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1999 Toyota Sienna

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Toyota Sienna do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 183.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

67 reports with mileage · 148 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports4 fire reports14 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

10 reports
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150,000 miles · Feb 11, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 225,000.

NHTSA ODI #10563840

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2010
Electrical SystemSteering

I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA, BOUGHT NEW IN APRIL 1999. ON NOVEMBER 11, 2005, I HAD TO HAVE THE HORN FIXED BECAUSE TO MAKE THE HORN FUNCTION, YOU HAD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT COST ME $399.35. THE DEALERSHIP LISTED "POOR CONTACTS IN CLOCK SPRING; REPLACE CLOCKSPRING". I NOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I AM WONDERING I…

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I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA, BOUGHT NEW IN APRIL 1999. ON NOVEMBER 11, 2005, I HAD TO HAVE THE HORN FIXED BECAUSE TO MAKE THE HORN FUNCTION, YOU HAD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT COST ME $399.35. THE DEALERSHIP LISTED "POOR CONTACTS IN CLOCK SPRING; REPLACE CLOCKSPRING". I NOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE VEHICLE. TOYOTA WILL NOT HELP WITH THE EXPENSE AS THE WARRANTY IS ONLY GOOD FOR 36,000 MILES OR 3 YEARS. HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES? IN ALL THE YEARS AND WITH ALL THE CARS WE HAVE OWNED (WE KEEP THE CARS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS) THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM WITH HORNS NOT WORKING; THAT IS WHY I FEEL THIS PROBLEM IS INHERENT WITH THIS MODEL IF NOT OTHER TOYOTA MODELS. (PLEASE NOTE; THE EQUIPMENT CHOICES PICKED ARE TO FILL IN THE REQUIRED INFORMATION FROM THE CHOICES GIVEN; NOT NECESSARILY CORRECT. THE PARTS NUMBERS ARE LISTED ELSEWHERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342583

61,000 miles · Jun 19, 2008
Electrical System

I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THE 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA LE WITH WHICH HAS ONLY 61,000 MILES SO FAR. HOWEVER, IN THE EVENING OF TWO DAYS AGO, I STARTED IT AND COULDN'T STOP IT ANYMORE. IT KEPT RUNNING EVEN I TOOK THE KEY OUT. I WAS SO AFRAID OF CAUSING FIRE EVENTUALLY, BUT I STILL HAD TO DRIVE AROUND TRYING TO STOP IT. EVENTUALLY I SMELT …

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I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THE 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA LE WITH WHICH HAS ONLY 61,000 MILES SO FAR. HOWEVER, IN THE EVENING OF TWO DAYS AGO, I STARTED IT AND COULDN'T STOP IT ANYMORE. IT KEPT RUNNING EVEN I TOOK THE KEY OUT. I WAS SO AFRAID OF CAUSING FIRE EVENTUALLY, BUT I STILL HAD TO DRIVE AROUND TRYING TO STOP IT. EVENTUALLY I SMELT SOMETHING BURNING AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT FROM RUNNING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER IN DUBLIN, CA TO HAVE THE STARTER REPLACED. THIS IS SCARY PROBLEM FOR THE CAR I BOUGHT IN THE BELIEF OF SAFETY AND RELIABILITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231555

71,000 miles · Dec 5, 2006
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH FUSE #12 WHICH CONTROLS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, CLOCK, AND REMOTE ACCESS-KEEPS BLOWING. ALSO THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY FLASHES EVEN WHEN THE BELT IS LATCHED. DRIVER'S VANITY LIGHT HAS DISLODGED FROM VISOR. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10175186

100,000 miles · Sep 13, 2006
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON A RAINY DAY ON FLAT ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL BACK LIGHTS. THE RAIN WATER CREATED A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE VEHICLE HARNESS CABLES IN THE HITCHER. THE CABLE HARNESS WAS REQUIRED TO CONNECT THE TRAILER LIGHTS. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE HARNESS CABLES TO RESTORE THE V…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON A RAINY DAY ON FLAT ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL BACK LIGHTS. THE RAIN WATER CREATED A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE VEHICLE HARNESS CABLES IN THE HITCHER. THE CABLE HARNESS WAS REQUIRED TO CONNECT THE TRAILER LIGHTS. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE HARNESS CABLES TO RESTORE THE VEHICLE BACK LIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI #10168153

55,000 miles · Jul 7, 2006
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

POWER DOOR LOCKS HAVE STARTED TO FAIL ON MY 1999 SIENNA LE. THE DRIVER'S DOOR SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEMATIC PART OF THE SYSTEM. THE OTHER DOORS SEEM TO WANT TO RESPOND BUT DRIVER DOOR MAKES A 'CLICK, CLICK, CLICK' SOUND AND DOESN'T RESPOND. KEY USUALLY WORKS TO LOCK AND UNLOCK BUT NOT CONSISTENTLY. DANGEROUS SINCE PEOPLE COULD …

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POWER DOOR LOCKS HAVE STARTED TO FAIL ON MY 1999 SIENNA LE. THE DRIVER'S DOOR SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEMATIC PART OF THE SYSTEM. THE OTHER DOORS SEEM TO WANT TO RESPOND BUT DRIVER DOOR MAKES A 'CLICK, CLICK, CLICK' SOUND AND DOESN'T RESPOND. KEY USUALLY WORKS TO LOCK AND UNLOCK BUT NOT CONSISTENTLY. DANGEROUS SINCE PEOPLE COULD BE TRAPPED IN VEHICLE DURING AN ACCIDENT, ETC AND OTHER POSSIBLY DANGEROUS SCENARIOS COULD OCCUR. REPORTING THIS SINCE IT MOST LIKELY HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AND WANTED IT ON RECORD. DRIVER AND OTHERS COULD BE TRAPPED INSIDE WHICH IS DANGEROUS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10161849

100,000 miles · Jul 5, 2005
Electrical System

98E035000 THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. THE ALARM GOES OFF WITHOUT REASON. THE CAR WILL NOT START ONCE THE ALARM GOES OFF WITHOUT REASON

NHTSA ODI #10127504

110,000 miles · Oct 25, 2004
Electrical SystemFire

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY VAN CUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START BACK. I COASTED INTO A DRIVEWAY AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD. I GOT OUT OF MY VAN TO CALL MY HUSBAND. BY THE TIME I HAD HUNG UP THE PHONE, THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE POURING FROM OUT UNDER THE HOOD AND IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY VAN CUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START BACK. I COASTED INTO A DRIVEWAY AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD. I GOT OUT OF MY VAN TO CALL MY HUSBAND. BY THE TIME I HAD HUNG UP THE PHONE, THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE POURING FROM OUT UNDER THE HOOD AND IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME WITHIN 5 MINUTES. MY VAN WAS A TOTAL LOSS. MY VAN WAS FINE WHEN I LEFT ON THIS SHORT TRIP, BUT THEN WITHIN 10 MINUTES, IT WAS DESTROYED. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10096401

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2004
Electrical System

BATTERY WENT DEAD SUDDENLY. AFTERWARDS THE DOME FUSE WOULD BLOW INTERMITTENTLY. THIS KNOCKS OUT ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE DOOR LOCK CONTROL WILL NOT WORK UNLESS THE IGNITION IS ON. IT APPEARS THAT THE $250 INTEGRATION RELAY WAS SHORTED BY THE BATTERY FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10056251

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 1999
Electrical SystemStructure

POWER SLIDING DOOR NOT LATCHING PROPERLY; WARNING LITE ON; ECU SHORT CIRCUITED; CANNOT VERIFY IF RIGHT SLIDING DOOR IS CLOSED SHUT; EXACT PROBLEM ON SAME VEHICLE TAKEN FROM CARSON TOYOTA IN FEBRUARY; OTHER VEHICLE'S VIN NR IS [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6…

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POWER SLIDING DOOR NOT LATCHING PROPERLY; WARNING LITE ON; ECU SHORT CIRCUITED; CANNOT VERIFY IF RIGHT SLIDING DOOR IS CLOSED SHUT; EXACT PROBLEM ON SAME VEHICLE TAKEN FROM CARSON TOYOTA IN FEBRUARY; OTHER VEHICLE'S VIN NR IS [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #707381

Official recalls

2

10V160000 · Structure

Apr 20, 2010

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998 THROUGH 2010 SIENNA PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 7, 1997 AND JANUARY 4, 2010, CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE SPARE TIRE STOWED UNDER THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN THE COLD CLIMATE REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES WHERE ROAD SALT IS FREQUENTLY USED, WATER SPLASHED BACKWARDS WITH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT CAN REACH THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER AND CORRODE THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER ASSEMBLY CABLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE CABLE MAY BREAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND THE SPARE TIRE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS WITH AN INTERIM LETTER INITIALLY INSTRUCTING THEM TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AUTHORIZED DEALERS TO INSPECT FOR CORROSION. A SECOND NOTICE WILL BE SENT WHEN THE PERMANENT REMEDY IS AVAILABLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE TOYOTA'S AMENDED RECALL REPORT OF JULY 19, 2010. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OCTOBER 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

98V278000 · Electrical SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL Module

Oct 19, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS (TDS) SUPPLIED BY AUDIOVOX CORPORATION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN 'OPEN CIRCUIT' CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS AND/OR HVAC FAN SPEED CONTROLS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RUN SMOOTHLY AND COULD STALL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

DP02004 · Engine Seizure

Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

No summary supplied.

PE99070 · Steering Wheel To Return To Center

Opened Nov 17, 1999 · Closed Apr 12, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available