Most Common 2006 Toyota Sienna Problems

Over the years, the 2006 Toyota Sienna has developed a strong reputation for being one of the more reliable high-quality minivans on the market. Although the price might seem a bit higher than its competition since they are known to last over 300,000 miles, have all-wheel drive, and have a fair MPG rate for the size of the vehicle, it could be well worth it. Not only is the vehicle equipped with everything you need to travel safely and proven to run smoothly for a very long time, but the resale value is also great. However, like all cars, there are some 2006 Toyota Sienna problems you should be aware of when shopping for a used model. As mentioned above, the Sienna is a great minivan so this is in no way trying to persuade you against them, but rather to inform you of the common problems with the 2006 Toyota Sienna you might face while owning one. That way you will be able to ask your used car dealer all the right questions and be more confident with your purchase. 

2006 Toyota Sienna Common Problems

• Cracks in Dashboard: Out of all of the Toyota Sienna 2006 problems reported by owners, cracking on the surface of the dashboard was amongst the most common. Most reports mentioned that it started off with several small cracks that developed on the upper portion of the dashboard’s surface and over time created spiderweb cracks across the dash. Unfortunately, the only real repair is to replace the entire dashboard, which can be costly.
• Faulty Electric Sliding Doors: As you can imagine, the large/wide sliding doors on a van are often what attract families to them. However, after a ton of use, issues can start to arise. According to owner reports, Sienna models with electric sliding doors tend to develop door mechanism problems over time. The most common culprit of this issue is the cable in the door becoming frayed. The frayed cable then starts to damage the electric motor, causing it to give you issues. Thankfully, the repair costs for this 2006 Toyota Sienna problem are usually minimal.
• Failed Oxygen Sensor: The oxygen sensor (O2 sensor) is what helps regulate your vehicle’s engine air-fuel ratio. If you have a failed O2 sensor a few things will happen. For starters, you check if the engine light will come on, but if you want to be certain that the O2 sensor is the issue, look out for these common symptoms. 
  • Luminated check light
  • “Rotten egg” smell from exhaust
  • Notable loss in fuel efficiency
  • Darkened exhaust smoke
  • Engine hesitation or skipping
• Engine Sludge Buildup: One of the more minor Toyota Sienna 2006 problems we will cover in this article is excess engine oil sludge building up in the engine due to not following Toyota’s recommended maintenance schedule and not changing the oil frequently enough. Although not that serious, this build-up of sludge can often lead to excessive oil consumption and warrant you having it cleaned out. However, to avoid this issue altogether, follow Toyota’s recommended maintenance schedule and get your oil changed regularly. 
• Faulty EVAP System: The evaporative emission control or EVAP system is what captures the gasoline fume emissions produced by fuel evaporating within the gas tank. Symptoms of a faulty EVAP system are an illuminated check engine light, a noticeable fuel smell, and a leaking fuel tank. Thankfully, the cost to repair the EVAP system is generally low.

As touched on above, the 2006 Toyota Sienna is a top-of-the-line minivan with a great reputation, but now that you know some of the most common 2006 Toyota Sienna problems, you know what to look out for when shopping for a used model. More importantly, you will also know what kind of questions to ask the dealer to ensure the vehicle in question will be a good investment. If you have any questions about any of the problems with the 2006 Toyota Sienna mentioned above or a question about a different vehicle make/model, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (385) 492-6620. We look forward to helping you with all of your automotive needs.