Since 2018–2019, our 2018 Toyota Sienna has had recurring drivability and suspected transmission problems, including stalling, failure to engage or accelerate when the accelerator is pressed, rough idle, hesitation, and harsh shifting. We reported these concerns to Toyota and filed an the federal safety agency complaint during our first year of ownership. The problems have continued intermittently for years and now include transmission whining, slipping, delayed gear engagement, irregular shifting, and reduced power. Unexpected stalling or failure to accelerate creates a safety risk when entering traffic, crossing intersections, or avoiding hazards. On October 19, 2026, AAA inspected the vehicle following a four-wheel-drive malfunction warning. Its October 20 invoice documents UA80F eight-speed transmission-related fault codes P0740-7E, P2713-7F, and P2756-7F and notes possible sticking valve-body solenoids. Toyota's own Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0160-18 (issued December 17, 2018; revised May 11, 2021), titled "Transaxle Whine Noise, Harsh Shift, MIL ON, or Reduced Power," applies to certain 2017–2018 Siennas and lists these exact three codes (formatted P07407E, P27137F, P27567F). Toyota's Customer Support Program ZJC, Policy Bulletin POL19-04 (2019), also acknowledges transmission whine, harsh shifting, reduced power, and warning lights in certain UA80-equipped vehicles and describes a possible assembly defect involving a washer tab and loosening internal nut. An authorized Toyota dealer evaluated the vehicle October 24–30, 2026, after receiving AAA's findings but reported it could not reproduce a warning light and that the VIN/transmission serial number were outside program limits. No transmission repair was performed. The vehicle remains unrepaired. Please investigate whether this longstanding safety-related failure affects vehicles beyond Toyota's stated production cutoff.
The worst 2018 Toyota Sienna problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Transmission21
- Fuel system13
- Electrical7
- Acceleration5
- Airbags5
- Body5
- Engine5
- Seats4
- Brakes2
- Visibility2
- Lights1
- Suspension1
- Tires1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2018 Toyota Sienna
Recalls 7
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
- Risk
- If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑888‑270‑9371 or Lexus customer service at 1‑800‑255‑3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V‑012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
Recall number 20V682000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
- Risk
- If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑888‑270‑9371 or Lexus customer service at 1‑800‑255‑3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
Recall number 20V012000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Vantage Mobility International, LLC (Vantage) is recalling certain 2012-2018 AMS Genesis wheelchair vans, built on a Toyota Sienna vehicles. The rubber brake hoses that attach to the rear wheel assembly may be too short, causing them to rub against the rear axle trailing arm.
- Risk
- The contact may cause failure of the rear brake hoses, resulting in a loss of vehicle control and reduced braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Vantage will notify owners, and dealers will install a set of rear brake hoses that will provide the proper clearance, free of charge. The recall began December 16, 2019. Owners may contact Vantage customer service at 1‑800‑488‑9082.
Recall number 19V553000 · Recall details
Steering
- What is wrong
- Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain modified 2017-2020 Toyota Sienna vehicles. The steering shaft extensions may have been improperly manufactured, possibly causing the extensions to fracture.
- Risk
- If the steering shaft extension completely fractures, it can cause a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Braun has notified owners, and dealers will replace the steering shaft extensions, free of charge. The recall began July 25, 2019. Owners may contact Braun customer service at 1‑800‑488‑0359.
Recall number 19V532000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
- Risk
- An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑888‑270‑9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.
Recall number 19V503000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Toyota Sienna mobility van conversions. The brake lines may have incorrect tube nut fittings installed, which may cause a pressure drop within the braking system.
- Risk
- The reduction in the braking system pressure may cause a loss of braking power in the rear braking system, increasing the risk of crash.
- Remedy
- Braun has notified owners, and dealers will install an adaptor to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began June 25, 2019. Owners may contact Braun customer service at 1‑800‑488‑0359.
Recall number 19V410000 · Recall details
Wheels
- What is wrong
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Sienna vehicles built with a specific lot of 10-spoke alloy wheels from one production facility. These wheels may not have been properly cooled during manufacturing. As a result, the wheels may crack in the spokes from an impact while driving.
- Risk
- If the wheels crack at the spokes, the wheel may separate from the hub assembly causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota began notifying owners initially by phone on February 26, 2018 and will mail letters to any unnotified owner starting on April 20, 2018. Dealers will inspect the wheels and replace them if necessary depending on their production location, free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑888‑270‑9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0J.
Recall number 18V130000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2018 Toyota Sienna 300
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Obsolete notice
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System...
- Condition in which a musty odor is present
- Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air...
- To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to...
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System...
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical...
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used...
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix...
2018 Toyota Sienna fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6‑cyl | FWD | 19 | 27 | 22 |
| 3.5L 6‑cyl | AWD | 18 | 24 | 20 |
What 2018 Toyota Sienna owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Whining noise when accelerating, transmission shop reported discovery of damage to transmission upon removal and inspection of transmission.
Transmission whining above 20mph. Toyota customer care program [XXX] states my vehicle falls within timeframe but dealer and corporate will not honor repairs INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Toyota Sienna. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 49,000. While attempting to resell the vehicle, the Auto Check report indicated that the mileage was 324,000.
Vehicle: 2018 Toyota Sienna XLE AWD, VIN [XXX], approximately 112,000 miles. Component: Power Train / Automatic Transmission (UA80F 8-speed). The vehicle has developed a pronounced whining noise from the transmission that rises with road speed, accompanied by harsh/rough shifting. A Toyota dealer inspected the vehicle and diagnosed a failing transmission requiring replacement. The symptoms and diagnostic trouble codes match those described in Toyota TSB T-SB-0160-18 ("Transaxle Whine Noise, Harsh Shift, MIL ON, or Reduced Power") for the UA80 8-speed transmission. This is the same failure mode Toyota acknowledged in Customer Support Program ZJC, which attributes the defect to a washer/locking tab that was not sufficiently bent during assembly, allowing an internal nut to loosen and causing progressive internal damage. However, this vehicle's transaxle serial number falls outside the range covered by ZJC, so Toyota has not provided coverage despite the identical defect and symptoms. This represents a safety concern. Based on documented failures of this transmission across the UA80 platform, the condition can progress to loss of power, limp mode, or sudden loss of forward propulsion while driving — including at highway speed and without further warning — creating a risk of a crash or of being stranded in traffic. The vehicle has been maintained through authorized Toyota service. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate whether the UA80/UA80F transmission defect warrants a broader safety defect determination and recall, given the volume of similar complaints across affected model years INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Since owning my 2018 Toyota Sienna, I have experienced hesitation and erratic shifting with my transmission. I have the UA80E transmission which upon research others are experiencing issues with as well. It appears Toyota is not fully acknowledging the problem. The problem is a safety issue as sometimes when you go to quickly accelerate (merging, making a turn while starting from a stop, etc) the transmission hesitates and doesn't engage for a few seconds. This is an ongoing problem with the transmission. Toyota really needs to fix these transmissions!
My 2018 Sienna had developed a whining noise when accelerating. After taking it in to the mechanic, they advised the transmission was failing. Estimated price tag of $6500-7000 to repair. The vehicle has less than 140K miles. Looking at different issues with this make/model and year, it seems like its rather common. I bought a Toyota for its reputation of getting at least 200K if not more miles. I called both the dealer and Toyota themselves. Both said too bad, so sad - nothing they could do for me.
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH and ascending a hill, the vehicle started making an abnormal whining sound and hesitated while accelerating. The vehicle was driven to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.
Transmission has been whining. A P27137F Code appeared and the vehicle is only in 2WD mode currently. Concerned to drive vehicle due to further damaging transmission or getting stuck while on the road.
My husband and I bought this van brand new 6 years ago. We have taken very good care of it and have had it serviced only at the dealership. We haven’t had any problem with the van outside of regular maintenance. On 10/29/25, I had a van full of children when I felt a slip in my acceleration and a warning light came on that read, “ A malfunction in the electronic control of the engine, throttle, or automatic transmission has been detected. Contact your dealer in order to have your vehicle inspected immediately.” Thankfully, I was able to get it to the parking lot. The van didn’t leave that parking lot until the next morning when we took it directly to the dealership. That is when we were told the solenoid and the transmission had gone out. We had to have the whole thing replaced. The van only had 89,388 miles on it.
Compare the 2018 Toyota Sienna
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2018 Toyota Sienna
Is the 2018 Toyota Sienna reliable?
Owners have filed 73 complaints about the 2018 Toyota Sienna, fewer than a typical Sienna model year.
What is the 2018 Toyota Sienna year score?
The 2018 Toyota Sienna scores 83 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Toyota Sienna: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Toyota Sienna?
Transmission and drivetrain, with 21 complaints, typically around 35,000 miles. Next is fuel system (13).
How many recalls does the 2018 Toyota Sienna have?
7 recalls, covering fuel system, gasoline, service brakes, hydraulic and steering.
What year does the Toyota Sienna have bad transmission?
The Toyota Sienna model years with the most transmission complaints are 2004 (89 complaints), 2000 (67 complaints) and 2005 (48 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2018 Toyota Sienna get?
Official estimates for the 2018 Toyota Sienna range from 20 to 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.5L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 19 city and 27 highway.
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