"The vehicle suffered a critical failure of the shift interlock safety system. After parking in a driveway, the ignition key was able to be fully turned to the 'off' position and removed from the ignition cylinder, even though the transmission was not successfully secured in 'Park.' After the key was removed and I and went into the house the van rolled away. It traveled downhill, crashed through a fence, and collided with a residential structure, causing significant property damage to the house and vehicle. This failure could potentially cause serious injury or death and this was the first time that it had occurred and is exhibiting the same failure as described. Immediately following the collision, video evidence was recorded showing the key in hand while the dashboard indicators and shifter remained out of the 'Park' position. This indicates the safety mechanism designed to prevent key removal unless the vehicle is in 'Park' failed to operate, creating a life-safety rollaway hazard."
Toyota Sienna rollaway problems
13 of the 8,561 owner complaints about the Toyota Sienna describe rolls away in park, most of them for the 2015 model year.
- owner complaints
- 13
- worst model year
- 2015
- typical mileage
- 95,000
By model year
- 20154
- 20141
- 20131
- 20111
- 20082
- 20061
- 20051
- 20041
- 20001
Often reported together
What owners say
On April 15, 2026 Report filed with the federal safety agency from an accident-causing property damage due to a failure in the shifter mechanism while the vehicle was parked, ignition off, no keys in the vehicle and the brake pedal was NOT pressed. Manufacture initiated an investigation after we contacted their customer care line. Our vehicle was taken to a Toyota dealership on March 11, 2026. We received an email on April 13, 2026 stating Toyota's inspection did not identify any evidence that this incident was a result of a concern with the operation of our vehicles gear shift lever. We retrieved our vehicle from the dealership on April 20, 2026. On April 21, 2026 From our driveway the shift lever fell out of park into drive with the ignition off, no keys, and the brake pedal not pressed. Toyota claims no responsibility! How is this possible when they know there are active recalls for the same issue on earlier models? This is a massive public safety risk considering the vehicle can rollaway without the ignition even being on! I will continue to report this issue every time the shift lever falls out of park until resolved.
On April 15, 2026 Report filed with the federal safety agency from an accident-causing property damage due to a failure in the shifter mechanism while the vehicle was parked, ignition off, no keys in the vehicle and the brake pedal was NOT pressed. Manufacture initiated an investigation after we contacted their customer care line. Our vehicle was taken to a Toyota dealership on March 11, 2026. We received an email on April 13, 2026 stating Toyota's inspection did not identify any evidence that this incident was a result of a concern with the operation of our vehicles gear shift lever. We retrieved our vehicle from the dealership on April 20, 2026. On April 21, 2026 From our driveway the shift lever fell out of park into drive with the ignition off, no keys, and the brake pedal not pressed. Toyota claims no responsibility! How is this possible when they know there are active recalls for the same issue on earlier models? This is a massive public safety risk considering the vehicle can rollaway without the ignition even being on! I will continue to report this issue every time the Shift lever falls out of park until resolved.
On April 15, 2026 Report filed with the federal safety agency from an accident-causing property damage due to a failure in the shifter mechanism while the vehicle was parked, ignition off, no keys in the vehicle and the brake pedal was NOT pressed. Manufacture initiated an investigation after we contacted their customer care line. Our vehicle was taken to a Toyota dealership on March 11, 2026. We received an email on April 13, 2026 stating Toyota's inspection did not identify any evidence that this incident was a result of a concern with the operation of our vehicles gear shift lever. We retrieved our vehicle from the dealership on April 20, 2026. On April 21, 2026 From our driveway the shift lever fell out of park into drive with the ignition off, no keys, and the brake pedal not pressed. Toyota claims no responsibility! How is this possible when they know there are active recalls for the same issue on earlier models? This is a massive public safety risk considering the vehicle can rollaway without the ignition even being on! I will continue to report this issue every time the Shift lever falls out of park until resolved.
On April 15, 2026 Report filed with the federal safety agency from an accident-causing property damage due to a failure in the shifter mechanism while the vehicle was parked, ignition off, no keys in the vehicle and the brake pedal was NOT pressed. Manufacture initiated an investigation after we contacted their customer care line. Our vehicle was taken to a Toyota dealership on March 11, 2026. We received an email on April 13, 2026 stating Toyota's inspection did not identify any evidence that this incident was a result of a concern with the operation of our vehicles gear shift lever. We retrieved our vehicle from the dealership on April 20, 2026. On April 21, 2026 From our driveway the shift lever fell out of park into drive with the ignition off, no keys, and the brake pedal not pressed. Toyota claims no responsibility! How is this possible when they know there are active recalls for the same issue on earlier models? This is a massive public safety risk considering the vehicle can rollaway without the ignition even being on! I will continue to report this issue every time the Shift lever falls out of park until resolved.
On october 15th at approximately 3:30 pm (ct) my 2014 toyota sienna was parked in my driveway with the engine on, unattended, when it moved forward up the slight incline of my driveway, struck another vehicle that was parked in the garage and kept moving forward until it struck the front wall of the garage. Prior to the accident, I had reversed the van out of the garage and left the van ignition on and in park as I exited. I know for certain that the van was in the park position since the automatic locks let me exit the vehicle without having to manually unlock them and the alarms did not sound as I exited. The van also did not roll forward ir backward as I exited. I then walked in front of the van to enter my house through the garage. I was in the house for less than 5 minutes when I heard the loud crash of the van striking the garage wall. My toyota sienna was manufactured on june 6, 2014. After the accident I discovered there is an active recall (recall: transmission shift cable/rollaway/fmvss 102) for an issue that causes rollaways effecting cars manufactured between june 17, 2014 through june 24, 2014. I took my van to toyota expecting my issue to be related to this recall. Toyota had the black box inspected and the transmission inspected and determined they were not liable since they were not able to replicate the issue and did not find any defects. When I took my car in originally the technician stated that there was not a good way to determine if the shift cable was defective and they were simply replacing the part as part of the recall, which my car did not qualify for since it was manufactured 11 days prior. A car should never move itself from the park position and something has to be faulty with the car in order for it to do so.
Three year old child was able to put the car into neutral without depressing the break pedal and car rolled away. Car was parked in a flat driveway, and went across the street and hit a speed limit sign and did damage to the front bumper. I do have a photo unable to upload of bumper. Not covered under the 2005 shift lock solonoid recall by toyota.
Minivan parked but roll away caused injury. The minivan was parked to pick up grocery bags but started rolling away after the last 2bags of grocey
Shift control didn't work and van rolled away. We also had an issue backing out of our garage and the car sped up and went out of control. The van was out of control and finally stopped out in the street. This van scared the day lights out of us. Complete defect
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 toyota sienna. While the ignition was off and the vehicle was parked, the vehicle rolled away independently. Once the vehicle was stopped, the gear shifter was still in the park position. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2005-2007 and 2009-2010 Toyota Sienna vehicles. In the affected vehicles, due to a problem within the shift lock assembly, the shift lever may be moved out of the 'Park' position without depressing the brake pedal.
- Risk
- If the shift lever can be moved from the "Park" position without depressing the brake pedal and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may roll, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shift lock solenoid and reapply the grease, free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0V. Vehicles that were previously recalled under campaign 13V‑429 are not affected by this recall.
Recall number 17V657000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
- What is wrong
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Sienna vehicles manufactured June 17, 2014, through June 24, 2014. The affected vehicles have a transmission shift control cable whose protective cable sleeve may have been damaged during assembly. This could cause the control cable to bind or separate during gear shift operation causing incorrect gear selection. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect."
- Risk
- If the transmission shift cable separates while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the transmission shift control cable, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in early August 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331.
Recall number 14V414000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2005 Sienna vehicles manufactured January 10, 2003, through August 10, 2005; and model year 2007-2009 Sienna vehicles manufactured February 20, 2007, through December 12, 2008. In the affected vehicles, due to a problem within the shift lock solenoid, there is a possibility that the shift lever could be moved out of Park position without depressing the brake pedal.
- Risk
- If the shift lever is moved out of the Park position without the brake applied, the transmission will either engage a drive gear or Neutral, increasing the risk of a backover or roll away crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will mail interim notifications to owners beginning in late October 2013. When parts are available, owners will be sent a second notice and dealers will replace the shift lock solenoid, free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1‑800‑331‑4331.
Recall number 13V429000 · Recall details
Power train: driveline: driveshaft
- What is wrong
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2011 venza and sienna passenger cars manufactured from march 7, through march 10, 2011. There is a possibility that the front, right, drive shaft may break due to insufficient heat treatment.
- Risk
- Should the drive shaft break during vehicle operation, the vehicle will lose power without prior warning. Loss of motive power without warning may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners and dealers will inspect the drive shaft, and, if the drive shaft is identified as one that may not have been correctly manufactured, it will be replaced with a new one at no charge. The safety recall began on june 22, 2011. Owners may contact toyota at 1‑800‑331‑4331.
Recall number 11V306000 · Recall details
Questions about the Toyota Sienna rollaway
Which Toyota Sienna years have rolls away in park problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2015 (4 complaints), 2008 (2 complaints) and 2000 (1 complaints).
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