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Seat Belt Webbing Guide Defect — Recall 21V889000 (2022 Sienna)
driver seat cushion loose; seat fastener recall; seat may not stay secured
Safety2022
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2021-2026 Toyota Sienna brake lurch, hybrid warnings, or recall 23V865000? California owners may qualify for a lemon law buyback. Free case review.
The 2021-2026 Toyota Sienna promises something rare in the minivan segment: genuine hybrid fuel economy, family-room space, and Toyota reliability. At 35-36 MPG combined, the XL40 is the only full-size minivan sold as hybrid-only since 2021, a bold bet that the A25A-FXS powertrain would be as bulletproof as every Camry and RAV4 carrying the same hardware. Many owners report exactly that. But a growing body of NHTSA complaints, Toyota-issued TSBs, and a fourth safety recall (quietly released in late 2023 with no repair parts available for over a year) tells a more complicated story. The brake system is the most urgent concern. Seventy NHTSA complaints for the 2021 model year document the van surging forward during braking, resulting in seven crashes. Toyota acknowledged the defect in TSB T-SB-0047-24 and offered a software update, but owner reports confirm the lurch persists for many after the update, and no recall has been issued. The 12V auxiliary battery is a recurring failure point: kick-sensor parasitic drain triggers a cascade of false hybrid, brake, AWD, and BSM warnings that makes the van appear to have multiple simultaneous failures when the root cause is a single dead small battery. Recall 23V865000 for 2021 Siennas, covering an occupant classification sensor that may suppress airbag deployment, had owners waiting over a year for remedy parts. If you've been to the dealer two or more times for any of these issues without a lasting fix, California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act may give you real options.
The issues owners report most, ranked by severity — each one verified against a cited NHTSA source.
driver seat cushion loose; seat fastener recall; seat may not stay secured
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
car lurches forward when braking; brakes momentarily release at stop; vehicle surges forward at stop signs or red lights; sudden loss of braking force; brake failure at low speed; van rolls into intersection; near-collision during parking; jerky deceleration on hills; regenerative braking disengages before full stop
12V battery dead overnight; car will not start; check hybrid system warning; hybrid drive system malfunction; brake pressure warning; AWD warning; BSM warning; RCTA warning; TPMS warning; all warning lights on simultaneously; vehicle completely dead; kick sensor draining battery; battery failure in cold weather
check hybrid system warning light; malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) on; P060694 trouble code; hybrid system warning; service hybrid system message; pull over immediately warning; hybrid drive system malfunction; loss of hybrid power; reduced engine output; vehicle enters limp mode
A settled Margarian Law case on this exact model, published with the actual settlement math.
Open any defect for the symptoms and why it matters for a California lemon-law claim. Each is tied to a cited NHTSA source.
driver seat cushion loose; seat fastener recall; seat may not stay secured
Recall 21V889000 (Toyota code 21TB08 / 21TA08) covers 2022 Sienna 8-passenger models in which an incorrect seat belt webbing guide was installed on the outboard second-row seat belt assemblies. A mis-routed webbing guide can prevent the belt from properly restraining an occupant in a crash. Under Song-Beverly, a vehicle subject to an open safety recall is a vehicle with a warranty nonconformity that substantially impairs safety. If Toyota failed to complete the recall repair within a reasonable time or if the owner had to return multiple times for the same seat belt assembly issue, a lemon-law claim is viable regardless of whether a crash occurred.
Dealers will replace the outboard second-row seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB08 and 21TA08.
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall 22V239000 (Toyota code 22TA03) affects 2021-2022 Sienna Hybrid: the Skid Control ECU software may fail to re-enable the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system after the driver has manually disabled it and restarted the vehicle. Driving without VSC on slick or winding roads elevates rollover and loss-of-control risk. Under Song-Beverly, a safety-system software defect that required a recall is per se a warranty nonconformity. Owners whose dealer visits for this issue were marked 'no problem found' before the recall campaign was issued — meaning Toyota already knew about the defect — have a strong argument for repair-attempt credit under Cal. Civ. Code §1793.2(d).
Dealers will update the Skid Control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA03. Lexus' number for this recall is 22LA01.
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall 25V877000 covers Vantage Mobility QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraint retractors installed in 2021-2025 Sienna conversion vans. A retractor that fails to lock can allow a secured wheelchair — and its passenger — to move freely in a crash, creating an extreme occupant injury risk. Under Song-Beverly, the vehicle as delivered (with the OEM-authorized mobility conversion) must conform to all applicable safety standards; a retractor defect on a vehicle specifically purchased for wheelchair accommodation constitutes a fundamental warranty failure. Purchasers of converted accessible Siennas should verify with Vantage Mobility that the remedy retractor has been installed, and document any dealer return visits if the issue persists.
Dealers will inspect and replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters was mailed January 27, 2026. Owners may contact Vantage Mobility customer service at 1-800-488-9082.
car lurches forward when braking; brakes momentarily release at stop; vehicle surges forward at stop signs or red lights; sudden loss of braking force; brake failure at low speed; van rolls into intersection; near-collision during parking; jerky deceleration on hills; regenerative braking disengages before full stop
Toyota acknowledged this defect in TSB T-SB-0047-24 yet issued no recall despite documented crashes. Under Song-Beverly (Cal. Civ. Code §1790 et seq.), a braking defect that persists after a manufacturer-issued software update constitutes a repeated unsuccessful repair attempt for a safety-impairing defect. Owners whose vehicles have returned to the dealer two or more times for brake lurch — and received the TSB software update without resolution — have a strong factual basis for a lemon-law claim. The 'cannot duplicate' dealer response is a documented pattern here and strengthens the repair-history record.
Skid Control ECU software update per TSB T-SB-0047-24. If symptom persists post-update, additional brake control module inspection or hardware inspection is warranted. No recall issued as of Jun 29, 2026.
12V battery dead overnight; car will not start; check hybrid system warning; hybrid drive system malfunction; brake pressure warning; AWD warning; BSM warning; RCTA warning; TPMS warning; all warning lights on simultaneously; vehicle completely dead; kick sensor draining battery; battery failure in cold weather
Repeated 12V battery failures that strand the vehicle — with or without the kick sensor as the root cause — constitute a substantial impairment of use under Song-Beverly. Each no-start event that requires dealer service is a qualifying repair attempt. If the vehicle has been towed or left stranded more than once for the same underlying electrical failure, the owner may qualify for a replacement or repurchase even though a formal recall has not been issued.
Kick sensor software recalibration per TSB T-SB-0071-22 (2022 MY); 12V battery replacement. If battery drains recur without kick-sensor involvement, inspect for additional parasitic draws on the 12V circuit. Toyota Audio Multimedia firmware update may also reduce 12V drain in infotainment-off scenarios.
check hybrid system warning light; malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) on; P060694 trouble code; hybrid system warning; service hybrid system message; pull over immediately warning; hybrid drive system malfunction; loss of hybrid power; reduced engine output; vehicle enters limp mode
A 'Check Hybrid System' warning that recurs after PCM reprogramming is a textbook repeat-repair pattern under Song-Beverly. Because the hybrid drive is the vehicle's sole propulsion source (no gasoline-only fallback when hybrid system goes down), any recurring failure that reduces or eliminates drive power constitutes a safety and drivability defect. Owners who have had the PCM reprogrammed and then seen the warning return — or who experienced a hybrid-related thermal event — have a particularly strong basis for a lemon claim.
Reprogram or replace hybrid powertrain control module per TSB T-SB-0018-23. Verify DTC P060694 clears and does not return across multiple drive cycles. In cases of thermal event, full hybrid battery and motor tray inspection required.
sliding door opens on its own while driving; power door opens at highway speed; sliding door won't close; door disables after being open too long; sliding door doesn't auto-reverse when obstructed; child pinch hazard; door latch failure; door cable detachment; door control unresponsive
A sliding door that opens while driving with child passengers presents an imminent safety hazard and constitutes a substantial impairment of the vehicle's safe use under Song-Beverly. Because Toyota previously settled a class action on the identical failure mode in the prior Sienna generation, manufacturer awareness of the underlying latch design is arguable. Owners should document every dealer visit at which this condition was reported — even visits resulting in 'cannot duplicate' — to establish the repair-attempt count required under Cal. Civ. Code §1793.2.
Door latch inspection and replacement if worn or out-of-spec. Sliding door control module software update if available. Cable and rope drive mechanism inspection for wear or detachment. Interim: disable power door feature and operate manually until repair is completed.
airbag warning light on; SRS malfunction warning; passenger airbag off indicator; front passenger airbag may not deploy in crash; airbag system malfunction message; recall notice with no remedy available; waiting over a year for repair parts; occupancy sensor false readings; airbag warning after firmware update
This recall involves non-deployment of a front airbag — a primary safety system under FMVSS 208. Under Song-Beverly, an unrepaired safety recall is itself evidence of a warranty nonconformity. Critically, Toyota sent recall notifications but had no remedy parts available for over 12 months, meaning owners were legally notified of a life-safety defect but left without a repair. Each month of unrepaired recall status is an additional warranty nonconformity period. Owners who have waited for repair and still do not have a remedy have a strong basis for a lemon-law or consumer protection claim.
Replace occupant classification sensor (OCS). Toyota customer service: 1-800-331-4331. Toyota recall codes 3TB15 / 23TA15. Until repaired, advise against placing passengers in the front seat who may rely on airbag protection.
touchscreen goes black; navigation screen freezes; audio system freezes; backup camera not visible; radio unresponsive; screen turns blue and goes blank; infotainment restarts while driving; Apple CarPlay disconnects; distorted screen during phone calls; Bluetooth call shows after call ends; Toyota connected services unavailable; audio system dead
An infotainment failure that also disables the backup camera implicates FMVSS 111 (rear visibility requirement for all MY2021+ vehicles). Under Song-Beverly, a defect that impairs any safety system — including the mandated backup camera — is not limited to 'mere' inconvenience and may support a claim. Owners whose screen has been reprogrammed or replaced and continues to freeze should document each visit separately to build the repair-attempt record.
Head unit firmware/software update per applicable TSB. If screen continues to freeze or go black after software update, head unit replacement. Verify 12V battery health as a contributing factor (see TSB T-SB-0071-22). Document backup-camera unavailability during freeze events for safety record.
droning noise from rear of vehicle; growling sound at highway speeds; humming from under rear floor; rear axle noise; rear motor whine; abnormal transmission noise; grinding from rear drivetrain; noise worsens at certain speeds; rear motor generator failure
A rear motor generator replacement is a major drivetrain repair on an AWD Sienna. If noise recurs after the first rear-motor replacement, or if the dealer has failed to repair the noise under warranty despite the acknowledged TSB, owners may be entitled to a vehicle replacement or repurchase under Song-Beverly. AWD functionality is a material feature for which buyers paid a premium, and repeated loss of rear-motor reliability constitutes substantial impairment of use.
Inspect rear motor generator per TSB T-TT-0726-23. Replace rear motor generator assembly if internal defect confirmed. Noise that returns after replacement may indicate a systemic lubrication or alignment issue requiring additional drivetrain inspection.
remedy available
Vantage Mobility, LLC (VM) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Honda Odyssey, 2021-2025 Chrysler Pacifica, and Toyota Sienna vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.
remedy available
Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
remedy available
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Sienna vehicles equipped with seating for eight passengers. An incorrect seat belt webbing guide may have been installed on the outboard second-row seat belt assemblies.
Every item below comes from this vehicle's documented defects. The more you recognize, the more a free case review is worth your time.
California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §1790 et seq.) requires that if a new vehicle has a defect substantially impairing its use, value, or safety, the manufacturer must repair it within a reasonable number of attempts — or offer a replacement or refund. (General information only; not legal advice.)
For Sienna owners, the brake-lurch defect (TSB T-SB-0047-24) — linked to documented crashes — clearly impairs safety. Two or more dealer visits without a lasting fix may satisfy the reasonable-attempts threshold. The OCS airbag recall 23V865000 with no remedy parts for over a year is an open nonconformity Toyota itself acknowledged.
Song-Beverly creates a rebuttable presumption of eligibility if the vehicle is out of service for 30 or more cumulative days. Complex hybrid repairs — PCM replacement, rear motor generator swap — can reach that threshold across multiple shorter visits. Remedies include full replacement or a purchase-price refund (taxes, fees, and finance charges included, minus a mileage offset). Attorney's fees are recoverable, so qualified owners typically pursue claims at no out-of-pocket cost. Consult a California consumer protection attorney to evaluate your specific repair record. Law as of June 2026.
“Could not duplicate” doesn't mean the defect isn't real. Here's exactly what to do to protect a potential California lemon-law claim.
Document the moment it happens. Photos, video, and screenshots of any warning lights — with the date and the mileage.
Get a repair order every visit — even “found nothing.” That paperwork is the foundation of a claim.
Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Note any recall that has no available remedy yet.
Track your out-of-service days. California law counts the cumulative days your vehicle spends in the shop.
Keep loaner & rental records. Alternate-transport paperwork during long repairs matters.
Save everything in one place. Symptoms, dates, repair orders, and every repeat visit — the intermittent ones especially.
The Sienna's most dangerous defects — brake lurch and sliding door opening while driving — are intermittent, making dealer 'cannot duplicate' nearly inevitable.
1. Describe the symptom in writing before your appointment. Email the service advisor: 'My 2021 Sienna surges forward during braking — please document this even if you cannot reproduce it today.' A timestamped email creates a paper trail before the RO.
2. Demand a written repair order for every visit, even 'no problem found' visits. Under Cal. Civ. Code §1793.2, each RO is a qualifying repair attempt. Ask the advisor to write your symptom verbatim. 'Customer concern noted — no fault found' still counts as an attempt.
3. Reference TSB T-SB-0047-24 by number. Ask whether the software update has been applied to your VIN. If it has and the lurch continues, ask for written documentation: 'TSB T-SB-0047-24 applied; symptom persists.' That is a failed repair on record.
4. Check recall 23V865000 status at toyota.com/recall with your VIN. If the recall is open and no remedy is available, ask the dealer to note that on the repair order. A notice-only recall with no fix is an open warranty nonconformity.
5. Log every symptom event: date, mileage, conditions, witnesses. A voice memo at the moment carries more evidentiary weight than memory described weeks later.
6. Report crashes or near-misses to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem before the next dealer visit. An ODI complaint number creates a public record.
7. Track cumulative out-of-service days. Under Song-Beverly, 30 or more days out of service during the warranty period creates a statutory presumption of eligibility. Save every loaner and overnight-repair-order record.
The XL40 Toyota Sienna is a genuinely capable and fuel-efficient family hauler — and for the majority of owners who have not encountered these issues, it may well be the best minivan money can buy. But the brake-lurch defect stands out as a pattern that deserves more scrutiny than Toyota has given it. When a manufacturer issues a software TSB in lieu of a recall for a braking issue linked to seven crashes and no injuries only by luck, that is a deliberate regulatory choice. California owners who have experienced the brake lurch and received the TSB update without resolution should not accept 'this is how the hybrid works' as a final answer. The airbag OCS recall with a year-plus remedy delay is equally troubling. These are not annoyances — they are documented safety failures on a vehicle marketed as the family car. If the pattern fits your experience, you have rights worth understanding.
— The Margarian Law team
If your 2021-2026 Toyota Sienna has been to the dealer multiple times for brake lurching, a 'Check Hybrid System' warning, a dead 12V battery, or the OCS airbag recall with no remedy available, you may have options under California's lemon law. Margarian Law has handled thousands of lemon-law cases and offers a free case evaluation — contact us to find out if your repair history qualifies.
This is a known hybrid braking defect. As the A25A-FXS system transitions from regenerative to hydraulic braking, a calibration gap in the Skid Control ECU can create a brief unbraked interval, causing the van to surge forward. Toyota issued TSB T-SB-0047-24 with a software update, but owner reports document the lurch continuing after the update. NHTSA recorded 70 complaints and 7 crashes for the 2021 model year. No recall has been issued. If your dealer visit did not resolve the issue, request the visit be documented in writing — each attempt counts toward a potential Song-Beverly lemon-law claim in California.
Recall 23V865000 (Toyota codes 3TB15/23TA15) affects 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid vehicles. The occupant classification sensor (OCS) beneath the front passenger seat may short circuit, causing the vehicle to misclassify the seat as empty and potentially suppress the front passenger airbag in a crash. Toyota mailed recall notices in late 2023, but remedy parts were unavailable for more than 12 months after the campaign launched. Check your VIN at toyota.com/recall or call 1-800-331-4331. If your recall repair is still pending, California's Song-Beverly Act may provide remedies for an unrepaired warranty nonconformity.
Multiple simultaneous warnings — hybrid system, brakes, AWD, BSM, RCTA, and TPMS — are typically triggered by 12V auxiliary battery failure, not by independent failures in each system. Toyota TSB T-SB-0071-22 identifies malfunctioning kick sensors causing 12V battery drain in cold weather as the root cause for 2022 Sienna Hybrid models. When the 12V battery dies, every CAN-bus-dependent system loses its reference voltage and illuminates. Start with a battery test before accepting a diagnosis of multiple system failures. If the dealer cannot identify and fix the root cause, document each service visit — you may qualify for a lemon-law repurchase or replacement in California.
The 2021-2026 Sienna's A25A-FXS hybrid powertrain is broadly reliable, but three recurring issues affect a meaningful minority of owners: (1) brake lurch during regenerative-to-hydraulic braking transitions (TSB T-SB-0047-24, 70+ NHTSA complaints with 7 crashes for 2021 MY); (2) 12V auxiliary battery depletion triggering cascading false warnings (TSB T-SB-0071-22); and (3) a hybrid Powertrain Control Module fault (DTC P060694) that triggers 'Check Hybrid System' warnings (TSB T-SB-0018-23). AWD models additionally exhibit rear motor generator noise documented in TSB T-TT-0726-23. If any of these affect your Sienna and your dealer has not permanently resolved the issue, you may have California lemon-law rights.
NHTSA complaint records for the 2021-2023 Sienna document the power sliding door unlatching and sliding open while the vehicle is in motion — a documented child ejection hazard. A separate issue causes the door control module to disable the door entirely after extended open-door periods, leaving it impossible to close. No recall has been issued for XL40 sliding door defects; Toyota's prior-generation Sienna (2011-2018) was subject to a class-action settlement (Simerlein v. Toyota, D.Conn. 2017) for the same door latch failure mode. If your sliding door has opened while driving, report the event to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov and document the dealer service history for a potential lemon-law evaluation.
California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act may entitle Sienna owners to a replacement or refund if the vehicle has a defect that substantially impairs its use, value, or safety, and the manufacturer has had a reasonable number of attempts to repair it. For the 2021-2026 Sienna, qualifying defects include recurring brake lurch after TSB T-SB-0047-24 software updates, unresolved 'Check Hybrid System' warnings after PCM reprogramming, a persistent 12V drain that strands the vehicle, or the OCS airbag recall (23V865000) with unavailable remedy parts. Two or more dealer visits for the same safety defect — or 30+ cumulative days out of service — can trigger the statutory presumption of eligibility. Attorney's fees are recoverable if you prevail. Contact a California lemon-law attorney for a free case evaluation based on your specific repair record.
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