MajorCommonBody & Rust

Toyota Sienna: Rear Power Liftgate Strut Hydraulic Failure

Rear Power Liftgate Strut Hydraulic Failure is a common body & rust fault on the Toyota Sienna on the 2010 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $280 to $750 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 5 documented faults on the Toyota Sienna.

Vehicle: Toyota Sienna
Years: 2010 onward
Fuel: petrol
System: Body & Rust

This page covers the Toyota Sienna as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Toyota Sienna faults5 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Shock absorber / strut yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The ACR50 Sienna power rear liftgate relies on two hydraulic gas struts to hold the door open while the electric motor handles the opening and closing cycle. The hydraulic struts are subject to seal degradation over time, causing gas pressure loss. Failed struts allow the tailgate to fall freely when opened — a safety hazard causing head injury risk. The failure is progressive: early-stage struts hold the gate open slowly drooping, while fully failed struts offer no resistance. The power motor mechanism can mask the issue until the gate fails to hold position with the motor off. Strut failure is accelerated by New Zealand and Australian UV exposure degrading the rubber seals.

What you would notice

Rear liftgate slowly droops or falls when opened and held stationary
Gate will not stay up without being manually supported
Gate falls quickly if motor power is disabled
Popping or hissing sound from struts when gate is operated

How to check it

Where to look. Rear liftgate — two hydraulic gas struts mounted either side of the tailgate opening, between body pillar and gate inner frame

Open the rear liftgate fully using the power button then switch off the vehicle and observe whether the gate holds position for at least 60 seconds without drooping.
Push the gate slightly downward — it should resist and spring back.
Inspect the two cylindrical struts on each side of the opening for oil weeping or signs of corrosion on the shaft.

Parts involved: Shock absorber / strut.

What it costs to put right

$280 to $750 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Have the rear liftgate struts been replaced?”
“Does the tailgate hold itself open without support?”
“Has the power liftgate ever needed repairs or adjustments?”

Now check the Toyota Sienna you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Toyota Sienna buyer questions

Is rear power liftgate strut hydraulic failure serious on a Toyota Sienna?

We rate it major and common on the Toyota Sienna. The ACR50 Sienna power rear liftgate relies on two hydraulic gas struts to hold the door open while the electric motor handles the opening and closing cycle. The hydraulic struts are subject to seal degradation over time, causing gas pressure loss. Failed struts allow the tailgate to fall freely when opened — a safety hazard causing head injury risk. The failure is progressive: early-stage struts hold the gate open slowly drooping, while fully failed struts offer no resistance. The power motor mechanism can mask the issue until the gate fails to hold position with the motor off. Strut failure is accelerated by New Zealand and Australian UV exposure degrading the rubber seals.

How much does it cost to fix on a Toyota Sienna?

$280 to $750 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Toyota Sienna years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2010 onward Toyota Sienna. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Open the rear liftgate fully using the power button then switch off the vehicle and observe whether the gate holds position for at least 60 seconds without drooping. Push the gate slightly downward — it should resist and spring back. Inspect the two cylindrical struts on each side of the opening for oil weeping or signs of corrosion on the shaft. Look here: Rear liftgate — two hydraulic gas struts mounted either side of the tailgate opening, between body pillar and gate inner frame