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2002 Toyota Sienna

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota Sienna do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 183.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

120 reports with mileage · 61 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 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

16 crash reports4 fire reports9 injury reports

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

27 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2011
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

WHEN THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM ERUPTED I REMEMBER SEEING AN INTERNAL DOCUMENT WHICH RELATED TO THE REAR DOOR LATCH FOR SIENNAS. I OWN A SIENNA AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR LATCH TWICE SO FAR. IT JUST BRAKES APART AND IT BECOMES A REAL HUZZLE SINCE THE REAR DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED. TOYOTA MUST REPLACE THIS LATCHES WITH…

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WHEN THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM ERUPTED I REMEMBER SEEING AN INTERNAL DOCUMENT WHICH RELATED TO THE REAR DOOR LATCH FOR SIENNAS. I OWN A SIENNA AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR LATCH TWICE SO FAR. IT JUST BRAKES APART AND IT BECOMES A REAL HUZZLE SINCE THE REAR DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED. TOYOTA MUST REPLACE THIS LATCHES WITH A GOOD WELL MANUFACTURED MATERIAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10440048

15,000 miles · Nov 28, 2011
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

THE DOOR LATCHES GOT STUCK INTERMITTENTLY. DOOR IS NOT CLOSED WHILE CAR MOVING. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10437575

30,000 miles · Aug 6, 2011
Latches/locks/linkages

WITHIN A YEAR AFTER BUYING THE 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA THE RIGHT SIDE SLIDING DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE. THE LEFT SIDE DOOR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM INTERMITTANTLY. NEITHER ONE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BUT ARE SEEN AS A SAFETY CONCERN IN THE WORST CASE AND A CONSTANT NUISANCE OTHERWISE. THE ISSUE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND…

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WITHIN A YEAR AFTER BUYING THE 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA THE RIGHT SIDE SLIDING DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE. THE LEFT SIDE DOOR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM INTERMITTANTLY. NEITHER ONE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BUT ARE SEEN AS A SAFETY CONCERN IN THE WORST CASE AND A CONSTANT NUISANCE OTHERWISE. THE ISSUE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND SO REMAIN. THE REAR DOOR PLASTIC LATCH BROKE AFTER ABOUT FOUR YEARS, REQUIRING A $200 REPAIR. IT BROKE AGAIN AFTER ABOUT THREE MORE YEARS BUT THIS TIME I REPAIRED IT WITH A METAL SCREW, BUT A YEAR LATER IT BROKE IN ANOTHER PLACE AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED. THE PART IS MADE OF SLIGHTLY SOFT BRITTLE PLASTIC, POORLY DESIGNED. INTERESTINGLY, I RECENTLY BOUGHT A NEW TOYOTA PRIUS AND PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. READING THE FINE PRINT I FIND IN THE RATHER LONG LIST OF EXCLUSIONS FROM THE "BUMPER TO BUMPER" WARRANTY ARE INCLUDED DOOR LATCHES AS WELL AS, IRONICALLY, THE BUMPERS. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10417766

175,000 miles · Feb 28, 2011
Latches/locks/linkages

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LIFT GATE ON THE VEHICLE WILL NOT OPEN BECAUSE THE LATCH IS BROKEN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A PLASTIC LINK TO THE LATCH THAT HAD BROKEN AND PREVENTS THE REAR LIFT GATE FROM OPENING FROM THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. THE FAILUR…

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TL- THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LIFT GATE ON THE VEHICLE WILL NOT OPEN BECAUSE THE LATCH IS BROKEN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A PLASTIC LINK TO THE LATCH THAT HAD BROKEN AND PREVENTS THE REAR LIFT GATE FROM OPENING FROM THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. THE FAILURE WAS 175,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000.RL

NHTSA ODI #10384780

100,000 miles · Aug 30, 2010
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA IN 2005. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OPENING AND CLOSING THE SLIDING DOORS AND ISSUE WITH THE TRUNK. IT FIRST STARTED WHEN THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN ANY MORE. THE LITTLE PIECE TO CLICK IT OPEN BROKE OFF. NEXT, THE RIGHT PASSENGER SLIDING…

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MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA IN 2005. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OPENING AND CLOSING THE SLIDING DOORS AND ISSUE WITH THE TRUNK. IT FIRST STARTED WHEN THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN ANY MORE. THE LITTLE PIECE TO CLICK IT OPEN BROKE OFF. NEXT, THE RIGHT PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, BUT COULD BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. EVENTUALLY, THE OUTSIDE HANDLE BROKE OFF (PROBABLY DUE THE INABILITY TO OPEN IT FROM THE INSIDE). NEXT THE LEFT PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR STARTED TO SHOW SIMILARITIES TO THE RIGHT SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR. EVENTUALLY, THIS HANDLE BROKE OFF AS WELL AND WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. TO DATE, THE SLIDING DOOR ON THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT CAN NOT BE OPENED INSIDE OR OUT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR US AND OUR FOUR KIDS. THE KIDS HAVE TO COME THROUGH THE FRONT TO GET OUT OF THE VAN. IT BECAME SOMEWHAT STRANGE TO ME WHEN I NOTICED THAT OTHER TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVANS HAD HANDLES MISSING OFF THE BACK PASSENGER SLIDING DOORS. I THOUGHT, WHAT IS UP WITH THE QUALITY OF THE VANS? MOST INDIVIDUALS DRIVING MINIVANS ARE TRANSPORTING CHILDREN, SO I WOULD ASSUME THAT THE VANS WERE CONSTRUCTED TO HANDLE THE CONSTANT OPENING AND CLOSING THAT OCCURS FROM THE BACK PASSENGERS. I THINK THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN A FAIR WAY. WHEN WE WENT TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE TRUNK WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $200, SO WE TOOK THE OPTIONAL ROUTE OF LOADING GROCERIES, LUGGAGE, ETC. FROM THE INSIDE. THE DOOR INCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED THIS YEAR, 2010. WE HAVE OWNED OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE KIDS, NAMELY 1997 HONDA ODYSSEY THAT DID NOT HAVE ANY OF THE HANDLES MISSING OR ANY PROBLEMS WITH GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I SENT A LETTER TO TOYOTA CORPORATE OFFICE ON AUGUST 22, 2010 VIA EMAIL, NO RESPONSE. I PHONE TOYOTA CORPORATE OFFICE ON AUGUST 30, 2010 AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY (I ALREADY KNEW THIS) AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352791

130,181 miles · Aug 18, 2010
Latches/locks/linkagesPower Train

ON AUGUST 15, 2010 WITH THE 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA IN PARK AND WITH NO KEY IN THE STEERING WHEEL A TWO YEAR OLD WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO BEGIN TO MOVE BACKWARDS. SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE CLOSE BY AND WERE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS BACKING UP. ADULTS THEN CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND IN FA…

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ON AUGUST 15, 2010 WITH THE 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA IN PARK AND WITH NO KEY IN THE STEERING WHEEL A TWO YEAR OLD WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO BEGIN TO MOVE BACKWARDS. SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE CLOSE BY AND WERE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS BACKING UP. ADULTS THEN CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND IN FACT WERE ABLE TO MOVE THE SHIFTER FROM PARK INTO GEAR (WITHOUT THE KEY IN ITS IGNITION). ON AUGUST 16 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED -"CUSTOMER STATES THE SHIFTER COMES OUT OF PARK WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. CONFIRMED CUSTOMER CONCERN. FOUND SHIFTER CABLE WORN AND IN NEED OF ADJUSTMENT." *TR

NHTSA ODI #10350330

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2010
Latches/locks/linkages

WE HAD SOME TRANSMISSION WORK DONE ON OUR 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA. AFTER THAT WORK WAS COMPLETED THE DOOR LOCKS ON THE VAN AUTOMATICALLY AND REPEATEDLY LOCK WITH OUT INTERVENTION . THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, TURNED OFF AND WHILE DRIVING. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE WHILE IT WAS HAPPENING AND THEY CAN'T FIGUR…

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WE HAD SOME TRANSMISSION WORK DONE ON OUR 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA. AFTER THAT WORK WAS COMPLETED THE DOOR LOCKS ON THE VAN AUTOMATICALLY AND REPEATEDLY LOCK WITH OUT INTERVENTION . THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, TURNED OFF AND WHILE DRIVING. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE WHILE IT WAS HAPPENING AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS ISSUE WASN'T RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10348049

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2010
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

2002 TOYOTA SIENNA PASSENGER DOOR BEHIND DRIVER NOT OPENING. AUTOMATIC DOOR DOESN'T CLOSE. HAVE BEEN TO THE SHOP FOR THESE PROBLEMS. PROBLEMS PERSIST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10341604

75,000 miles · May 3, 2010
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesStructure

1. TRUNK DOOR LATCH BROKEN AND CANNOT OPEN. TOYOTA DOES NOT PROVIDE A MANUAL TRUNK RELEASE INSIDE THE VAN. 2. PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED. IT JUST KEPT POPPING OPEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328564

100,000 miles · Jul 15, 2009
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR ON TOYOTA SIENNA OFTEN DOES NOT CLOSE. EVEN WHEN ENCOURAGED "MANUALLY" TO CLOSE, IT PULLS BACK SEVERAL TIMES. IF AUTO FEATURE IS TURNED OFF, IT WON'T PULL CLOSED AT ALL. SLIDING DOOR ON LEFT SIDE WON'T OPEN FROM INSIDE. OCCASIONALLY LOCKS ITSELF SO THAT IT CAN'T BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE EITHER, EVEN IF…

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AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR ON TOYOTA SIENNA OFTEN DOES NOT CLOSE. EVEN WHEN ENCOURAGED "MANUALLY" TO CLOSE, IT PULLS BACK SEVERAL TIMES. IF AUTO FEATURE IS TURNED OFF, IT WON'T PULL CLOSED AT ALL. SLIDING DOOR ON LEFT SIDE WON'T OPEN FROM INSIDE. OCCASIONALLY LOCKS ITSELF SO THAT IT CAN'T BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE EITHER, EVEN IF ALL OTHER DOORS ARE UNLOCKED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276857

Official recalls

1

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.

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

1

PE01036 · Engine Compartment Fire

Opened Oct 19, 2001 · Closed Feb 11, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

No summary supplied.