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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

39 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004

Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

ENGINE OIL GELLED/BECAME SLUDGED IN JULY 2002, OIL PUMP FAILED IN NOVEMBER 2003

NHTSA ODI #10069587

67,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

WAITING TO HEAR FROM TOYOTA ON OUR OIL SLUDGE ENGINE FAILURE PROBLEM. WE ARE GATHERING THE OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS AND WERE 1ST TOLD WE DID NOT MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE. NOW SEEING THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE WITH THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10069250

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

LIGHT BLUE SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE .OIL CAP DARK BROWN

NHTSA ODI #10069208

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004

Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

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ALL THE ABOVE DATA IS AN ESTIMATE BECUASE WE ARE WAITING FOR COPIES OF ALL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR RECORDS FROM TOYOTA - - BUT WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE INCLUDING SCREECHING BRAKES, LEFT VEER WHEN DRIVING, BAD TRANSMISSION (REPLACED TWICE),SMOG CHECK FAILURE DUE TO OXYGEN SENSOR AND/OR ENGINE PROBLEMS, CLUNKING NOISES IN ENGINE, A SHUDDERING OF VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING OR BRAKING. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALERS FOR AS LONG AS 3 WEEKS; DEALER ADMITS NOT KNOWING WHAT IS WRONG. FAILED

NHTSA ODI #10068983

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

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MY 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA'S ENGINE SUDDENLY FROZE UP WITH SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 72,000 MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE IS TOTALLY GONE WITH ESTIMATES CURRENTLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $8,000. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AS STATED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. THE COMPLAINT IS THAT TOYOTA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH SIENNA'S AND HAS FAILED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT NOTIFYING OWNERS THAT OIL CHANGES NEED TO BE AT 3000 MILE INTERVALS AND THAT VALVES NEED TO BE CHECKED VERY REGULARLY. SINCE SLUDGE BUILD-UP IS OBVIOUSLY OCCURRING IN THEIR VEHICLES, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047226

74,000 miles · Nov 17, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL BURNS AT HIGH HEAT WHICH CAUSES THE OIL TO DEVELOP INTO A GEL. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE FAILS PREMATURELY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10048066

70,000 miles · Nov 17, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE OF 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA (VAN) HAD SLUDGED ENGINE OIL IN JULY 2002, DEALER REBUILT ENGINE. IN NOVEMBER 2003, OIL PUMP FAILED ON SAME VEHICLE. DEALER CONTENDS THE FAILURE OF THE OIL PUMP IS NOT RELATED TO THE ENGINE OIL GELLING/BECOMING SLUDGE. SINCE ENGINE WAS REBUILT, OWNER HAS CHANGED OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES AND HAS RECEI…

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NHTSA ODI #10047030

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CONSUMER BELIEVED TOYOTA WAS NOT HONORING THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM AS REPORTED BY OWNERS, IN REGARDS TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP IN ENGINES. *AK *JB UPDATED 05/04/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10012388

50,000 miles · Jan 21, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CONSUMER STATES" NOTICED BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM EXHAUST. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A ENGINE OVERHAUL. CONSUMER FEELS ENGINE MAY SEIZE UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ODI #10004198

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING HOME ON INTERSTATE 75. WE HAD JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED BEFORE LEAVING ON VACATION. TOYOTA SAID THAT WE DID NOT SERVICE THE VEHICLE PROPERLY DESPITE OUR HAVING PROVIDED PROOF OF OIL CHANGES. TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER REPAIRS OF $6200. THE FINANCE COMPANY REPOSESSED THE CAR BECAUSE WE COULD NOT A…

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NHTSA ODI #766829

Official recalls

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

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