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

What owners actually said

181 reports

27,400 miles · May 30, 2003

Fuel System, Gasoline

TOYOTA SIENNA SLUDGE & FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10020734

Mileage unknown · May 28, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE WAS BLOWING WHITE SMOKE OUT, AND WHEN YOU REMOVED THE OIL REFILL CAP THERE WAS A GEL TYPE SUBSTANCE ON IT, THE MECHANIC CALLED IT OIL GEL. TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY ARE NOT MAINTAINING THEIR AUTO, BUT WITH HER VEHICLE THIS IS NOT TRUE. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10021772

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2003

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE REAR BRAKES SQUEAKED EXCESSIVELY WHEN BRAKING. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S CHANGE IN THE WAY MANUFACTURERS MAKE BRAKE SHOES AND WERE UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE BRAKES. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10019908

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

TOYOTA SIENNA ENGINE FIRE. THE CONSUMER INQUIRED WHEN THE RESULTS OF THE FIRE INVESTIGATION WOULD BE PUBLISHED. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10014910

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2003

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

THE BRAKES FAILED, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10012434

50,000 miles · Mar 3, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE LOCKED UP.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10009680

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2003

Structure

AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENS, BUT WILL NOT CLOSE. OWNERS MANUAL RESCUE INFORMATION DOES NOT WORK. THREE MAJOR AND SEVERAL MINOR FAILURES. DOOR OPENED WHILE ON VACATION AND WAS NOT CLOSED UNTIL WE COULD GET AWAY FROM THE BEACH. TODAY OPENED DOOR IN RAIN STORM AND IT WOULD NOT CLOSE. HAVE TAKEN IT IN UNDER WARRANTY REPAIR WAS LUBRICANT. T…

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NHTSA ODI #10008298

21,000 miles · Dec 28, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

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I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM MAGIC TOYOTA IN EDMONDS WA. THE VAN HAS 20000 MILES ON IT AND IS NOW IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE HAD IT SERVICED BUT APPARENTLY THE TOYOTA ENGINES HAVE AN OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP PROBLEM WHICH DESTROYS THE ENGINE IF IT OCCURS. TOYOTA IS UNCERTAIN AT THIS JUNCTURE IF THEY ARE GOING TO REPAIR THE ENGINE WHICH IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD IT SERVICED ON 11/20/02 AT MAGIC TOYOTA. FOUR WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE IS DEAD LINED WITH BLUE SMOKE, POOR COMPRESSION, AND A KNOCK. I HAVE RECENTLY READ THAT TOYOTA ENGINES FROM 2000 ON WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I AM ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT THE STATE OF IDAHO AND POSSIBLY CALIFORNIA ARE FORMULATING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON THIS ISSUE. TOYOTA IS CLAIMING THAT IT IS AN OWNER MAINTENANCE ISSUE NOT A DEFECT. I REQUEST TO FILE AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT AGAINST TOYOTA IN REFERENCE TO THIS ENGINE DEFECT. THEY ARE NOT STANDING GOOD FOR IT. AN ENGINE WITH 20,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD NOT BE DEAD LINED. TS

NHTSA ODI #10000410

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2002

Seat Belts

MIDDLE TO REAR SEAT W/FAILURE; THE SEAT BELTS LOCK-UP UPON MOVEMENT WHERE THE SHOULDER PORTION GETS TIGHTER WITH THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN USAGE OF THE SHOULDER BELT, THE OCCUPANT(S) MUST REMOVE THE SEAT BELT AND REFASTEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ODI #8023184

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2002

Air BagsCrashInjury

NO SUMNMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #767439

Official recalls

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

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.