TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Toyota Sienna cruise control problems
severe 34 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
34
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
18crashes
5injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 34 cruise control 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 cruise control problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control 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.
TOYOTA: ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR ASSEMBLY INFORMATION REGARDING THE INSPECTION, REMOVAL, AND INSTALLATION, IF LUBRICATION OR OIL, IS APPLIED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2008 Sienna describe sudden acceleration incidents across parking maneuvers (most common), highway driving, and low-speed turns—often with the brake pedal depressed or foot off the accelerator entirely. Several crashes resulted: vehicle accelerated into poles, trees, fences, buildings, and other cars, with documented injuries including neck, shoulder, and leg trauma. In multiple cases, owners applied brakes without effect; some had to shift to neutral, engage the emergency brake, or turn off the engine to stop.
A recurring pattern emerges: owners take vehicles to Toyota dealerships for diagnostics and leave without repair or answers. Technicians cannot reproduce failures, diagnostic computers show no codes, and some dealers blame floor mats or tires—claims owners dispute and independent shops contradict. One owner was falsely told brakes needed replacement; two other shops confirmed brakes were fine.
Beyond unintended acceleration, owners report throttle lag (2-second delay followed by sudden lunge), instability-control false alarms on curves triggering jerking and brake grabs, and cruise-control lever design faults (accidental activation when adjusting wipers during turns). One owner notes the problem occurs predictably when stopped at bottom of an incline.
Dealers and manufacturer offered no assistance in most complaints. One case went to a manufacturer inspector; vehicle never got repaired. Toyota service told one owner the momentary acceleration spike when braking is normal Sienna transmission behavior—a claim owners dispute when it requires hard braking to manage.
Same Toyota Sienna cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration—engine revs or vehicle surges despite brake application or foot off accelerator
Vehicle accelerates suddenly in parking, low-speed maneuvers, or highway driving with brakes applied. Owners report foot on brake or off accelerator entirely, yet vehicle continues accelerating. Shifts to neutral, emergency brake, or engine-off required to stop in severe cases. Crashes into poles, trees, fences, other vehicles, and buildings documented.
When: Most incidents parking or low speed (under 10 mph); some highway (35–71 mph cruise control). Mileage 12,500–174,000 reported.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs unexpectedly; Vehicle accelerates when brake pedal is depressed; Vehicle accelerates despite foot off accelerator; Sudden forward surge in parking lots or driveways; Brakes feel ineffective or slow to engage
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnostics typically reveal nothing. Bloomington Toyota tested throttle position sensor, engine control module, and idle control motor with no codes found. Some dealers suggested floor mat interference; owner disputes. Others blamed brake fluid (smell noted in one case) or suggested brake replacement when brakes were actually fine. One case: technician mentioned floor mat possible cause but manufacturer inspector requested; vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in multiple cases; offered no assistance or remedy. One owner directed to body shop; another case filed (#1208222975). One owner reported cruise control not on recall list despite NHTSA complaints visible online. No recalls applied to cruise control in 2008 Sienna.
Cruise control—accidental activation or unsafe design placement
Cruise control lever mounted on steering column rotates with wheel, causing accidental bump during driving (e.g., when operating windshield wipers or making turns). When accidentally activated, cruise control engages 'Resume' unexpectedly, causing sudden acceleration in inclement weather or low-speed conditions.
When: Occurred during left turn with cruise control lever positioned over wiper control; weather-related (inclement conditions, reduced visibility).
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control accidentally activated during turns or wiper operation; Unexpected sudden acceleration from cruise 'Resume' function; Lever design too close to wiper control
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented. Owner attempted to raise safety concern with Pine Bluff Toyota dealer without success.
Throttle lag followed by sudden lunge—'drive by wire' electronic acceleration system malfunction
Vehicle exhibits 2-second delay after accelerator pedal pressed, then lurches forward abruptly as electronic throttle control attempts to catch up. Unsafe on highways and during merges; inappropriate timing creates sudden braking situations.
When: Intermittent but recurring. Described as ~2-second lag before lunge.
Symptoms owners cite: 2-second lag in throttle response after pedal depression; No acceleration during lag period; Sudden lunge/lurch after delay; Vehicle travels ~176 feet on highway during lag at 60 mph before responding
Stability control (VSC) and ABS malfunction—false activations causing brake grab, jerking, and acceleration loss on curves
VSC light flashes and ABS engages unexpectedly during slight curves (30–40 mph) or lane changes, causing jerking, brake grab-and-release cycles, and temporary loss of acceleration. Problem worsens over time. Clicking noise from front-right area reported. Tire alignment and brake replacement did not resolve.
When: Started October 2016; worsened by May 2019 at 174,000 miles. One case at 130,000 miles on inclines/declines above 55 mph.
Symptoms owners cite: VSC and ABS lights activate unexpectedly; Clicking noise from front-right area or under dash; Brakes grab and release intermittently; Vehicle jerks during turns; Temporary loss of acceleration response; Unpredictable engagement when turning or changing lanes; Alarm/warning sound activates
Codes mentioned: VSC light, ABS light
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota dealership blamed tire alignment (tires replaced, wheel alignment performed—problem persisted). Dealership falsely recommended brake replacement; independent shops confirmed brakes were fine. Two independent shops unable to isolate root cause.
Brake and accelerator interaction—momentary unintended acceleration when braking at highway speeds
At speeds of 30–40 mph, brief unintended acceleration occurs whenever brake pedal is pressed, then subsides as brakes engage. Occurs at inappropriate times requiring sudden, hard braking. Owner reports Toyota service claims this is normal transmission behavior for Sienna.
When: Ongoing since purchase (fall 2008). Occurs at 30–40 mph braking.
Symptoms owners cite: Momentary unintended acceleration when brake pedal pressed; Brief delay before brakes take hold; Unpredictable timing of occurrence
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota service advised owner this is normal Sienna transmission behavior.
Cold-start engine racing—remote starter inoperative, idle surges uncontrollably
Starting in fall 2012, remote starter failed and engine raced when van cold-started. Only hand-control braking could stop the uncontrolled idle; foot brake insufficient. Later led to sudden full-vehicle acceleration incident.
When: Fall 2012 onward; remote starter failure preceded incident on Dec. 1, 2012.
Symptoms owners cite: Remote starter dies; Engine racing on cold start; Uncontrolled idle requiring hand-brake control; Foot brake insufficient to manage racing engine
Repairs/costs cited: Planned service check but incident occurred before appointment.
Cruise control sensor malfunction—erratic speed modulation and acceleration
Cruise control with speed-sensing function misbehaves: when lead vehicle in front changes lanes, vehicle accelerates to set cruise speed unexpectedly. When lead vehicle approaches, cruise reduces speed appropriately, but acceleration surge when lane clears creates safety risk.
When: Early in vehicle life; failure mileage 1,000.
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control erratic speed modulation; Vehicle accelerates to set speed when lead vehicle moves away; Sudden acceleration risk during lane changes by leading vehicle
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer unable to diagnose failure. Owner requested laser sensor removal; no action documented.
Synthesized from 34 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
A Toyota sienna 2008 was turning slowly on a curve and then it suddenly accelerated very fast and went through a fence hitting a wall. The airbags opened up as well. *tr
Had cruise control trouble with your 2008 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 cruise control problem on the 2008 Toyota Sienna?
It's a meaningful issue. 34 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 28 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 20,850 and 60,500 miles, with the median around 44,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,850; a quarter make it past 60,500. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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/2008/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.