TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections have been updated. October 30, 2017 Rev1: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2018 model year vehicles. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes SB No. T-SB-0012-13. Service Bulletin No. T-SB-0012-13 is obsolete and any printed versions should be discarded. Be sure to review the entire content of this bulletin before proceeding. Flash reprogramming allows the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) software to be updated
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Toyota Sienna powertrain problems
severe 46 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
46
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
4crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 46 powertrain complaints filed for the 2005 Toyota Sienna, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 16 model years of Toyota Sienna we track for powertrain problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 46.
Owners have filed 46 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
"DEALER LETTER: SAFETY RECALL COMPLETION IS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY IN SATISFYING GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS, BUT ALSO IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO MEET CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS OF TOYOTA PRODUCTS. TOYOTA WILL BE SENDING SAFETY RECALL FOLLOW-UP NOTICES TO REMIND OWNERS WHOSE VEHICLES HAVE NOT YET HAD CAMPAIGN REPAIRS COMPLETED. WE REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING THE APPLICABLE CAMPAIGN REPAIRS AS OWNERS RECEIVE THE FOLLOW-UP NOTICE AND CONTACT YOUR DEALERSHIP. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITY MAY CAUSE AN INCREASE IN YOUR CURRENT CAMPAIGN OWNER APPOINTMENTS. TOYOTA WILL CONTINUE WITH ADDITIONAL FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES IN THE MONTHS TO COME. PLEASE TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN ANAL
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been interrupted.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗REGION LETTER: TOYOTA WILL BE SENDING SAFETY RECALL FOLLOW-UP NOTICES TO REMIND OWNERS WHOSE VEHICLES HAVE NOT YET HAD CAMPAIGN REPAIRS COMPLETED. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FOR REGIONAL AND PD ASSOCIATES.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues and/or transmission damage. Use the information in this bulletin when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2005 Sienna powertrain displays a cluster of serious defects. The shift lock solenoid fails to prevent small children from moving the gearshift out of Park when the engine is off and no brake is pressed; multiple owners report their parked vans rolling downhill or backward into streets and other vehicles. The shifter itself deteriorates—becoming loose, wobbly, or stuck—sometimes preventing the vehicle from exiting Park or locking into a gear while driving at highway speeds.
Unintended acceleration is the most dangerous failure: owners report the engine suddenly accelerating at full throttle with no brake response, some cases lasting over 2 hours in traffic. Only pulling the ignition key stops it. The transmission hesitates dangerously when accelerating from low speeds, especially during merging or on slippery roads, then lurches forward unpredictably. The traction control system falsely activates on dry roads at highway speeds, locking the steering wheel and engaging the brakes without warning.
Owners report transmission hunting—harsh, unexpected downshifting at cruise speed—that dealers claim is normal design. The shift cable has disengaged from bumps in the road, causing loss of brake power. Across 46 complaints, dealers have reprogrammed computers, replaced cables, replaced sensors, and changed fluid without fixing the issues. Recall NHTSA 13V429000 was issued for the shift lock solenoid, but owners report parts unavailable, unreasonable repair delays, and denials that parts are covered.
Same Toyota Sienna powertrain reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Shift Lock Solenoid Malfunction
Shift lever moves out of Park without engine running, brake pedal pressed, or key in ignition. Small children have shifted vehicle into Drive or Neutral while parked, causing unintended rolling. One case involved a child moving the lever from Park to Neutral on a driveway incline; another a child shifting from Park to Drive, resulting in a 400-500 foot roll that hit another vehicle and a tree.
When: Parked, engine off, key not in ignition. Mileage varies: 88,000 to 250,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Gear shifter moves freely without key in ignition or brake pedal pressed; Vehicle rolls downhill or backward when parked; Shifter can be moved with minimal force or wiggling
Repairs/costs cited: Recall NHTSA 13V429000 (Power Train) addressed this; one owner reports parts not covered under the recall. Some dealers claim no recall applies to their VIN.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 13V429000 (Power Train); NHTSA Campaign 17V657000 (Power Train) - some owners report parts unavailable or excessive delays in obtaining recall parts.
Gear Shifter Physical Failure - Loose, Wobbly, or Stuck
Shifter becomes loose, wobbly, or physically breaks, preventing firm engagement or causing unwanted movement between gears while driving. One owner reports the shifter mechanism failed in the dash, requiring disassembly to repair. Another reports a broken plastic piece internal to the shifter. Some shifters won't stay in Park, Fourth, or Fifth gear; others flop between adjacent gears.
When: Mileage 55 MPH at 55k miles; 35 MPH at 152,000 miles. Failures occur while driving or when stationary.
Symptoms owners cite: Shifter is loose or wobbly in Park, Drive, or other gears; Shifter cannot be held firmly in selected gear while driving; Shifter floops or moves between gears with minor bumps or vibration; Noise like something breaking near shifter area; Removal of key from ignition becomes difficult when shifter is in Park
Repairs/costs cited: One owner disassembled dash and repaired mechanism himself rather than towing to dealer. Dealer identified gear shift failure at 152,000 miles but stated parts were not covered under recall 13V429000.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 13V429000 (Power Train) mentioned but parts noted as not available; owners report dealer delays or denial of coverage.
Unintended Full Acceleration - Vehicle Suddenly Accelerates
Vehicle rapidly accelerates without driver input, often while driving in traffic. Brake pedal has no effect or severely delayed response. Shifting to Neutral or pulling the ignition key are the only methods that stop the acceleration. One incident lasted 2.5 hours in rush-hour traffic.
When: While driving in traffic; one case at 60 MPH, another during highway travel. Mileage approximately 110,000 to 114,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine rapidly accelerates on its own; Foot pressed hard on brake with no power assist or effect; Brake pedal unresponsive for extended periods; Shifting to Neutral, Park, or Reverse does not stop acceleration; Turning off cruise control has no effect; Only pulling ignition key stops the acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer could not diagnose the failure; vehicle was not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but does not appear to have provided solution; owner reports Toyota will not fix the van.
Transmission Hesitation, Delay, and Jerky Shifting
Transmission hesitates or delays when accelerating from low speeds (5-10 MPH), or when shifting gears. Vehicle jerks forward suddenly after the delay. Occurs especially when merging into traffic, accelerating uphill, or on slippery surfaces. Dealers have reprogrammed the computer and changed transmission fluid without resolution.
When: Mileage 700 miles through 114,000 miles. Issues persist across multiple driving conditions and weather.
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation when accelerating from very low speeds (5-10 MPH); Jerking or surging forward after hesitation; Severe hesitation on wet or snowy roads; Uncontrollable acceleration after initial delay; Dangerous during merging or lane changes in traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers reprogrammed computer and changed transmission fluid, but problems persisted or worsened. One dealer admitted all Toyota 5-speed transmissions have this issue. Owners taken to dealer 3-6 times with no repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer fix provided; one owner complained to Toyota headquarters without resolution.
Transmission Hunting (Erratic Downshifting)
Transmission downshifts abruptly and unexpectedly at highway speeds or on downhill grades, even when coasting. Vehicle feels excessive rolling resistance. Transmission downshifts harshly on curves and hills. Service advisors claim this is normal for 2005 Siennas.
When: At 50+ MPH on interstate or downhill; also when coasting with foot off accelerator. Mileage 80,000 to 140,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission downshifts when accelerator is released, even on flat or downhill roads; Excessive engine braking or rolling resistance at cruise speed; Harsh downshift when turning or on hills; Transmission hunting between gears at low speeds (6-10 MPH); Gear hunting after upgrading computer software
Repairs/costs cited: Computer reprogrammed and transmission fluid changed; one case worsened after these repairs. Dealers claim behavior is normal for the model.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall identified; dealers deny this is a defect.
Unintended Neutral Engagement While Driving
Transmission unexpectedly shifts into Neutral while driving at low speeds, causing loss of engine power and momentum. Vehicle feels like it is downshifting and losing drive without visible shifter movement.
When: While driving 15 MPH or less; one case at low-speed roll around 5-10 MPH. Mileage approximately 88,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shifts into Neutral without driver action; Loss of engine power and momentum; No visible shifter movement before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer reprogrammed computer but problem persisted; dealer unable to remedy.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented.
Traction Control System False Activation
Traction control system activates on dry roads and smooth conditions when no traction control is needed. Steering wheel freezes and becomes difficult to control; brakes engage on their own; repetitive beeping and vibration occur. One owner spent $900 on steering angle sensor replacement without fixing the issue. Happens most often when turning corners at highway speeds.
When: Typically when accelerating onto highway on-ramps or turning corners at 35-65 MPH. Intermittent, sometimes weeks between occurrences. Mileage varies.
Symptoms owners cite: Traction control light illuminates on dry roads; Repetitive beeping sound; Steering wheel vibrates and freezes; Brakes engage on their own; Engine makes loud noise (likely downshifting); Loss of steering control and difficult maneuverability; Occurs on smooth roads with no actual wheel slip needed
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced steering angle sensor for $900; problem recurred within 2 weeks on a road trip. Occurred 3 times in 15 minutes on windy highway driving.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota service center denies any known issues; owner research found similar complaints on other 2005-2006 Siennas.
Transmission Shift Cable Disengagement
Shift cable disengages from the transmission, likely after hitting a bump or from wear. Vehicle lunges forward when parked; gear selector position does not correspond to actual gear. Brake pedal loses power assist. Emergency brake only method to stop the vehicle.
When: While parked after encountering a bump in the road. Mileage approximately 114,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle lunges forward unexpectedly when parked; Gear selector does not match actual transmission gear; Brake pedal loses power assist; Emergency brake required to stop vehicle; Speedometer displays inaccurate readings
Repairs/costs cited: Owner detected disengaged shift cable during inspection; vehicle not repaired at time of complaint filing.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer and authorized dealer notified but no repair documented.
Shifter Lock-Up in Park (Cannot Exit Park)
Shifter becomes locked in Park position and cannot be moved to other gears, even with ignition on, brake pedal pressed, or shift lock override button used. Vehicle must be rocked back and forth to free the shifter. Occurred after recall service for shift lock solenoid.
When: At mileage over 100,000 miles; one case occurred immediately after owner left dealership (presumably post-repair).
Symptoms owners cite: Shifter will not move out of Park position; Shift lock override button does not work; Engine running and brake applied do not unlock shifter; Shifter stuck whether vehicle is running or off; Shifter must be rocked back and forth to disengage
Repairs/costs cited: One case required towing to Toyota dealer after owner followed manual procedures without success.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented; one owner reports recall service may have caused the issue.
Transmission Failure - Complete Loss of Drive
Transmission fails completely, rendering the vehicle unable to move. Vehicle becomes immobile in traffic and requires towing.
When: At approximately 110,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle cannot be moved out of traffic after transmission failure
Repairs/costs cited: One case documented at 110k miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific response documented.
Synthesized from 46 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
While driving west in I-88 in new york, between exits 1 and 2, our rear end completely locked up. We were able to get the car onto the shoulder, but in doing so, we hit the concrete wall causing some body damage. *tr
Hesitation when downshifting to 1st, then when trying to accelerate it feels as if nothing is going to happen so you give it more accelerator and then it accelerates too fast, mostly noticeable as you turn a corner. *nm
Had powertrain trouble with your 2005 Toyota Sienna?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2005 Toyota Sienna?
It's a meaningful issue. 46 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 31 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 17,000 and 150,000 miles, with the median around 92,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 17,000; a quarter make it past 150,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Toyota/Sienna.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.