NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
181 reports35,000 miles · Aug 20, 2008
Electrical System
IN 2003, I WAS TOLD THE ECU UNIT NEEDED REPLACED ON PASSENGER SIDE REAR POWER SLIDING DOOR AS DOOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. HAS CONTINUED WITH INTERMITTENT PROBLEM UNTIL IT FINALLY WOULDN'T OPEN NOR CLOSE. GIVEN THE VERY HIGH VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON ALL YEARS OF THE TOYOTA SIENNA, I WOULD LIKE…
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IN 2003, I WAS TOLD THE ECU UNIT NEEDED REPLACED ON PASSENGER SIDE REAR POWER SLIDING DOOR AS DOOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. HAS CONTINUED WITH INTERMITTENT PROBLEM UNTIL IT FINALLY WOULDN'T OPEN NOR CLOSE. GIVEN THE VERY HIGH VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON ALL YEARS OF THE TOYOTA SIENNA, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE ODI TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GOOGLE "TOYOTA SIENNA POWER SLIDING DOOR PROBLEMS" AND YOU END UP WITH MULTIPLE THOUSANDS OF HITS, WITH MOST BEING CHAT SITES WITH MULTIPLE COMPLAINT THREADS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10238990
131,000 miles · Jul 27, 2008
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
IN 2003, ECU UNIT WAS REPLACED ON PASSENGER SIDE REAR POWER SLIDING DOOR AS DOOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. HAS CONTINUED WITH INTERMITTENT PROBLEM SINCE REPLACEMENT UNTIL IT FINALLY WOULD OPEN BY NOT CLOSE. GIVEN THE VERY HIGH VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON ALL YEARS OF THE TOYOTA SIENNA, I WOULD LIKE…
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IN 2003, ECU UNIT WAS REPLACED ON PASSENGER SIDE REAR POWER SLIDING DOOR AS DOOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. HAS CONTINUED WITH INTERMITTENT PROBLEM SINCE REPLACEMENT UNTIL IT FINALLY WOULD OPEN BY NOT CLOSE. GIVEN THE VERY HIGH VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON ALL YEARS OF THE TOYOTA SIENNA, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE ODI TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GOOGLE "TOYOTA SIENNA POWER SLIDING DOOR PROBLEMS" AND YOU END UP WITH MULTIPLE THOUSANDS OF HITS, WITH MOST BEING CHAT SITES WITH MULTIPLE COMPLAINT THREADS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10235950
60,000 miles · Jul 19, 2008
Latches/locks/linkages
I HAVE A SIENNA XLE 2002 WITH THE ELECTRONIC SLIDING DOORS. FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VAN, THERE ARE THREE BUTTONS TO OPEN THE DOORS; ONE ON THE CONSOLE, ONE ON THE COLUMNS BETWEEN FRONT AND BACK SEATS AND ONE BUTTON IN THE HANDLE. PERIODICALLY THE SLIDING DOORS WILL NOT SHUT OR THEY WILL NOT OPEN. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WA…
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I HAVE A SIENNA XLE 2002 WITH THE ELECTRONIC SLIDING DOORS. FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VAN, THERE ARE THREE BUTTONS TO OPEN THE DOORS; ONE ON THE CONSOLE, ONE ON THE COLUMNS BETWEEN FRONT AND BACK SEATS AND ONE BUTTON IN THE HANDLE. PERIODICALLY THE SLIDING DOORS WILL NOT SHUT OR THEY WILL NOT OPEN. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS JULY 16, 2008 WHEN THE KIDS IN THE BACK DRIVER'S SIDE TRIED TO OPEN THE SLIDING DOOR AND COULD NOT. WE TRIED EVERYTHING AND IT WAS JAMMED SHUT. IT SEEMS LIKE THE BUTTON IN THE HANDLE WAS STUCK (WHICH HAS HAPPENED BEFORE). THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT OR ROLL OVER AND MY PASSENGERS COULD NOT GET OUT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT AS I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. MY SIENNA IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (7 YEARS), BUT TOYOTA WILL NOT WARRANTY THIS LOCK RELEASE BUTTON PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY SAY IT IS PART OF THE HANDLE AND THE HANDLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I COUNTERED THAT THE HANDLE IS FINE, IT IS JUST THE BUTTON DESIGNED IN THE HANDLE THAT IS BROKEN. IF THE BUTTON WAS SITUATED ELSEWHERE IN THE DOOR, I AM SURE IT WOULD BE COVERED. TOYOTA WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT THEY BLATANTLY KNOW ABOUT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10234922
7,011 miles · Apr 30, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
I BOUGHT MY 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA, 05/04/2004, 7011 MILES AFTER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. DEALER FIXED IT BY REPLACING EMISSION CONTROL CHARCOAL CANISTER. IN JUNE 2005 & AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1500 MILES LATER, GAS REFUELING VALVE STARTED SHUTTING OFF, EVEN THOUGH GAS WAS NOT FULL. DEALER CHECKED & SAID I NEED A NEW EMISSION CONT…
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I BOUGHT MY 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA, 05/04/2004, 7011 MILES AFTER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. DEALER FIXED IT BY REPLACING EMISSION CONTROL CHARCOAL CANISTER. IN JUNE 2005 & AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1500 MILES LATER, GAS REFUELING VALVE STARTED SHUTTING OFF, EVEN THOUGH GAS WAS NOT FULL. DEALER CHECKED & SAID I NEED A NEW EMISSION CONTROL CHARCOAL CANISTER, BECAUSE MY PREVIOUS CANISTER WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I HAVE TO PAY $495 (PART+ LABOR) TO REPLACE IT. I COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM REPEATING SOON, DEALER COULD NOT GIVE SATISFACTORY ANSWER. IN CONSUMERS WEBSITE I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2002 TOYOTA VEHICLES. IS IT POSSIBLE THIS PART IN THIS YEAR FAILED MORE OFTEN THAN NORMAL? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10226129
78,500 miles · Apr 11, 2008
Latches/locks/linkages
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT CAUSE LOCK AND UNLOCK. SOMETIMES IT'S WHILE WE'RE DRIVING, SOMETIMES WHILE PARKED. SOMETIMES IT'S FRONT DOORS ONLY, SOMETIMES BACK ONLY, SOMETIMES ALL OF THEM. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN IT'S WET (SO FAR, SNOWING), THOUGH NOT ALWAYS. ONE CAN BE LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE OR LEAVE IT LOCKED A…
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AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT CAUSE LOCK AND UNLOCK. SOMETIMES IT'S WHILE WE'RE DRIVING, SOMETIMES WHILE PARKED. SOMETIMES IT'S FRONT DOORS ONLY, SOMETIMES BACK ONLY, SOMETIMES ALL OF THEM. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN IT'S WET (SO FAR, SNOWING), THOUGH NOT ALWAYS. ONE CAN BE LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE OR LEAVE IT LOCKED AND RETURN TO FIND IT UNLOCKED. DEALERS ALONG COLORADO FRONT RANGE HAVEN'T HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. AN INTERNET SITE SUGGESTED A SHIELDED SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR SOME OTHERS. VEHICLE IS NEARLY 6 YEARS OLD WITH 80K MILES. IT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE 2/14/08, AND IT'S HAPPENED 6-8 TIMES SINCE - THOUGH VERY INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10224224
Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2008
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure
BOTH SLIDING PASSENGER DOORS AND REAR HATCH DOOR WILL BREAK AND NOT OPEN. WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST 8 INCIDENTS OF DOORS NOT OPENING, AND LATCHES BREAKING NOT ALLOWING ACCESS TO VEHICLE. ON ONE OCCASION, DOOR WAS JAMMED IN THE OPEN POSITION AND NOT ABLE TO CLOSE COMPLETELY. TOYOTA ADVISED DOOR CABLE IN DOOR WAS TOO LONG AND DEALER…
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BOTH SLIDING PASSENGER DOORS AND REAR HATCH DOOR WILL BREAK AND NOT OPEN. WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST 8 INCIDENTS OF DOORS NOT OPENING, AND LATCHES BREAKING NOT ALLOWING ACCESS TO VEHICLE. ON ONE OCCASION, DOOR WAS JAMMED IN THE OPEN POSITION AND NOT ABLE TO CLOSE COMPLETELY. TOYOTA ADVISED DOOR CABLE IN DOOR WAS TOO LONG AND DEALER TOOK CARE OF IT AND THERE SHOULD BE NO MORE PROBLEMS. PROBLEM RECURRED ON 3/6/08. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10220732
30,500 miles · Nov 30, 2007
Latches/locks/linkages
THE LEFT SLIDING DOOR STOPPED HALFWAY WHEN CLOSING AND MOVED BACK TO FULLY OPEN POSITION. REPEATED TRIES DID NOT WORK AND SO HAD TO MANUALLY CLOSE THE DOOR. AFTER THAT THE PWR DOOR ICON ON THE DISPLAY LIT UP SHOWING A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER DOOR. TAKING TO THE MECHANIC REVEALED THAT THE MOTOR IS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 3…
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THE LEFT SLIDING DOOR STOPPED HALFWAY WHEN CLOSING AND MOVED BACK TO FULLY OPEN POSITION. REPEATED TRIES DID NOT WORK AND SO HAD TO MANUALLY CLOSE THE DOOR. AFTER THAT THE PWR DOOR ICON ON THE DISPLAY LIT UP SHOWING A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER DOOR. TAKING TO THE MECHANIC REVEALED THAT THE MOTOR IS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 31,500 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10210433
34,006 miles · Oct 23, 2007
Exterior LightingService Brakes, HydraulicStructure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA. AT 34,006 MILES, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO MAKE SQUEAKING NOISES AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. AT 36,000, 46,000, AND 49,000 MILES, THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, THE REAR AND FRONT ROTORS, AND ALSO RESURFACED THE FRONT A…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA. AT 34,006 MILES, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO MAKE SQUEAKING NOISES AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. AT 36,000, 46,000, AND 49,000 MILES, THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, THE REAR AND FRONT ROTORS, AND ALSO RESURFACED THE FRONT AND REAR DRUMS. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED UNDER WARRANTY. NEVERTHELESS, THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO SQUEAK AND THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE DEPRESSED VERY HARD IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO THE BRAKE BUSTER AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,000 SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT BE OF ASSISTANCE SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH REFERENCE NUMBER 2007-0220392. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,006. THE DEALER STATED ARM RESTS, REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT BULB, SQUEAK IN THE INSIDE CABIN. UPDATED 11/26/07 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10206650
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2007
TiresCrash
2002 TOYOTA SIENNA RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL AND HIT A DITCH. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10201501
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2007
Tires
I PURCHASED COOPER LIFE LINER TOURING TIRES FROM KAUFFMAN TIRE. WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF PURCHASE, ONE OF THE TIRES DEVELOPED A LARGE BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL. KAUFFMAN STAFF TOLD ME THIS TYPE OF BUBBLE WAS A RESULT OF "HITTING A CURB OR OTHER OBJECT." I KNEW I HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SAME BRAND & MODEL. …
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I PURCHASED COOPER LIFE LINER TOURING TIRES FROM KAUFFMAN TIRE. WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF PURCHASE, ONE OF THE TIRES DEVELOPED A LARGE BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL. KAUFFMAN STAFF TOLD ME THIS TYPE OF BUBBLE WAS A RESULT OF "HITTING A CURB OR OTHER OBJECT." I KNEW I HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SAME BRAND & MODEL. AS TIME WENT BY, I HAD CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I VISITED KAUFFMAN SEVERAL TIMES. THEY ADJUSTED MY ALIGNMENT AND CHECKED MY TIRE PRESSURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, TO NO AVAIL. TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2007, I STOPPED BY KAUFFMAN AND TOLD THEM THERE WAS APPARENTLY AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM THAT CAUSED MY VAN TO PULL SO SEVERELY THAT I HAD TO STRUGGLE TO KEEP IN MY LANE. I REQUESTED THAT THEY DO AN IN-DEPTH CHECK TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THEY FOUND THAT 3 OF THE 4 COOPER LIFE LINER TOURING TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE, ONE HAD A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL. KAUFFMAN EMPLOYEE AGAIN TOLD ME THAT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY STRIKING A CURB OR OTHER OBJECT. AGAIN, I KNEW I HAD NOT HIT THE TIRE ON ANYTHING. KAUFFMAN EMPLOYEES REPLACED THE TIRES WITH 3 NEW COOPER LIFE LINER TOURING TIRES. ON JULY 6, 2007, ONE OF THE NEW TIRES DEVELOPED A HUGE BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF I-20 IN ALABAMA. AN INTERNET SEARCH LED ME TO YOUR WEBSITE, WHERE I FOUND THAT THE TIRES KAUFFMAN PUT ON MY VEHICLE IN 2007 WERE RECALLED IN 2006. I FEAR SOMEONE MAY BE INJURED OR KILLED BY THESE FAILING COOPER TIRES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10195651
Official recalls
1Apr 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 ↗