a Toyota Certified Used Vehicle. On July 8, 2024, during a service visit — 21 days and 577 miles after purchase — I personally reported to Toyota a noticeable change/jerk in braking force at low speed during the transition between regenerative and conventional braking, and Toyota officially documented my complaint. T-SB-0047-24 already existed and provides for reprogramming the brake actuator control module. The update was not performed then and still has not been performed. In 2026, I again returned to Toyota with the same complaint. Seeger Toyota did not perform a road test because the technician considered the mechanical brakes unsafe. The dealer recommended rotor replacement because of corrosion/pitting, but the final RO contains no separate rotor-thickness measurements, runout measurements, quantitative pitting/corrosion data, or specific Toyota limits/criteria. After my written escalation, the Service Manager agreed to perform T-SB-0047-24 at no charge, but the update remains unperformed and the problem recurs regularly. I ask the federal safety agency/ODI to evaluate this case as a potential safety defect related to the regenerative-to-hydraulic brake transition. Because of the 2,000-character limit, the full description and chronology are attached as a separate PDF. Key evidence is being uploaded with this complaint; additional service records, correspondence, and photographs/measurements are preserved and can be provided upon request.
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Sienna Hybrid. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at a complete stop, while attempting to depress the brake pedal, the vehicle unexpectedly lunged forward. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times without a warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,600.
On various occasions while braking there is a sudden acceleration that occurs. Generally lasting less than 5 seconds. More noticeable going down hills but has occurred on standard driving. Date provided is most recent occurrence after service from Marietta Toyota for recall and 25k service.
The brakes on my '23' Hybrid Toyota Sienna seem to have a sudden acceleration when braking at times. Typically, it happens when braking going down a hill or around a curve (at slower speeds) and sometimes when trying to come to a full stop. This has caused me to almost rear-end other vehicles on several occasions and has also caused me to go slightly beyond the stop sign, putting the nose of my car in the street. It is not reproducible at the dealership. It has happened since I drove it off the lot in July of 2023 and happens randomly and without warning. This is scary when you seem to be braking in plenty of time to keep safe distances and then you suddenly get propelled forward! It happens weekly and has happened weekly since purchase. In speaking with other owners, this sounds like a common issue.
Unexpected sudden acceleration when braking
When braking vehicle feels like it is being bumped from behind. Dealership says it is the vehicle switching from regenerative braking to normal breaking but it causes the car to lunge forward. It feels like the vehicle is going to lunge into oncoming traffic. I have to slam on the brakes to stop it. It’s very unsettling.
While braking car will lunge forward regardless of speed. It happens several times a week since purchase of vehicle. I had a few near miss accidents where I almost collided with a vehicle in front of me. There is no warning lamp indicator for this event. Investigating on the internet gave me insight that this is a common problem not being addressed by Toyota.
I turned right to park behind another car on the driveway and my car suddenly accelerated hitting the car in front. The collision was strong enough that the car that was hit then hit a barrier at the home.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Toyota Sienna Hybrid sudden acceleration
Which Toyota Sienna Hybrid years have sudden unintended acceleration problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2023 (6 complaints), 2024 (3 complaints) and 2021 (1 complaints).
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