Dealer Package: July 2, 2018 A watermark has been added to the Dealer Letter to indicate that ZF2 expired on June 30, 2018. Toyota has received a number of reports regarding front seatbelts in certain 2004 ? 2006 model year Sienna vehicles. In these reports, customers have indicated that the front seatbelts (right and/or left) may slowly or non-smoothly retract. Although the front seatbelt assembly is covered by Toyota?s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers? ownership experience. Toyota is now extending the warranty coverage for repairs related to slow or non-smooth retraction of front seatbelts. The following
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Toyota Sienna seatbelts problems
severe 33 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $500 · see seatbelts across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
33
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$500
2crashes
4injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 33 seatbelts 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.
Among the 11 model years of Toyota Sienna in our records for seatbelts problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering seatbelts 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.
TSB: WARRANTY OPERATION CODES UPDATED. SOME 2004 2006 MODEL YEAR SIENNA VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION WHERE THE FRONT DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER SEAT BELT BECOMES ABNORMALLY SLOW TO RETRACT, OR DOES NOT RETRACT SMOOTHLY. FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE IN THIS BULLETIN TO REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: WARRANTY OPERATION CODES UPDATED. SOME 2004 2006 MODEL YEAR SIENNA VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION WHERE THE FRONT DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER SEAT BELT BECOMES ABNORMALLY SLOW TO RETRACT, OR DOES NOT RETRACT SMOOTHLY. FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE IN THIS BULLETIN TO REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: Warranty Operation Codes updated. Some 2004 ? 2006 model year Sienna vehicles may exhibit a condition where the front driver and/or passenger seat belt becomes abnormally slow to retract, or does NOT retract smoothly. Follow the procedure in this bulletin to replace the front seat belt assemblies to address this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2006 Sienna's seatbelts fail in multiple distinct ways, all of which compromise occupant safety. The most common complaint involves belts that jam and won't retract—the belt gets folded or wedged in the retraction housing and stays stuck in the fully extended position, leaving the driver or passenger unprotected until the belt can be freed, sometimes requiring a dealer visit. A separate failure mode involves belts that lock up and tighten progressively; when passengers sit back and then lean forward, the belt tightens instead of loosening, eventually becoming so uncomfortable that occupants simply unfasten and stop using them, defeating the entire safety purpose. Owners also report belts that won't fully engage or latch, failing to catch the restrained occupant. The rear center belt, which hangs from the ceiling, has wrapped around occupants' necks and locked tight with no quick release—one child had to be freed by 911 responders who cut the belt. Other issues include seatbelt webbing that tears or snaps, belts stuck in extended position, and booster seat compatibility failures. Dealer repairs cost around $500 per belt, and Toyota has not extended recalls for these issues to the Sienna despite issuing recalls for the same parts on other models.
Same Toyota Sienna seatbelts reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Seatbelt gets stuck jammed and will not retract
The seatbelt becomes folded, wedged, or otherwise mechanized jammed at the retraction housing, making it fully or partially inoperable and rendering the wearer unprotected or requiring the driver to navigate without proper restraint.
When: At various mileages including 60,628 and 150,000 miles; can occur during normal operation
Symptoms owners cite: Seatbelt frozen in fully extended position; Fold or crease gets wedged in the U-shaped retraction housing; Belt cannot be manually pulled free even with tools like pliers or screwdrivers; Repeated jamming that recurs several times per month; Affects driver-side front and passenger-side seats most commonly
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer visits required; owners report $500 repair quote per seatbelt; some owners attempt manual unjamming at home; complete seatbelt assembly replacement may be necessary but does not always resolve the issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota claims vehicles outside the 3-year warranty are not covered; one owner notes Toyota issued recalls for the same parts in other vehicle models (SUVs, cars) but not for Sienna minivans
Seatbelt tightens progressively and will not release
The seatbelt tightens excessively around the occupant and does not loosen when the passenger moves or leans forward, becoming progressively more uncomfortable and causing occupants to unfasten and stop using it.
When: Intermittent; occurs when passenger sits back and leans forward; affects second row and rear row belts most commonly
Symptoms owners cite: Belt locks and tightens to uncomfortable level; Does not release when passenger leans forward or changes position; Gets progressively tighter with any movement; Intermittent nature makes diagnosis difficult; Children refuse to use belt due to discomfort
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report $500 repair quote per seatbelt; many passengers discontinue use rather than endure discomfort, defeating safety purpose
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service departments initially suggested operator error (improper buckling technique); repairs quote $500 per belt
Seatbelt wraps around occupant's neck
The middle/center rear seatbelt, which hangs from the ceiling, unexpectedly wraps around an occupant's neck (often a child) and tightens with no quick release mechanism, creating a strangulation hazard.
When: Occurred during child play with belt; vehicle parked or during normal operation
Symptoms owners cite: Middle seatbelt wraps around neck multiple times (3 times reported); Becomes locked and progressively tightens with any movement; Occupant cannot self-release despite effort; Belt locked so tightly it could not be budged manually; Required emergency responders to cut belt free
Repairs/costs cited: 911 called; emergency responders cut seatbelt to free occupant; the issue is that there is no quick-release mechanism on the center rear belt (requires car ignition key per owner's manual)
Seatbelt unbuckles during accident
Seatbelt detaches or unbuckles during a collision, leaving occupant unprotrained and resulting in injury.
When: During accident at impact
Symptoms owners cite: Seatbelt suddenly unbuckled during collision; Occupant thrown to side door and sustained multiple contusions; Occurred at right second row seat
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota inspector concluded operator may have accidentally pressed release button at time of accident, though owner denies this; no malfunction found upon inspection; no follow-up from manufacturer
Seatbelt material failure, tears or snaps
Seatbelt webbing breaks, tears, or snaps during normal use or when caught in folding seat mechanisms.
When: Rear seat and rear folding seats; one incident at unknown mileage; one at 60,628 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Seatbelt snaps in half when pulled across chest to fasten; Belt webbing appears rubbed raw from exit hole; Belt torn completely in two after apparent entanglement in folding seat mechanism; Belt completely unusable after failure
Repairs/costs cited: No repair options provided in narratives; parents express gratitude incident did not occur during accident
Seatbelt will not extend or is too long and will not retract
Seatbelt remains partially or fully extended and cannot be retracted back to normal position, or conversely, belt is excessively long and cannot tighten properly.
When: At 72,000 miles; during normal operation
Symptoms owners cite: Belt too long and will not tighten around occupant; Unable to fold back into seat or revert to regular length; Rear row belts remain stuck in extended position and do not come out or retract; Happens intermittently and is getting worse over time
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; dealer and manufacturer not notified in some cases
Seatbelt does not engage or latch properly
Seatbelt latches with the buckle but does not engage the catch mechanism, rendering it unable to restrain occupant.
When: Duration unknown; discovered during adult use on second row seat typically used by child
Symptoms owners cite: Seatbelt latches with no issues but does not catch when appropriate; Child in seat unaware belt is non-functional; Discovered only when adult used the seat
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced entire seatbelt assembly at owner's cost
Center rear seatbelt requires ignition key to unlock
The third-row center seatbelt requires the car ignition key to unlock it, with no quick-release mechanism, creating an emergency evacuation hazard.
When: Design feature per owner's manual
Symptoms owners cite: No quick release available for emergency evacuation; Requires ignition key to unlock; Problematic in fire or urgent evacuation scenario; Typically used by children
Center rear seatbelt tensioner locks when partially extended
The third-row center seatbelt tensioner device becomes locked when the belt is partially extended and will neither retract nor extend further, trapping the occupant.
When: During normal operation of securing a passenger
Symptoms owners cite: Belt becomes locked in place mid-extension; Will not retract or extend; Entire seatbelt tensioner needs replacement; Device is mounted in roof and exposed to extreme heat in sunlight
Repairs/costs cited: Entire seatbelt tensioner assembly must be replaced; device located in roof
Booster seat compatibility issue
Seatbelt does not hold child securely in booster seat, allowing child to move freely side-to-side and unclip the belt.
When: During normal use with 2010 Graco booster seat model PD144968A
Symptoms owners cite: Child able to move freely from side to side in booster; Child able to unclip seatbelt; Booster seat not anchored properly by belt
Repairs/costs cited: Booster seat manufacturer asked if vehicle-specific clips were available; vehicle manufacturer stated no clips or solutions available
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota stated no clips or remedies available for the fit issue
Synthesized from 33 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had seatbelts trouble with your 2006 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 seatbelts problem on the 2006 Toyota Sienna?
It's a meaningful issue. 33 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $500.
At what mileage does the seatbelts typically fail?
Across the 24 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most seatbelts failures cluster between 60,628 and 123,000 miles, with the median around 98,082. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,628; a quarter make it past 123,000. 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 $500 for seatbelts 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 seatbelts?
No active recalls currently cover seatbelts 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/2006/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.