Toyota's Top-Selling Minivan Of 2026 Was Once One Of Its Least Reliable Models

The minivan has made a comeback, despite its previous status as a practical, if uncool, family car. While minivans once faded from prominence as SUVs took over, minivan sales are now on the rise in the 2020s. And, if there's one minivan that encapsulates this rebound best, it's Toyota's only (and therefore top-selling) minivan, the Toyota Sienna. This modern minivan is one of the best cars you can buy, per Kelley Blue Book (KBB), and it's also among Toyota's better selling vehicles of 2026, per the automaker's Q2 sales data, as well as the overall second best-selling minivan in the U.S. in 2026, per Good Car Bad Car. This is surprising considering that not only is this model part of the formerly maligned minivan family, but an earlier version of the vehicle was among Toyota's least reliable models in general. That second part is particularly interesting, as a vehicle that develops a bad reputation in terms of safety can earn a quick death sentence for its entire lineup. 

For context, the 2004 Sienna had an impressively bad 10 recall alerts. In comparison, a 2026 iSeeCars study found that the industry median for lifetime recalls, per model, is just 3.9. On top of this, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had over 2,000 complaints logged against the 2004 Sienna, making it easy to consider it one of the least-reliable Toyotas cars out there. Or it used to be, at least.

If you can find one — and not that you'd want to given its questionable safety and outdated technology — a 2004 Toyota Sienna typically goes for less than $3,000 in 2026, per KBB. But back when it was a new vehicle, the starting MSRP was $22,955 for the base trim, or $40,577.66 in 2026 thanks to inflation. In actuality, a 2026 Toyota Sienna starts at $41,320, not factoring in rising car insurance rates and elevated gas prices. 

However, the 2026 model is starkly different from its earlier predecessor in that it has top marks for safety from the NHTSA and similar scores from the independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It also doesn't hurt that the car is part of a 2021 refresh (the fourth generation) of the Sienna and received new entertainment and comfort upgrades that have further boosted its appeal with consumers.

Whether or not all of this is enough to beat the sales of the faulty 2004 Sienna remains to be seen. That vehicle sold 159,119 units in 2004, via Good Car Bad Car, whereas the 2026 version was pacing behind at around 55,248, as of June 2026. Still, this is a 4.7% improvement over 2025 sales, so it's possible that the Sienna's sales will continue increasing as its reputation for safety and reliability grows.