IllustrationSINCE DAY ONE THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHEN MOVING FORWARD. THE DEALER HAS TRIED REALIGNMENT/NEW TIRES. THIS GREATLY REDUCED THE PULLING BUT THE VEHICLE STILL EXHIBITS A BIAS TO STEER INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC (LEFT). A TOYOTA TECHNICIAN HAS TOLD ME THE FIX WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE REAR AXLE BEAM.
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 reportsSTEERING WHEEL "LOCKS" WHEN RETURNING FROM LEFT TURN WHILE ACCELERATING. REQUIRES STRONG PULL TO RETURN WHEEL TO STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION. OCCURS INTERMITENTLY, BUT REPEATEDLY. DEALER "CAN FIND NO PROBLEM."
THE SENSTIVE SLIDING DOOR REMOTE CONTROL CAUSES THE SLIDING DOOR TO OPEN AND CLOSE UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH CAUSED PERSONAL INJURIES WHILE TAKING OUT THE GROCERIES. DEALER SAID THAT'S WAY THE CONTROL IS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
HEAD LIGHTS NEEDS AJUSTMENT. YH
WE WERE HEADING NORTH AND THE OTHER CAR WAS HEADING SOUTH. HE DECIDED AT THE LAST MINUTE TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF US. WE HAD NO WHERE TO GO AND SLAMMED INTO HIS PASSENGER SIDE AND THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. WE WERE BOTH TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL VIA PARAMEDICS, AND LATER RELEASED. AFTER LOOKING AT A LOT OF MINIVANS,…
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WE WERE HEADING NORTH AND THE OTHER CAR WAS HEADING SOUTH. HE DECIDED AT THE LAST MINUTE TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF US. WE HAD NO WHERE TO GO AND SLAMMED INTO HIS PASSENGER SIDE AND THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. WE WERE BOTH TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL VIA PARAMEDICS, AND LATER RELEASED. AFTER LOOKING AT A LOT OF MINIVANS, I BOUGHT THE SIENNA BECAUSE OF THE SUPPOSED SAFETY FEATURES, AND WHEN I FELT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, THEY NEVER DID. I ALREADY HAD FIBROMYALGIA AND NOW I HAVE TO HAVE PT BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE BRUISING AND SORE MUSCLES. IT AGGRAVATED THE CONDITION THAT I ALREADY HAD. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE AIRBAGS, OR LACK OF. *AK
REFLECTION OF THE DASHBOARD IN THE WINDSHIELD CREATES A DISTORTION WHICH IMPAIRS VISIBILITY, AND COULD RESULT IN A COLLISION. *AK
WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE CONTINUES TO TURN LEFT UNLESS MANUALLY TURNING STEERING BACK TO RIGHT, AND CLICKING IS HEARD. *ADJ
CLOCK WILL NOT OPERATE AT COLD TEMPRITURE (BELOW 30 DEGREES F)
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
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
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