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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

Seat Belts complaints

6 reports
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133,678 miles · Jul 27, 2010
Seat Belts

TWO SEAT BELTS IN MY 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA HAVE GOTTEN "JAMMED". IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY WITH EACH BELT, AND THEY BOTH JAMMED IN THE SAME MONTH. THEY ARE NOT USABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT RETRACT FAR ENOUGH TO BUCKLE, AND ONE IS EVEN STUCK RETRACTED OUT. THERE IS NOTHING THAT I CAN THINK OF THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. TH…

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TWO SEAT BELTS IN MY 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA HAVE GOTTEN "JAMMED". IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY WITH EACH BELT, AND THEY BOTH JAMMED IN THE SAME MONTH. THEY ARE NOT USABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT RETRACT FAR ENOUGH TO BUCKLE, AND ONE IS EVEN STUCK RETRACTED OUT. THERE IS NOTHING THAT I CAN THINK OF THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. THEY ARE NOW PERMANENTLY JAMMED, AND I CANNOT FIND A WAY TO FIX IT. TOYOTA WANTS TO CHARGE $350 PER SEAT BELT AND I CANNOT AFFORD THAT, SO THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10345578

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2003
Seat BeltsSeatsCrashInjury

WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC MY 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE VAN WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR BY A HONDA CIVIC. ALL OCCUPANTS OF THE VAN WERE WEARING LAP AND SHOULDER SEAT BELTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED BACKWARDS CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FORCE FROM THE HONDA STRIKING THE VAN WAS SUF…

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WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC MY 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE VAN WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR BY A HONDA CIVIC. ALL OCCUPANTS OF THE VAN WERE WEARING LAP AND SHOULDER SEAT BELTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED BACKWARDS CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FORCE FROM THE HONDA STRIKING THE VAN WAS SUFFICIENT TO DRIVE IT FORWARD INTO THE CHEVROLET PICKUP STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE VAN. BEING UNABLE TO SEE OVER THE DASHBOARD OR HANG UNTO THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY TO TRY AND AVOID THE PARKED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE VAN. MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS SEATED IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WAS THROWN ABOUT IN THE BACK OF THE VAN AS HER SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK IN POSITION, WHEN THE VAN STRUCK THE PICKUP THAT WAS STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE VAN. MY DAUGHTER AND I EXPERIENCED MUSCLE SPASMS FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT. FURTHER AS MY DAUGHTER WAS EXPERIENCING SEVERE NECK PAIN FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, SHE WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL FOR EVALUATION. TS

NHTSA ODI #10000513

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2002
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT LOCKED IN PLACE AND DID NOT LET THE CHILD OUT OF THE SEAT. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8013858

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2001
Seat Belts

MIDDLE REAR SEAT SEATBELT AND BUCKLE WILL NOT STAY TIGHT, CHILD IS ABLE TO WIGGLE RIGHT OUT OF SEAT. SEAT BELT KEEPS GETTING WIDER AND WIDER THE MORE ONE PULLS ON IT. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO PART AVAILABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #897236

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2000
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrash

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 45 MPH IN WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ALSO, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT, AND MIDDLE CAPTAIN'S SEAT BELT BEHIND PASSENGER'S SEAT, FAILED TO OPERATE. NO INJURIES REPORTED, AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #858713

Mileage unknown · May 13, 1999
Seat Belts

DUE TO LOCATION DEFECTIVE REAR LEFT SIDE SHOULDER BELT GOT STUCK IN A "LOCKED" POSITION WHEN IT WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE IN THAT POSITION. CHILD GOT TANGLED IN THE LOCKED SHOULDER BELT SINCE SHOULDER BELT BUCKLE WAS AT THE CHILD'S NECK, WHICH ALMOST STRANGLED THE CHILD, THE MOTHER HAD TO CUT THE SHOULDER BELT INORDER TO GET THE CH…

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DUE TO LOCATION DEFECTIVE REAR LEFT SIDE SHOULDER BELT GOT STUCK IN A "LOCKED" POSITION WHEN IT WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE IN THAT POSITION. CHILD GOT TANGLED IN THE LOCKED SHOULDER BELT SINCE SHOULDER BELT BUCKLE WAS AT THE CHILD'S NECK, WHICH ALMOST STRANGLED THE CHILD, THE MOTHER HAD TO CUT THE SHOULDER BELT INORDER TO GET THE CHILD OUT. THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE SEATBELT SYSTEM REGARDING IT LOCKING UP WHEN IT'S NOT SUPPOSE TO. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837914

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