← New search

2001 Toyota Sienna

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 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

124 reports with mileage · 56 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.

  • Structure. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 24 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 reports0 fire reports9 injury reports

What owners actually said

180 reports
22,420 miles · Oct 20, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

PREVIOUSLY FILED COMPLAINT OD ID #: 10033210 REGARDING ROTORS. I RECENTLY HAD THEM REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE WHEN BRAKING HARD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT I HEARD METAL TO METAL FROM FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE CAR WASN'T STOPPING. ALSO HAD SLIGHT SHIMMY IN STEERING UPON REGULAR BRAKING. WAS TOLD THAT ROTORS WERE WITHIN THE S…

Read full complaint

PREVIOUSLY FILED COMPLAINT OD ID #: 10033210 REGARDING ROTORS. I RECENTLY HAD THEM REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE WHEN BRAKING HARD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT I HEARD METAL TO METAL FROM FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE CAR WASN'T STOPPING. ALSO HAD SLIGHT SHIMMY IN STEERING UPON REGULAR BRAKING. WAS TOLD THAT ROTORS WERE WITHIN THE SPECIFICATIONS BUT SINCE THEY COULD NOT TURN/SAND THEM AGAIN BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN DONE ONCE BEFORE AND WOULD BE TOO THIN AND THAT THEY WERE "WARPED" THEY WOULD REPLACE THEM UNDER WARRANTY "THIS ONE TIME ONLY." THE FIRST TIME THEY WERE TURNED AND SANDED - APPROXIMATELY 15,000 MILES. THIS TIME THEY WERE REPLACED - 22,000 MILES. THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR! *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043206

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL INJECTORS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10041903

27,000 miles · Sep 29, 2003
Electrical System

OUR 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA HAS PROBLEM WITH THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE LIGHTS, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR, AS WELL AS ALL ELECTRICAL OUTLETS PULSATE. THEY CONTINUOUSLY FLUXUATE FROM DIM TO BRIGHT. THERE ARE EVEN TIMES WHEN I HAVE IT ON CRUISE AND PRESS ON THE BRAKE THAT THE RADIO GOES OFF TEMPORARILY. TOYOTA HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX I…

Read full complaint

OUR 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA HAS PROBLEM WITH THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE LIGHTS, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR, AS WELL AS ALL ELECTRICAL OUTLETS PULSATE. THEY CONTINUOUSLY FLUXUATE FROM DIM TO BRIGHT. THERE ARE EVEN TIMES WHEN I HAVE IT ON CRUISE AND PRESS ON THE BRAKE THAT THE RADIO GOES OFF TEMPORARILY. TOYOTA HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT BUT NOW THEY TELL US THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH THE SIENNAS AND AVOLANS THAT HAVE AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL. THEY TELL US THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE THAT I JUST NEED TO DRIVE IT AS IS. WE CERTAINLY DISAGREE. SINCE THIS EFFECTS THE ENTIRE ELECTIRCAL SYSTEM, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT WE MAY HAVE A COMPLETE POWER FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING. WE ALSO, ARE CONCERNED SINCE THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION, WE DO NOT WANT TO EVER EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. FINALLY, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH LIGHTS THAT RAPIDLY FLUXUATE BETWEEN DIM AND NORMAL. I POSTED THE DATE AS MAY BECAUSE THIS IS WHEN WE FIRST REALISTED THIS WAS HAPPENING. WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN MARCH.

NHTSA ODI #10040904

34,000 miles · Sep 24, 2003
Structure

DEAR SIRS, I WANT TOYOTA TO BUY BACK MY SIENNA VAN. I HAVE HAD MY VAN REPAIRED 4 TIME FOR A INOPERATIVE POWER SLIDING DOOR,ERRATIC OPERATING POWER SLIDING DOOR, UNINTENTIONAL ACTIVATION POWER SLIDING DOOR. THE DOOR IS NOW BROKE AGAIN. AFTER THEY FIX THE DOOR THIS WILL BE THE 5TH REPAIR TO THE DOOR. THE DOOR NOW OPENED ONE TI…

Read full complaint

DEAR SIRS, I WANT TOYOTA TO BUY BACK MY SIENNA VAN. I HAVE HAD MY VAN REPAIRED 4 TIME FOR A INOPERATIVE POWER SLIDING DOOR,ERRATIC OPERATING POWER SLIDING DOOR, UNINTENTIONAL ACTIVATION POWER SLIDING DOOR. THE DOOR IS NOW BROKE AGAIN. AFTER THEY FIX THE DOOR THIS WILL BE THE 5TH REPAIR TO THE DOOR. THE DOOR NOW OPENED ONE TIME WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT SLOW SPEED. THIS IS NOT SAFE!

NHTSA ODI #10039448

30,000 miles · Sep 23, 2003
Child SeatInjury

COSCO CHILD SAFETY SEAT HAS RIDGES MADE INTO THE BACK THAT WERE CAUSING BRUISES ON THE CONSUMER'S CHILD'S BACK. THE CHILD HAS COMPLAINED THAT THE SEAT WAS HURTING HIS BACK FOR AWHILE BEFORE THE CONSUMER FINALLY CHECKED THE BRUISES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10040470

12,000 miles · Sep 22, 2003
Steering

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMED TO DISCONNECT FROM THE COLUMN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SPIN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND WHEELS WOULD NOT MOVE. CONSUMER HAD, FOR ABOUT NINETY SECONDS NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10040315

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

MECHANIC FOUND SIGNIFICANT SLUDGING OIL. DEALER STATED NEEDED TO FLUSH AND CHANGE NEW OIL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10040283

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages

LEFT PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DISCONNECTED THE MOTOR TO THE SLIDING DOOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10040090

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THIS VAN HAS REAR BRAKES THAT SQUEAL/HUM EVERYTIME YOU USE THEM. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA REGIONAL WHICH CONTACTED TOYOTA NATIONAL WHICH SENT SOMEONE OUT TO LOOK AT THEM. IN THEIR WORDS THEY SAID "BRAKE NOISE IS NORMAL FOR A SIENNA". SOMEHOW ANY CONSTANT BRAKE NOISE SHOULDN'T BE NORMAL. I'M TOLD IT HAPPENS WHEN THE BRAKE SHOE…

Read full complaint

THIS VAN HAS REAR BRAKES THAT SQUEAL/HUM EVERYTIME YOU USE THEM. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA REGIONAL WHICH CONTACTED TOYOTA NATIONAL WHICH SENT SOMEONE OUT TO LOOK AT THEM. IN THEIR WORDS THEY SAID "BRAKE NOISE IS NORMAL FOR A SIENNA". SOMEHOW ANY CONSTANT BRAKE NOISE SHOULDN'T BE NORMAL. I'M TOLD IT HAPPENS WHEN THE BRAKE SHOES AND THE BACKING PLATES VIBRATE AT A LOW SPEED IT CAUSES THEM TO HUM. ALSO, AT 15,000 MILES (I ONLY PUT 10,000 PER YEAR ON THE CAR) THE ROTORS HAD TO BE TURNED AND SANDED. 1 WEEK LATER THE METAL CRUNCHING SOUND RETURNED. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS WITHIN THE SPECIFICATIONS. NOW, WHENEVER I HAVE TO BRAKE HARD I STILL WILL HEAR A METAL TO METAL CRUNCHING NOISE. UNFORTUNATELY IT ISN'T A CONSTANT PROBLEM AND CANNOT ALWAYS BE DUPLICATED SO IT STILL HASN'T GOTTEN FIXED. I'VE BASICALLY GIVEN UP ON THE VEHICLE AND WILL TURN IT IN AT THE END OF THE LEASE BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THESE TYPE OF BRAKE PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10033210

19,000 miles · Aug 13, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VIBRATION IN REAR BRAKES CAUSING A HARMONIC NOISE WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP OR IF ON A DOWNWARD INCLINE WITH BRAKES APPLIED AND JUST BARELY INCHING ALONG. THIS IS NOT THE NORMAL SQUEAL FROM BRAKE PADS. I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED THAT THIS VIBRATION IS CAUSING OTHER PARTS TO BECOME LOOSE. I PURCHASED THE 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE VA…

Read full complaint

VIBRATION IN REAR BRAKES CAUSING A HARMONIC NOISE WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP OR IF ON A DOWNWARD INCLINE WITH BRAKES APPLIED AND JUST BARELY INCHING ALONG. THIS IS NOT THE NORMAL SQUEAL FROM BRAKE PADS. I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED THAT THIS VIBRATION IS CAUSING OTHER PARTS TO BECOME LOOSE. I PURCHASED THE 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE VAN NEW IN SEPT 2000. ALL OF MY SERVICE IS DONE ACCORDING TO TOYOTA'S SCHEDULE AND AT TOYOTA OF GREENSBURG, PA. THE NOISE STARTED APROX. FEB OF 2002 WITH 19,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. IT WAS REPORTED TO TOYOTA OF GREENSBURG, PA ON MAY 10TH OF 2002 WITH 22,166 MILES. BETWEEN MAY AND AUGUST OF 2002 THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. DURING THAT TIME THEY REPLACED THE LININGS AND DRUMS, CLEANED THE BRAKES OR DID SOMETHING OTHER BUT THE NOISE ALWAYS COMES BACK. ON AUGUST 5TH 2002 TOYOTA OF GREENSBURG TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WORKING ON A FIX BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING ON ALL SIENNA VANS SINCE 1998. BETWEEN THEN AND APRIL OF 2003 I KEEP ASKING ABOUT THE REPAIR AND THE ANSWER WAS IT IS NOT READY. AT THAT POINT I WENT TO TOYOTA'S ARBITRATION PROCESS BUT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING SINCE THE VAN NOW HAD OVER 36,000 MILES EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM STARTED WELL WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I FEEL THERE IS A VIBRATION PROBLEM (SOMETIMES YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE ROAD WHEEL VIBRATING ALSO) THAT COULD CAUSE OTHER MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS BUT DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. AS FAR AS I KNOW TOYOTA HAS STILL NOT DEVELOPED THE REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10032736

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.

01V072000 · Structure:frame And Members

Mar 5, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT SUB FRAME ASSEMBLY HAS NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY WELDED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FAILURE OF THE ASSEMBLY FOLLOWING LONG-TERM USAGE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FRONT SUB FRAME, IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 9, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.