Used 2004 Toyota Sienna Consumer Reviews

Overall great vehicle

Overall great vehicle, replaced brakes last year, but OEM tires after less than 30000, Michelin now make it exquisite to drive and handles like a car. Could be quieter with better sound insulation/window design. Interior could have used better layout and some adjustable light interior would be more user friendly especially at dashboard height and rear seat area. Windows interior front are very hard to clean.

Exceptional Vehicle

Pros: 1. Looks like new after 19 years. Remarkably durable finish (although I have polished it several times every year and washed it frequently). 2. Runs great after 19 years. I have had regular oil changes through this period. 3. No problems with air conditioning or heating after 19 years except to replace one inexpensive chip (less than $20) which solved a problem. 4. Internal upholstery still looks like new after 19 years. Cons: 1. Sliding side doors almost invariably freeze up during the winter.` If you attempt to open them, that triggers the inside lights. The only way I have been able to stop that is to allow the vehicle to heat inside for a long period, sometimes as much as an hour. Otherwise, the lights will not go off and the battery will soon be dead. 2. Lens on headlights and fog lights eventually fog up. I have never been able to resolve the problem on other than a temporary basis by the treatments available. However, I purchased OEM replacements on ebay and had my servicer install them, which was a very worthwhile investment.

115,000 and No Repairs

Have had this close to 5 years and have only changed oil, tires, and brakes at 100,000. I will admit that the OE tires gave way at 40,000 but have had good luck since (60k on the replacements). We don't baby ours--kid hauler, client hauler, material hauler (I'm in construction so this has seen it's share of tools and lumber). Only complaint is getting used to the blind spot in the mirrors, but that could be driver error. 23 mpg with suburban/highway, you have to remember to keep your foot out of it to get good gas mileage. This, with my other Toyotas (Truck, Camry) keeps me a raving fan.

Luv it

We love this van. My wife especially likes. She is short and finds it easy to enter and electrically adjust the drivers seat. She used to pick up grand kids after school and it was very good for that. It parks easily with it's short turning radius. My only complaint is that it seems to wear tires and front brakes more rapid that I think it should. Probably because of the front wheel drive and weight of the van. I would buy another in a heart beat as I would any other Toyota.

Toyota Sienna Rocks!

This is an absolutely great vehicle. I love my Toyota Sienna. I drive about 30 miles to work, this vehicle makes its so much easy. Very smooth and steering gentle unlike my VW with is sporty and tight. If you are looking to buy a new or used Sienna just buy it blind-folded, you will not go wrong. Don't expect a great interior or a car that turns head, but if you are looking for maintenance free & great ride quality, this is the one.

Comfortable, Reliable Top Quality Minivan

12+ years and 160k miles still runs and looks great. Comfortable quiet ride, plenty of acceleration, clean handling. All of the features have held up well.

Good, solid vehicle

Have owned our 2004 for almost 4 yrs. now. Have about 47,000 miles on it. It is built very well in terms of ride quality and noise. There have been two reliability issues, both of which were covered under warranty, a window motor and a speed sensor. The original tires were cheap garbage and lasted only about 40K. The best replacement is for them is the Yokohama's, a steal at about $100 each installed. The Yokohama's are rated for 80K. My only complaint with this vehicle is the gas mileage. We have averaged 17.7 MPG since new, and this is a mix of suburban and highway driving. It will get 25-26 MPG at 60-65 MPH, but only about 22-23 MPG at 75-80 MPH. Otherwise, safe, comfortable, reliable.

Toyota Dependability in Question

I am having a terrible experience with my vehicle. It is a 2004 Toyota Sienna and it currently has just over 90,000 miles on it. Even though I have had my vehicle serviced on a regular basis I was shocked when the compressor shut down on my way for service. I was in the middle of a six lane highway! When the compressor shut down it caused some metal to get into the engine system. My repair bill is going to be an estimated $3500.00. I have told the Toyota Customer Service Center my story and they have only offered to pay for the compressor parts and nothing else! I am very disappointed in Toyota's and the dealership's response for assistance in this unusual repair situation.

Wonderful van

Now have 83,000 miles on my Sienna. It Has the best turning radius, comfort, handling and quiet cabin of any car I've owned. My friends all love it for its comfort, even in the back seat and its ride over curvy roads. It has enormous capacity. In 83,000 miles I've paid for one AC relay and normal maintainance and upkeep. I'm on the original set of brakes and they still have half their life. I feel very safe in this car.

Too expensive on tires

Good for traveling but we have had to replace several tires and do more then normal alignments. More then one mechanic said the alignment was a problem. This has cost us money that should not be an issue. Also the noise level is bad and the CD players does not work well.

My Wife Won't Drive Her Lexus!

Have 800 miles on my '04. This is the best van on the market. Impressive power, great handling, very quiet cabin, lots of interior room. Side curtain airbag storage doesn't intrude into cabin. Turning radius is car like. Very stable on curves, climbs effortlessly. Laser cruise is nice, parking sensors helpful with 04 larger van. A/C kicks! Under hood access to fluids, battery, belts is easy.

they got it 99.98% right

compared features against Honda. Several items stood out in Toyota such as: split 3rd row seat with integrated head rests (easier to fold down and no head rests to store), 2nd row seat does not un-hinge itself when tipped out of the way to gain access to the 3rd row, integrated sun shades, 3 power doors, sliding doors have operable windows, excellent turning radius, quieter ride

very pleased

I have been pleasantly pleased with this vehicle. It gets great gas mileage and is surprisingly fun to drive. Perfect vehicle for our family of five. Nice space and great power. Only complaint is that it drips water in front door windows when cracked if raining- worse than any other car I have driven.

Love it, but wished we would have waited

Love this van. Only problem is I wished we would have waited for the second line 2004s to come out. Had major run-flat problems... don't get them. I call if I have a flat anyway. A lot of technical / recall glitches. This van is in shop more than my old crummy Caravan. Love the luxury of the Limited. We are in process of trading 2004 Sienna in for the Toyota Sequoia. I would buy the Sienna again, just not the first run of the changed model.

70,000 miles and still going strong

Just turned 70K recently. No real problems to report. There were two warranty issues years ago that were taken care of by Toyota. Just bought the third set of tires, the Pirelli P4s are the way to go now. The Yokohamas were better than the original equipment, but the Pirellis are supposed to be better than the Yokos. Not much else to say. This vehicle has been trouble free and uneventful.

Love it ,except...

Great features not found on previous models. Safety is also upgraded. Interior is stylish and flexible. Toyota quality is why we chose this minivan, however, that quality is not present in their "fly-by-wire" throttle. It turns out that the computer controlled throttle (not cable)often causes hesitation. This is a common problem with Toyota and they have attempted to remedy this via a programming "patch". What they call "Normal Operation" is what we and many other Toyota owners of this newer technology are stuck with.

2004 Toyota Sienna XLE

Only complaint now is the tire noise. Hated the Run Flats and replaced them at 19,000 which meant I had to buy a new wheel. Toyota refunded all my cost. Wish I could see better to back up, bought a $100 back up camera and fixed that prob. Middle row seats are heavy to remove and should fold flat into frame but are manageable as is. All in all I really like the car. The AWD is important to me as our driveway is steep and snow makes it hard to navigate. Passengers have told me middle row seats are uncomfortable with lump in low back.

04 Sienna LTD FWD HF review

Overall an excellent choice for a minivan. In color of Silver Shadow Pearl makes this van look good. Gas milage is fantastic for a heavy van like this. i'm getting 24-25 mixed driving consistantly, and i anticipate 28-29 when i take my trip in the fall.

Less than what I expected

We've had the recalls with the radiator, seat belt and door. Fine. But the radiator KEEPS leaking and they haven't been able to fix it in 4 trips to the dealer. We have just over 40K miles on it now and have had the tires replaced and brakes at 15k! We are pleased with the utilitarian aspects. (After all, that is the reason we buy these things right?) We just wish that the radiator thing and the brake thing wasn't there to fix.

Bill's Sienna

My 1st experience with a Toyota minivan has been an exceptional experience. I selected the CE model based solely on economics (I'm one of those 'fixed-income' Seniors). The ride is luxury sedan-like; the horsepower is more responsive than I imagined it could be, the fit and trim is exceptional (no flaws could be detected, and I'm anal about detail!) the rear fold away seat is a great help to an old foggy and when it's up, my wife loves the convenience of storing the groceries back there in the well.

Family favorite minivan!

This van is reliable, comfortable and easy to drive! I’ve owned mine for 5 years with minimal if any mechanical issues. We have done the maintenance as needed and this van has run well and got us all over town and on vacation! Great minivan I can’t wait to upgrade to a newer model to get a bit more modern technology.

Not very good

I am very dissapointed in this vehicle. I have had it since September and it has been in for service a total of 103 days. Transmission went out on it. Front rotors were warped so bad the front end shook. Now it rattles over every bump. I cant believe anyone has given it a favorable rating. There must be a half a dozen other owners at the dealership having the same, and more, serious quality and reliability problems like myself. I'll never buy another Toyota!.

Dissatisfied

I own a 2004 (8 seating) Toyota Sienna LE. I have had to replace tires 2 times. There have been 5 or 6 recalls. It is in the shop today with loud humming noise from engine. But the most disappointing thing is that the dash has split in 3 places. I contacted the dealership and Toyota directly and they offered me no help. The car was beyond its warranty, but I have owned 8 cars (4 Toyotas) during my driving life and have never had a dash split. Toyota told me that I must have done something to it, although they could not suggest what it might be. The van is kept in a garage when not in use and I always crack the windows when it is summer time. Cannot recommend Toyota anymore.

One Headache After Another-Unreliable

If there is an example that Toyota doesn't have its thumb on quality control, it is me. I jumped the car 14 times the first year I owned it even though the battery checked out O.K. They said it didn't need to be replaced. Just after the warranty expired, it needed to be replaced. Power door broke-$1500 to fix. Electric locks go crazy and can't open doors. Have to crawl out. Has never shifted smoothly although transmission checks out O.K. Frequently lurches and downshifts unexpectedly. Radiator replaced in 2nd year. None in stock had to wait a week. The rocker panels rusted in the first year. I had to change the tires in the first month - not good on snow and ice. Generally, a bad car.

Great but rattles

I am in shock that toyota would sell a car that has rattling problems and would take so long to admit the problems and fix them. It's a great minivan, unexpectedly good mileage, excellent handling and pickup, really a great design. But some of the materials are really cheap (plastic stuff) and the doors and second row passenger side seat rattle to no end. Perhaps toyota will fix it - if they don't I'm going to go crazy for spending $32k on a car that has rattles at 4000 miles.

Thinking of another brand

I have owned five Toyotas- trucks, cars, station wagon, Loved them all until this van. It has been nothing but problems, expense and disappointment. Battery replaced twice, display lights not trusted, VSF and TRAC failed within 14 months, radiator replacement, brakes constantly needing work, cover casket needs replacement, radiator seam cracked again- recalls. Electrical breaking down so auto door unlock no longer works when turn car off, rear gate breakdown/dangerous etc. A most expensive vehicle and one that has me wondering if my next car will be a Toyota after more than twenty years. Reminds me of the poor quality American brands- can't tell you how disappointed I am.

Great Van!

I bought my van from a local dealer at about 1700 less than MSRP. No hassles at all. The only problem I've had was the alignment was slightly off, but the dealership fixed it right away and gave me a rental while it was in the shop. Otherwise the van is great. This is my first experience with a mini-van and so far I am very satisfied. I especially love the 60/40 third row seat and all the room behind it when it is up and in use. The engine is quiet and smooth. It has a little more road noise than I expected but it isn't that bad. The driver's seat has a manual height adjustment, which is great.

Gotta Lemon

Paid Sticker for a lemon. Since I have purchased my Sienna - I have had a new Radiator (mine split open), the inside hinge the driver door broke off (when I got this fixed, the annoying rattling went away), one of the speakers crackles, and ALL of the rear seatbelts need to be fixed - the fixtures around them are broken. Thank God the DVD player still works. Tried to trade it, but I would have lost my shirt.

Great Van, Worst than expected mileage

Great design (split foldaway rear seat is a must for 3 kids). Bigger than my old Silhouette. Noticed my mileage is less than 20 mpg on mostly hwy driving while a friend's 2004 XLE is getting 25.9 on his computer. Based on actual fillups so far the computer mileage is pretty accurate. Also seems to be some engine hesitation when trying to accel at low speeds..need to push the pedal fully to get the engine to respond. Anyone else notice this?

Great xcountry ride

After 30k miles,I have a good feel for this van. Even with a bad back, I can drive 2400 miles in 5 days with absolute comfort. The nav system did give wrong info on 2 occasions. Hesitation, down shifting on the slightest grade (poor power), and poor city mileage (13-14 mpg) existed right from the beginning. I feel these problems are from the AWD powertrain requirements. Highway mpg=23-24mpg. Locally, overall mpg=16-17. The runflat tires lasted 20k and were almost bald. Avoid the AWD and you will be much happier.

8 passenger LE Sienna

Had to order vehicle ahead of time. Only downside was it took 5 weeks to get it in. We ordered 8 passenger for carpool use and love it. The rear seats fold great. There is a little nuisance in that the 2nd row seats have to be raised upright before they can be tipped forward to get access to the rear seats. Also a small nuisance in the locks. If the car is locked with the key fob, then the passengers in the car cannot unlock it using the lock/unlock switch on the driver or passenger doors. The doors have to be unlocked with the key fob. This is the smoothest ride ever. It also is very quite. Would absolutely buy again.

Good, but expected more.

With the need to carry eight people, and not wanting a gas guzzling SUV, the Sienna was one of two choices. Great vehicle, tons of space, tons of power, and EXCELLENT fuel economy (25 MPG @ 80MPH), and tight turning radius. The versitility is unbelievable. The build quality of our vehicle is questionable. The dash is misaligned, as is the rear bumper. The van has also went into the dealer at least six times in the first year, for minor problems. Versions currently on dealer lots should be fine, but check carefully. FInally, WATCH THE SALESMAN AT THE DEALER!!! We were riped off.

So close to perfect

This van is tops! Great looks (especially w/ running boards), good performance, lavish interior. The family goes in style! It is so close to perfect... but... there is a disconcerting hesitation whenever I accelerate from a "near" stop (<5mph) that I *hope* will never be a larger problem. Also the design of the middle right seatbelt (captains seat) feed slot makes for slow or no retraction under normal use - a possible safety concern with a child who does not understand the importance of the seatbelt staying under tension. Otherwise I am very happy with my Sienna... now the dealership...was another story. Gary

Quite an automobile

This is quite an automobile. I was hesitant to trade in my top-of-the- line SUV for a minivan, but with more cargo space than an SUV and all the amenities you would find in a luxury vehicle, it's hard to go wrong with this one. It drives like a car and is virtually silent (as I'd expect from a Toyota). All in all, I haven't found a thing I'd change yet, except for the sticker and inability to negotiate due to short supply--we had to wait almost 6 weeks to find one locally with all the options we wanted.

Love it, but a few small quirks...

I went from a Dodge Grand Caravan to my new Sienna! I fell in love with it at first sight, and love driving it. We have had several problems though, and I am not sure if it is as well-made as toyotas usually are.At 100 miles, a tire blew (defect). Then, the back of the drivers seat fell off! The lights stay on indefinitely if a door is left open, the tailgate rattles, and the brakes feel almost spongy. It is now in the shop for the 2nd time. I do love everything else about this van - with the running boards, it's as "cool" as a minivan can get!!!

Toyota Quality a REAL problem!

Of course all cars have various problems but the run flat tires on this AWD minivan is beyond horrible. Since purchasing new 6 years ago and with only 55k miles, I have replaced all my tires FOUR times at 200+ each not to mention the additional fees involved in disposing and balancing (that's a staggering $3,600+) Toyota service tech would just say,"yeah, they're not that good". Then the other night I simply go to roll down my driver side window for some fresh air,the window collapses for no reason into the door. I bring the car to Toyota, $600+ because of a defective cable.Technical says "these things happen, sorry". Not SORRY enough to stand behind your product!

Great Van!!!

Great van! I traded a 01 Mazda Mpv for the Sienna. I love how the Sienna drives it is very smooth and quiet and the transmision seems flawless. I love all the room and the fact it has cup holders and storage bins every where.

It doesn't get any better than this!

I traded in my 2000 Mazda MPV for this Van last month. Not only is the Sienna in a completely different class as a vehicle, the experience of actually buying the Sienna could not have been better. I swear, the Sienna doesn't drive, it levitates. Complete with DVD player, our new LE 8 passenger handles my three teenagers and a friend for each without flinching. Now having an 8 passenger vehicle means that Mom gets to bring a friend along too! Even the dogs love it and have plenty of room. Three cheers to Toyota for creating such a masterpiece!

Don't Buy!!!!!!!

It's a beatiful vehicle while sitting in park!!! When you take it out of park, it is junk!!! There is many problems with it, that the dealer says is normal or they don't know what to do. It has a lemon title. Way to pricey to have these problems.

Don't recommend the Toyota Sienna!

I have only owned toyotas in my entire life and bought the Sienna because of my past experiences of Toyota's reliability. This vehicle has been anything but reliable. Within first year broke down because radiator blew, two times power steering gave out, doors won't open, multiple recalls and in short, a nightmare! With three small children reliability and safety are of most importance and this car has not provided that. I am extremely disappointed with the overall performance of this vehicle!

Great Mini Van

After 6 Plymouth/odge and 1 Ford Windstar minivans, this one is the VERY BEST!!

I WILL NOT buy another Toyota

I have had constant problems with mine. Like another reviewer, my sliding door fell off the track also and the window EXPLODED!. Toyota had it for a week, and now it sounds like I'm dragging a shovel everytime I open it. We also have had problems with the dash lights going off. It is quite dangerous at night. Twice it ahs stalled when I was picking up my children. We had a Caravan with no problems. TOYOTA can ROT IN HELL for all I'm concerned. I'm buying another Caravan

Best of the Best

As a die-hard Toyota consumer, this is my first experience with the Sienna. Waited specifically for the newly, redesigned model, and well worth the wait. Plenty of room; great gas mileage; engine pickup is terrific (when needed); and it's reliable! A++

Best Mini-Van on the market

I used to be a die-hard fan of Dodge Grand Caravan's. You have to see the new 2004 Sienna. I love all everything about the car. The windows roll down on the sliding doors. It's the only mini-van I know that does that!

Everlasting Toyota

84,000 miles and counting. This has been a great car. So far (knock on wood) we've had no problems at all and no unscheduled repairs. INCREDIBLE!! Some cars can hardly make it that far. Although, wear and tear is definitely apparent. It's much louder (engine, road noise, and wind noise), rougher, and slower than when it was newer. Toyota has sent home a few recalls, including a rear seat belt and the power lift gate. The middle seats don't recline! That's probably the worst part about the car. We had a 91 dodge caravan and those seats were more comfortable. Heated seats are awesome. Leather has hardly worn. Overall a great family car with more than plenty room for seven and tons of stuff.

The Best Car Ever!

Utility at its best

This is a very well thought out van and you can tell Toyota payed attention to the details. They incorporated many of the best features of all other mini vans. It's things like a 60/40 rear seat that's very easy to fold, and when the seat is up there is a huge well for storage that you can easily fit several bags. It also has the best turning radius in it's class which is great for parking lots and parking in general. The braking is excellent. Acceleration and handling are on par with the honda. Throw in a great price and this is one great mini van that will be tough to beat.

Skimping on a great minivan

Great all around minivan. Meets most of our need for three babies under the age of 2. I'm a bit disappointed with the manually operated adjustable passenger seat and manually adjustable tilt and telescoping steering wheel. A vehicle that cost this much should have these features automatically adjustable. Also the wind noise is quite loud and even forces us to turn up the radio volume. The dealer was great!!!

By Far The Best Vehicle I've Ever Owned

I have never really been a "mini-van" person, But I have to admit that there is truly no better vehicle for a growing family than the Toyota Sienna. This van has more than enough room for two growing boys and all of the things that my wife and I need to transport. The ride is excellent and, even though it is big, it handles like a car and I have yet to find any major "blind spots." Overall a seriously comfortable and economical ride that will make even the most adamant anti-minivan folks think twice.

Outstanding

We have had the 2004 Toyota since April of 2003 and love it. We would highly recommend this vehicle.