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.
Toyota Sienna whining noise problems
51 of the 8,561 owner complaints about the Toyota Sienna describe whining or grinding noise, most of them for the 2017 model year.
- owner complaints
- 51
- worst model year
- 2017
- typical repair cost reported
- $3,000
- typical mileage
- 86,000
By model year
Often reported together
Transmission failure 10Hesitation 6Harsh shifting 6Loss of power 4Won't shift 2Slipping 2Jerking 2Grinding brakes 2
Trouble codes mentioned
P2756 1P2713 1P0740 1
What owners say
I own a 2017 Toyota Sienna XLE Premium, FWD, 8-passenger,equipped with the UA80E automatic transmission. At approximately 150,000 miles, the transmission began making a whine in 3rd gear and higher, most noticeable under steady throttle and worse after the vehicle warms up. The sound appears to come from the transmission, but the exact failed component has not been confirmed. A drain and refill with Toyota ATF WS reduced the noise temporarily, but it returned after about 1,000 . The vehicle had approximately 156,000 miles when I last tracked the issue. I am concerned this may be an internal transmission bearing or other component failure. A transmission replacement or rebuild could cost thousands of dollars and Toyota has a ZJC but I’m told my vehicle isn’t covered although it fits the dates and requirements. I am reporting this issue to document the failure and ask the federal safety agency to investigate whether other 2017 Sienna vehicles equipped with the UA80E transmission experience similar whining or premature internal wear.
The transmission is going bad at 85,000 miles. It’s making a whining sound when you accelerate.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a whining noise was coming from the transmission. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed of the extended coverage related to the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000.
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)
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)
I, as well as other owners of 2017–2018 Toyota Highlanders and 2017–2018 Siennas are experiencing serious transmission issues—including high-pitched whining, erratic shifting, clunks, hesitation, and premature failure. My 2017 Toyota Sienna has the UA80 8-speed automatic transmission at issue and started whining upon acceleration in March/April 2026 timeframe. It has always had the clunking and hesitation problem. According to Gears Magazine, the issue stems from a flawed assembly process involving the counter drive gear support. A locking tab meant to secure a vital retaining nut was not bent properly during factory assembly. This leads to gear movement, internal wear, whining, and eventually failure. Unknown to me, in 2019, Toyota had acknowledged the problem in Technical Service Bulletins T-SB-0160-18, T-SB-0008-21, which only go to dealers, and implemented a limited Customer Support Program (CSP ZJC)—but only offered coverage to a narrow group of VINs, not to all VINs for model years that have these transmissions. My car is experiencing these same symptoms. My Toyota Dealer confirmed this problem and recommended a transmission replacement for $11,000 including labor. They said my VIN was not included in the Customer Support Program. Driving with a failing transmission is highly dangerous. A bad transmission can cause sudden power loss causing the car to halt to a sudden stop, unintended acceleration, or my car might get stuck in neutral while driving. I could lose control or be unable to get to the shoulder on the highway, cause a rear-end collision, or get stuck in busy traffic. DESIRED OUTCOME REQUEST: My VIN should be covered under the Customer Support Program in the category of cars that are “less than 10 years old regardless of mileage” or a full recall of all VINs of these model years with these transmissions should be executed. Thank you.
We experienced a high whine for a couple of months. No codes were being read by any mechanics. Then the transmission started slipping between 2nd and 3rd gears, and then we couldn’t reverse. Now it’s not switching gears at all. There is a recall for our year and type of transmission, for this issue, but our vin number is not included in that recall.
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 request that the federal safety agency investigate the exclusion of my VIN from this program, as the defect poses a significant risk to passenger safety and the safety of others on the road.
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 whining noise
Which Toyota Sienna years have whining or grinding noise problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2017 (19 complaints), 2018 (10 complaints) and 2019 (6 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix whining or grinding noise on the Toyota Sienna?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $3,000 (median of 9 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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