Toyota Sienta NSP170: common faults & what to check

You're looking at the NSP170

2 engine variants are documented for this generation. Pick yours to narrow further, or keep reading for the generation as a whole.

2015–nowNSP170 Selected2015–nowNSP1701.5 petrolPetrolDocumented issues4 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

2015–nowNSP170 Selected2015–nowNSP1701.5 hybridHybridDocumented issues5 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this Toyota Sienta

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a Toyota Sienta before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Costly issue

  Any movement beyond 1–2 mm at the inner pivot indicates failed bushing.

  See why

  NSP170 Front Lower Arm Inner Bush Cracking

  The NSP170 Sienta front suspension uses a double-wishbone-derived lower arm with a large pressed-in inner bush at the subframe pivot. The inner bushing — a bonded rubber-metal sleeve — develops radial cracking and delamination from the outer metal sleeve from around 60,000–90,000 km. When cracked, the arm pivots irregularly, causing front-end shimmy, tyre wear on the inner edges, and vague steering response at motorway speed. The failure is accelerated by the NSP170's slightly stiffer front suspension tune compared to the NCP80 generation, which transmits higher cyclic loads through the inner bush.

  What you would notice

  • Front shimmy or vibration between 80 and 110 km/h
  • Steering wanders or requires constant correction at motorway speed
  • Clunking from front suspension over sharp bumps at low speed
  • Uneven or feathered tyre wear on front inner edge
  • Pulling to one side under braking

  Typically $350–$950 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Feel the carpet and lower A-pillar trim on both sides for dampness, and look for water staining on the headlining edge.

  See why

  A-pillar water leak into electrics - sliding doors can open themselves (recall)

  XP170 Sientas were recalled in several markets (Japan-sourced defect, recalled in Indonesia, Malaysia and covered by a Toyota Japan campaign for over 250,000 hybrids built May 2015 - March 2022) because a faulty A-pillar garnish clip lets rainwater leak onto electrical wiring. Water reaching the sliding door electronics can make a power sliding door open unintentionally while driving, and it can also corrode connectors. NZ-imported units may have missed the recall work in Japan, so verification matters. The fix is minor (clip/sealing rework) if done before water damage occurs.

  What you would notice

  • Damp carpet or trim at the front pillars after rain
  • Musty smell inside the cabin
  • Sliding door opens or unlatches without being asked
  • Intermittent electrical gremlins near the doors

  Typically $150–$1,200 to put right.

• Common issue

  Cycle BOTH sliding doors several times each from the dash button, the key fob and the door handle.

  See why

  Power sliding door failure - release motor, cable and control unit

  Both the XP80 and XP170 Sienta use twin electric sliding rear doors, and the door lock release motor, drive cables and control attachment are known wear items on high-km examples. Japanese workshops document doors that stop mid-travel, re-close on their own, or need repeated handle pulls, traced to a dead release motor or worn cable requiring replacement of the slide door control attachment. Repairs are fiddly and parts are dealer-only or used-import, so a fully dead door is not a cheap fix. A door that works manually but not electrically is the classic half-failed state.

  What you would notice

  • Sliding door stops partway then closes again
  • Grinding or 'gagging' noise as the door moves
  • Door works with a firm manual pull but not on the button
  • One door noticeably slower than the other
  • Door won't latch fully on the first attempt

  Typically $300–$1,500 to put right.

A 2017 Toyota Sienta: what is due, and when

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Toyota Sienta’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

• Hybrid Battery Replacement Cost
• Timing Chain Replacement Cost
• CVT Gearbox Repair Cost

Other Toyota models