IllustrationALL THE OIL PORTS WERE COMPLETELY PLUGED AND THERE WAS NO WARNING EITHER TIME. IT IS A WONDER THAT WITH ALL THE PORTS PLUGED AND THE ENGINE BOTH TIMES NOT GETTING ANY OIL TO THE UPPER ENGINE THAT IT DID N OT FREESE UP AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCADENT. *AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sienna years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
70–25K
325–50K
1750–75K
1275–100K
21100–150K
7150K+
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
What owners actually said
215 reportsDIAGNOSED AS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE DUE TO "OWNER NEGLIGENCE"; OWNER HAS PROOF OF REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE; OWNER ACCUSED OF "NEVER CHANGING THE OIL"--NOT TRUE; TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN THEIR SIENNAS AND AVALONS, SAYS WE ARE INELIGIBLE FOR "ASSISTANCE" BECAUSE WE ARE OUTSIDE OF THE 60000 DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY;…
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DIAGNOSED AS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE DUE TO "OWNER NEGLIGENCE"; OWNER HAS PROOF OF REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE; OWNER ACCUSED OF "NEVER CHANGING THE OIL"--NOT TRUE; TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN THEIR SIENNAS AND AVALONS, SAYS WE ARE INELIGIBLE FOR "ASSISTANCE" BECAUSE WE ARE OUTSIDE OF THE 60000 DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY; PROPERLY MAINTAINED ENGINES DON'T SEIZE UP AT 64K MILES!! WE ARE OUTRAGED!!*AK
I HAD A FLAT TIRE AND REPLACED THE FLAT WITH A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER THAN THE OTHER 3 TIRES. BECAUSE THERE IS 1/16TH" DIFFERENCE IN THE TIRE DEPTH THE WARNING LIGHT WILL NOT STAY OUT EVEN AFTER RESETTING IT. TOYOTA SAYS THAT AS LONG AS THE TIRES ARE DIFFERENT THE LIGHT WILL NOT STAY OUT. I SAY I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE TO EVER HA…
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I HAD A FLAT TIRE AND REPLACED THE FLAT WITH A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER THAN THE OTHER 3 TIRES. BECAUSE THERE IS 1/16TH" DIFFERENCE IN THE TIRE DEPTH THE WARNING LIGHT WILL NOT STAY OUT EVEN AFTER RESETTING IT. TOYOTA SAYS THAT AS LONG AS THE TIRES ARE DIFFERENT THE LIGHT WILL NOT STAY OUT. I SAY I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE TO EVER HAVE A FLAT TIRE AND REPLACE IT WITH A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER'S TIRE AND THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ADJUSTMENT MADE IN THE SENSOR. I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS FEATURE; IT CAME WITH THE CAR. IF THEY'RE GOING TO PUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON THEIR CARS (AND THEY ARE PLANNING ON PUTTING IT ON ALL THEIR NEW MODELS) THEY NEED TO HAVE A WAY TO ADJUST IT. IT ALSO STARTLES ME WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR.*AK
REAR BRAKES SQUEAL SINCE DAY ONE. *AK
VEHICLE WAS GIVEN NEW VIN: NY60536. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP AND WHEN ACCELERATING IT JUST SHOOK, BUT DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, FRONT AXLE SHAFT HAD BROKEN.*AK
DRIVING TO PHOENIX, ENGINE WENT IN OGDEN UTAH, SAID SLUDGE IN ENGINE, ALTHOUGH HAVE OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS, TOYOTA UNINTERESTED. CLAIMS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE SO NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. *AK
PULLING TO ONE SIDE CONSTANT. TIRES CROSS-ROTATED AND PULL CHANGES TO OPPOSITE SIDE. TIRES REPLACED, PROBLEM RECURS. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES WITHOUT PERMANENT FIX. TIRES HAVE GOTTEN ONLY 15,000 MILES AND 5,000 MILES RESPECTIVELY. UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS WITH PULL AND POTENTIAL FOR TIRE BLOWOUT DUE TO PREMATURE …
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PULLING TO ONE SIDE CONSTANT. TIRES CROSS-ROTATED AND PULL CHANGES TO OPPOSITE SIDE. TIRES REPLACED, PROBLEM RECURS. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES WITHOUT PERMANENT FIX. TIRES HAVE GOTTEN ONLY 15,000 MILES AND 5,000 MILES RESPECTIVELY. UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS WITH PULL AND POTENTIAL FOR TIRE BLOWOUT DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR.U. *AK
TITAN CHECKUP ENGINE ANALYSIS OIL SAMPLE RESULTS REVEALED EXCESSIVE FUEL IN THE ENGINE'S OIL AFTER 6700 MILES OF DRIVING. OIL NOTED TO BE TOO THIN AND SOME LEAD FROM BEARING SCUFFING NOTED. SILICON ALSO PRESENT IN TWO OIL ANALYSIS SAMPLES TO DATE. POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD WITH REDUCED FLASH POINT. FULL INVESTIGATION NEEDED ON 19…
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TITAN CHECKUP ENGINE ANALYSIS OIL SAMPLE RESULTS REVEALED EXCESSIVE FUEL IN THE ENGINE'S OIL AFTER 6700 MILES OF DRIVING. OIL NOTED TO BE TOO THIN AND SOME LEAD FROM BEARING SCUFFING NOTED. SILICON ALSO PRESENT IN TWO OIL ANALYSIS SAMPLES TO DATE. POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD WITH REDUCED FLASH POINT. FULL INVESTIGATION NEEDED ON 1998-2001 MODEL SIENNAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH CURRENT ENGINE FIRE INVESTIGATION ON THE 2002 MODEL. *AIK
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE IN LIGHT, POWDERY SNOW CONDITIONS. SKIDDED THROUGH A FOUR-WAY STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. LONGER BRAKING DISTANCES NOTED AT TIMES.*AK
THE ENGINES IN 1999 SIENNA VANS ARE POSSIBLY HAVING EARLY FAILURE OF THE CRANKECASE VENTILATION SYSTEM THAT CAUSES OIL TO SLUDGE UP AND THE ENGINE BEGINS TO BURN OIL AT A VERY EARLY AGE. I RECENTLY DE-SLUDGED MY VAN'S ENGINE AND NOTED THAT THE CRANKECASE VENT BAFFLES ARE VERY NARROW AND HAD LIKLEY BEEN STOPPED UP FOR A LONG TI…
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THE ENGINES IN 1999 SIENNA VANS ARE POSSIBLY HAVING EARLY FAILURE OF THE CRANKECASE VENTILATION SYSTEM THAT CAUSES OIL TO SLUDGE UP AND THE ENGINE BEGINS TO BURN OIL AT A VERY EARLY AGE. I RECENTLY DE-SLUDGED MY VAN'S ENGINE AND NOTED THAT THE CRANKECASE VENT BAFFLES ARE VERY NARROW AND HAD LIKLEY BEEN STOPPED UP FOR A LONG TIME. FROM THE AMOUNT OF POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. *AK
Official recalls
210V160000 · 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
2DP02004 · 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