I have had a sliding door failure, exactly as described in notification zh4 and zh5, and safety recall 16v-858. The rear sliding door would not fully close, or would not latch, and would often re-open automatically. The door exhibited a grinding noise and would often not latch. This on a vehicle just over 3 years old with 48,880 miles on it, always garaged and never in an accident. When I…
2013 Toyota Sienna body problems
severe 37 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
37
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 37 body complaints filed for the 2013 Toyota Sienna, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Owners have filed 37 body 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.
Body accounts for 20% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 12 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2013 Sienna has chronic sliding door problems—failures to open, close, or latch properly, combined with a multi-year parts shortage for the official recall fix. Water leaks at seams are common, and structural issues like broken subframe welds have gone unrepaired even under warranty. Verify door operation thoroughly and inspect body seams before purchase.
Sliding door defects dominate these complaints. Doors open unexpectedly while driving at highway speeds, fail to latch after closing, or require multiple button presses to shut. Some grind or pop during operation; one door slammed shut on a child's finger. After recall service, one door drew 2.4 amps continuously, draining the battery. A passenger door came off track and shattered the rear window despite prior recall work. Hinges rust out and fail—one door fell off at 113,000 miles even though the vehicle was always garaged.
The recall (16V-858000) has been plagued by parts shortages lasting months or years. Owners receive notices but cannot schedule repairs because dealerships lack components. Multiple owners report waiting 3+ months with no progress, and Toyota provided no timeline for availability. Some dealers refused repairs on vehicles with aftermarket handicap seats, contradicting the recall's promise of free service.
Water leaks into the cabin from windshield seals, sunroof edges, and door frames—one new van leaked within two weeks of purchase. A sunroof spontaneously shattered at 15,000 miles. Body trim detaches while driving. One owner reported a broken front-left subframe weld that Toyota has repeatedly declined to repair despite warranty coverage.
Same Toyota Sienna body reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Power sliding door failure to open/close/latch
Driver or passenger sliding doors fail to open, close, or latch properly. Doors may open unexpectedly while driving, close only partially, refuse to close despite repeated button presses, or pop open after appearing closed. Some doors grind or make noise during operation. Defect occurs in both power and manual modes.
When: Varies from early ownership (15k–26k miles) to higher mileage (48k–113k miles); some failures occur within weeks of purchase or routine maintenance
Symptoms owners cite: Door opens unexpectedly while driving at highway speeds (45–55 mph); Door will not latch when manually closed; Door opens only partway before slamming shut; Door requires multiple button presses to close; Grinding noise during door operation; Popping sound when door fails to latch; Door gets stuck mid-travel and requires multiple attempts to close fully; High-pitched beeping noise when door is open; Door remains open when commanded to close
Codes mentioned: P1603
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota replaced upper door hinge ($323.46 out of warranty for one owner); dealer replaced entire motor assembly on another; some owners report 2.4 amp parasitic drain after failed recall repair; roller bearings found badly worn on one passenger-side door that came off track
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Safety Recall 16V-858000; recall parts were on chronic back-order for months/years, delaying repairs; Toyota denied reimbursement to at least one owner whose symptoms matched recall description; dealers refused repair on vehicles with aftermarket handicap seats installed, citing obstruction despite recall coverage promise of 'no charge' repairs
Door hinge rust and mechanical failure
Hinges on sliding doors rust out and fail structurally, causing doors to fall off the vehicle or cease operating. Occurs even on replaced doors and at relatively high mileage, suggesting durability issues with hinge design or material.
When: At 113,000 miles on one vehicle; hinges rusted despite vehicle always garaged
Symptoms owners cite: Door falls off vehicle; Hinges rusted out and non-functional; Door hinge breaks or separates from door
Repairs/costs cited: New hinge replacement cost quoted but not stated by owner; door detachment prevented diagnostic testing at a facility
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall identified for hinge rust/failure; no manufacturer notification
Parasitic electrical drain from sliding door system
After recall repair, sliding door system draws continuous power even when doors are closed and vehicle is locked, draining battery and causing hard starting.
When: Occurred after recall repair completion
Symptoms owners cite: Hard starting as if battery was weak; 2.4 amp continuous parasitic draw at battery positive lead; Draw persists even when doors closed and vehicle locked
Repairs/costs cited: Detected via ammeter testing; issue emerged post-recall service
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 16V-858000 service performed; drain issue not addressed
Sliding door operation hazard—door slamming on occupant
Power closing mechanism malfunctions, slamming door shut on passenger (child) with finger caught inside. System falsely detects obstruction and fails to stop door appropriately.
When: During attempted entry after opening via keychain button
Symptoms owners cite: Door opens only halfway before slamming shut with force; Door latches with passenger's finger trapped inside; Door will not operate after incident
Repairs/costs cited: Door damage and safety hazard; repair status unknown
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented in narrative
Sliding door cable severance
Cable in sliding door drive system snaps, disabling automatic operation. Doors will not automatically close and must be manually operated.
When: At 39,000 miles on regularly maintained vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Door opens via keychain but does not automatically close; High-pitched beeping noise (same as door-ajar warning); Cable visibly severed; Manual closure required
Repairs/costs cited: Severed cable noted; repair details not provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented
Water intrusion at body seams and openings
Rainwater leaks into vehicle interior through multiple points: windshield seals, sunroof seams, and door/window frame areas. Leaks occur during rain, dripping into footwells and onto console.
When: As early as 14 days after purchase; after heavy rain events
Symptoms owners cite: Water dripping continuously from area between windows and windshield near driver seat; Water pooling on passenger-side floor after rain; Moisture along upper console where sunroof switches are located; Water entering along front edge of sunroof opening; Leak from windshield area touching car hood
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle (14 days old) spent 4 of first 14 days in shop for water leak investigation; specific repair outcome not stated
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented
Sunroof glass spontaneous shattering
Sunroof glass suddenly shatters while vehicle is in operation, creating safety hazard with flying glass.
When: At 15,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sunroof glass suddenly shatters; Sunroof glass shattered without impact
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to dealer for repair; manufacturer notified
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Repair completed by dealer
Sliding door derailment and window shattering
Passenger-side sliding door comes off track during operation, shattering rear window. Occurs even after recall service. Roller bearings in door mechanism are badly worn.
When: After previous recall power sliding door service had been completed
Symptoms owners cite: Door comes off track; Rear window shatters from door derailment; Glass debris falls onto child in car seat; Roller bearings badly worn
Repairs/costs cited: Roller bearings wore out; door mechanism failure caused window damage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall power sliding door service performed previously but did not prevent failure
Front subframe/engine cradle weld failure
Broken weld on front left support area of subframe/engine cradle. Defect present under warranty but manufacturer has not performed repair despite repeated contact.
When: Vehicle still under warranty; failure mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Broken weld on front left support of subframe/engine cradle
Repairs/costs cited: Identified but not repaired despite warranty coverage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota contacted repeatedly but has not taken action to repair under warranty
Body trim/splash shield liner detachment
Front splash shield liner and wheel liner detach from vehicle while driving, recurrence indicating design or attachment defect.
When: First occurrence around 24,811 miles; failure recurred at least twice
Symptoms owners cite: Splash shield liner detaches while driving at various speeds; Wheel liner detaches
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed need for splash shield liner and wheel liner replacement; repair performed but defect recurred twice
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified
Door handle breakage
Interior or exterior door handle breaks off when pulled, preventing normal door operation.
When: Mileage/timing not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Handle breaks off when pulled
Repairs/costs cited: Handle failure; repair status unknown
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented
Recall repair parts unavailability and delays
NHTSA Recall 16V-858000 remedy parts remain unavailable for extended periods (months to years after recall issued). Owners receive recall notices but cannot schedule repairs because dealerships lack parts. Manufacturer provides no timeline for parts availability, leaving safety defects unrepaired.
When: Recall issued December 2016; parts unavailable through at least January 2018 and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Recall parts on back-order indefinitely; No parts available at multiple dealerships; No manufacturer-provided timeline for parts availability; Multiple contact attempts with dealer and manufacturer yield no resolution
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple owners report 3.5+ months of delays after appointment scheduled; one owner waited from September 2017 through January 2018 with no parts arrival
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 16V-858000 issued but remedy parts unavailable; manufacturers advised owners to contact other dealers or wait for second notice; no accountability for delay
Synthesized from 37 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
While stationary in driveway, passenger rear door intermittently will not open or will not close. We have noticed this after the vehicle has been turned off, and the key is no longer in the ignition. This has happened multiple times. My son will push the button from the inside of the vehicle, and attempt to use the handle on the inside of the vehicle. On multiple occasions when the door would…
The sliding door was opening (via keychain button), but opened only halfway before slamming shut very quickly. It was like it thought it hit something in by the back tire, but there was nothing there. My daughter had started getting into the car, so the door slammed shut on her finger and actually latched closed with her finger stuck inside. The door hasn't worked since. This "safety feature"…
Had body trouble with your 2013 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 body problem on the 2013 Toyota Sienna?
It's a meaningful issue. 37 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 24,811 and 63,000 miles, with the median around 39,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 24,811; a quarter make it past 63,000. 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 $1,500 for body 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 body?
No active recalls currently cover body 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/2013/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.