The 2008 Toyota Sienna lasts around 300,000 miles with only some minor sliding door and transmission software issues. At $6,367 to $13,171, it’s pricey, but worth the money for an extremely dependable minivan.
Is the 2008 Toyota Sienna a Good Used Van?
- Yes, 2008 is a good year for the Sienna. Owners praise the comfortable cabin, dependable engine, and cargo space.
- Interior quality is better than average with durable and comfortable materials used throughout the cabin, but the technology is a bit outdated compared to rivals.
- Reliability ratings are excellent. Models from 2007 and newer are all fantastic with fewer complaints than rivals.
- Performance is better than average for a minivan from the standard V6 engine.
- The 2008 Sienna is reasonably safe, getting an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars in government crash tests, with the lowest score being 4 stars in the front driver side test.
- Fuel economy is average for a minivan averaging around 19 MPG, which will get owners about 380 miles of range out of the 20 gallon tank.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the Toyota Sienna?
- Consumer Reports says the Sienna is the top-rated minivan of its time, with very high owner satisfaction scores.
- Edmunds gives the 2008 Sienna a 4.5/5 and praises the powerful V6 engine, but doesn’t like the floaty steering.
- Kelley Blue Book users rate the Sienna 4.6/5 and enjoy the all-wheel-drive system in the snow, but owners find the interior to be too basic.
What Common Problems Does the 2008 Toyota Sienna Have?
The common problems found on the 2008 Toyota Sienna include sliding door issues, hesitation while downshifting, and premature tire wear. Overall, these problems are fairly minor compared to issues found on other minivans from 2008, and repair costs are similar to rivals.
Automatic sliding door problems are the most widespread issue according to owners at around 65,000 miles. The sliding doors have an issue where they will lock and then not unlock properly. This is caused by a failing door lock actuator, which costs about $180 to replace.
Hesitation, while downshifting, is another issue reported by owners at around 20,000 miles. The main source of the problem is with the transmission control module. Simply resetting the computer usually fixes the problem, and can be done for under $50.
Premature tire wear shows up on a lot of Sienna models in the first 30,000 miles. Poor alignment is usually to blame for tire wear problems. Getting an alignment done costs about $100 to $200 depending on local labor rates.
There are 9 recalls on the 2008 Sienna, which is worse than some other vans from the same year. The most serious recall is for the seat heater electrical wiring, which can cause a fire. Many of the other recalls are for load carrying labels, and not a concern.
How Long Will the 2008 Toyota Sienna Last?
A properly maintained 2008 Toyota Sienna should be able to last around 300,000 miles, which is 100,000 more than rivals like the Chrysler Town & Country. Regular annual maintenance costs are more affordable than average, according to Repair Pal, at $446 per year.
Since most 2008 Sienna models will have over 100,000 miles buyers should be prepared to replace items including the A/C evaporator for $750, sunroof switch costing $120, and the power sliding door switch, which costs $200.
It is very reliable, as far as the driving goes. The engine does rattle when it is warming up, but it does not seem to continue the whole time. Also, the automatic door mechanism is dying.
Yes, the sienna is very reliable. The only real probably I have had with it is the a/c was leaking. Other than that, it is mechanically great.
All old cars have issues but this car has been reliable to a fault. It also protected us in a huge accident where ice smashed our front window into thousands of pieces and we were are safe.
It is reliable and handles extreme cold fairly well. Where we live we often see temperatures below zero in the winter on a regular basis. We have never had any issues with the car starting and running. The only problem we have had with this car is that the brakes have to be changed about every six months because of the type of brakes used on this car.
The 2008 Toyota Sienna seems to be a very reliable vehicle to me. I have not encountered any problems as of yet
Very reliable. About 2 years ago I had a lot of electrical issues but they were related to the handicap conversions and not to the Toyota itself
Yes it is reliable, no problems but the bad light sensor and the radiator was replaced but in later years. Maybe the tires are starting to cup.
Yes very reliable. I had no problems with the sienna yet. I have had it 3 years. The only thing is I think my tire pressure sensor is going out but again it has 222000 miles on it and it is 11 years old.
How Much Is the 2008 Toyota Sienna Worth?
Blue book values range from $6,367 to $13,171, making the Sienna about $1,000 more expensive than a Dodge Grand Caravan or Kia Sedona. When new, the price range was $24,440 to $37,765. Depreciation is better than average, only losing 8% of its current value per year.
What are the Different Models of the Toyota Sienna?
The 2008 Toyota Sienna comes in four different models and is offered with either front-wheel-drive or all-wheel drive. The second generation of the Toyota Sienna was introduced in 2004 and replaced in 2011.
CE is the entry-level model with:
- 16-Inch Steel Wheels
- Cloth Seating
- Power Windows & Locks
- Front & Rear Air Conditioning
- 6-Speaker AM/FM/CD Stereo
LE is a step up adding:
- 16-Inch Aluminum Alloy Wheels
- Privacy Tinted Glass
- Roof Rack
- Steering-Wheel Mounted Stereo Controls
- Cruise Control
XLE is next in the lineup, and adds:
- 17-Inch Aluminum Alloy Wheels
- Power Sliding Doors
- Tri-zone Climate Control
- Wood Interior Trim
- Power Tailgate
XLE Limited is the flagship model and has:
- Unique 17-Inch Wheels
- Leather Seating
- Heated Front Seats
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- 10-Speaker JBL Stereo System
What Engines Come In the Toyota Sienna?
The engine found in the 2008 Toyota Sienna is a powerful 3.5L V6 which makes 266 horsepower and gets up to 19 MPG combined. Performance is good for a van, taking 7.8 seconds to go from 0-60 MPH.
What Colors Does the Toyota Sienna Come In?
How Big Is the Toyota Sienna?
The 2008 Toyota Sienna is an average-sized minivan, similar in size to the Nissan Quest and Hyundai Entourage. Passenger room is excellent in all three rows, and easily fits adults with plenty of legroom.
Cargo space is phenomenal and the Toyota Sienna can easily fit 6-8 suitcases behind the third row, and over 15 when all the seats are folded flat.
How Does the Toyota Sienna Compare to the Competition?
The Toyota Sienna is one of the best minivans available for the 2008 model year, offering more powerful engines and lower ownership costs.
The Honda Odyssey is a popular rival offered in the same price range. Technology is a bit more up to date in the Honda Odyssey, but the Toyota Sienna scores better in reliability. We recommend the Toyota Sienna since they last a bit longer, but both are outstanding minivans.
The Chrysler Town & Country is another competitor, which costs about $2,000 less. Interior materials are nicer in the Chrysler Town & Country, but the Toyota Sienna has a more powerful engine standard. We recommend the Toyota Sienna since it is a more reliable van.
Do Owners Recommend the Toyota Sienna?
Yes. I really like my sienna. It runs smoothly and reliably. I especially love that it has all wheel drive, most minivans do not, but this one does, which really helps in the winters here.
Yes, it is very reliable. The engine is powerful. I love the power doors feature, which is nice with kids. Storing the back seats is also very easy and convenient.
Yes, it is exactly why I purchased, durable and long lasting. Over 10 years old and over 120,000 miles.
The Toyota sienna is a reliable vehicle that has served us well. It drives well and handles road conditions well. My only issue is that we have to replace the brakes fairly often which is a result of the types of brakes that this car uses. It gets decent gas mileage and is still going strong with 160,000+ miles.
Yes the 2008 Toyota sienna is a very good vehicle to have and to drive. It has everything I want in a vehicle
Great! Very dependable and comfortable. I've had very few mechanical problems and it's got lots of options to adjust the seat for a very comfortable ride even on long trips. .
Yes, good outer body, no parts replaced yet except the radiator, new tires after 149,000 miles, tire pressure light is stuck on, the light sensor is broke but not worth replacing.
Yes. I have had it for 3 years and I have had no problems. It is easy to change the oil, it drives great, and it fits my family well.