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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

Steering complaints

21 reports
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149,500 miles · Oct 11, 2010
SteeringSuspension

TOYOTA 1999 SIENNA CE: STEERING PULLS TO LEFT. I HAVE TO HOLD STEERING TIGHT TO KEEP IT TO RIGHT. I ALREADY GOT ALIGNMENT DONE TWO TIMES AND NEW TIRES CHANGED BUT PULLING TO LEFT STARTS RIGHT AWAY. IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360000

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

100 miles · Jun 14, 2006
SteeringSuspension

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN, IN MAY, 1999, I NOTICED A SEVERE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I COULD NOT LET GO OF MY STEERING WHEEL FOR EVEN A SECOND OR THIS VEHICLE WOULD PULL. I TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (NEILL SANDLER IN MURFREESBORO, TN) AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I TOOK…

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SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN, IN MAY, 1999, I NOTICED A SEVERE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I COULD NOT LET GO OF MY STEERING WHEEL FOR EVEN A SECOND OR THIS VEHICLE WOULD PULL. I TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (NEILL SANDLER IN MURFREESBORO, TN) AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I TOOK IT ANOTHER DEALER AND THE LADY WORKING THERE JUST ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN MY HEAD. LATER I TRIED TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY WOULD NOT DIAGNOSE IT SINCE I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE OTHER DEALERSHIP - WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. RIGHT BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, IN 2002, MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE LADY THERE STILL ACTED LIKE WE WERE CRAZY. LUCKILY, THE SERVICE MANAGER OVERHEARD OUR CONVERSATION AND OFFERED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. AFTER RETURNING FROM HIS DRIVE, HE STATED THAT IT WAS THE WORSE DRIVEN VEHICLE HE HAD EVER BEEN IN. THEY ENDED UP BENDING THE FRAME AS THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE "SOLVED" ANY OTHER WAY AND HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT AFTER BUYING NEW TIRES IT WOULD BE BETTER, AND IT WAS, FOR A WHILE. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH IT, AND HAVE PURCHASED AT LEAST THREE SETS OF FRONT TIRES FOR THE VEHICLE. IT CONTINUES TO PULL AND WE JUST THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE WORTH MENTIONING AFTER SEEING YOUR WEBSITE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10159813

65,000 miles · Jun 3, 2004
Steering

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE …

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WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10075680

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

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, CLUNK…

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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 27, 2001
Steering

IN EARLY 2001, THIS VEHICLE HAD BINDING IN STEERING, RETURNING TO CENTER FROM LEFT TURNS. DEALER REPAIRED WITH KIT FROM A SERVICE BULLETIN, AT NO CHARGE, UNDER WARRANTY. AT SOME POINT LATER IN 2001, VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY LOST POWER ASSIST TURNING LEFT. INCIDENTS ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. BOTH PROBLEMS LIMIT STEERING CONTROL…

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IN EARLY 2001, THIS VEHICLE HAD BINDING IN STEERING, RETURNING TO CENTER FROM LEFT TURNS. DEALER REPAIRED WITH KIT FROM A SERVICE BULLETIN, AT NO CHARGE, UNDER WARRANTY. AT SOME POINT LATER IN 2001, VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY LOST POWER ASSIST TURNING LEFT. INCIDENTS ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. BOTH PROBLEMS LIMIT STEERING CONTROL, USUALLY AT LOW SPEEDS, REQUIRING FAST DRIVER CORRECTIONS TO AVOID COLLISIONS. ARRANGEMENT IS BEING MADE TO DIAGNOSE AND CORRECT THE LATEST PROBLEM. BOTH FAULTS SEEM CONNECTED AND SHOULD BE STUDIED, AS THEY ARE SAFETY HAZARDS, AND THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE EARLIER PROBLEM THAT DOES NOT SHOW UP IN THE NHTSA DATA BASE.

NHTSA ODI #754966

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2000
SteeringStructure

WHILE DRIVING STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ED,CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED RACK GUIDE SUB ASSEMBLY PER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. ALSO, BOTH SLIDING DOOR POWER LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED WAS UNABLE TO OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, WHICH IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, THOSE SLIDING DO…

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WHILE DRIVING STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ED,CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED RACK GUIDE SUB ASSEMBLY PER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. ALSO, BOTH SLIDING DOOR POWER LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED WAS UNABLE TO OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, WHICH IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, THOSE SLIDING DOORS COULD NOT BE USED. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE LOCKS. BUT, SODA SPILLED INTO RUBBER OF DOOR AND CAUSED THEM TO STICK. THEY SHOULD USE BOTTLES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #875913

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2000
Steering

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL MOVES BY ITSELF TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT, CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE VEHICLE WILL TURN BY ITSELF. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #858742

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2000
Steering

WHEN MAKING LEFT TURN ABOVE 20 MILES PER HOUR, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND MUST WRESTLE IT TO RETURN TO CENTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #719734

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2000
Steering

RACK AND PINION FAILURE CAUSED EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AND VEHICLE PULLING. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #550586

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