A seat belt issue has forced Toyota to issue a recall for the 2022 Sienna minivan.
Toyota states that impacted 2022 Sienna models are equipped with seat belt assemblies for the outboard second-row seats that use a directional low-friction insert in the D-ring to minimize ‘bunching’ and/or point loading during crashes. However, it has discovered that some vehicles have been fitted with an incorrect D-ring, meaning the seat belt assembly may now be facing the wrong direction.
In the event of a crash, this could cause the seat belt material to bunch or even tear, increasing the risk of injury.
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A total of 2,259 Toyota Sienna models are involved in the recall, all of which were produced between September 16, 2021 and October 5, 2021.
Owners will be notified of the issue by January 16, 2022 and instructed to bring their vehicles to a Toyota dealer. Dealers will resolve the issue by replacing the outboard second-row seat belt assemblies with ones that have been manufactured correctly.
The 2022 Toyota Sienna is largely identical to the new-generation model that was introduced in early 2020. It is based on the automaker’s TNGA-K platform and is sold exclusively with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid with two electric motors that produces 243 hp. This powertrain can also be coupled to an electronic on-demand AWD system that uses a separate independent electric motor powering the rear wheels when required.
