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2003 Toyota Sienna

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 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

79 reports with mileage · 26 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.

  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports2 fire reports9 injury reports

Steering complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2004
Steering

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. *LA THE PULLING INCREASED AS THE CONSUMER DROVE FASTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WITH NO RESULTS. A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NORMAL. A MECHANIC AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER IN HIS OPINION, T…

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WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. *LA THE PULLING INCREASED AS THE CONSUMER DROVE FASTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WITH NO RESULTS. A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NORMAL. A MECHANIC AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER IN HIS OPINION, THE VEHICLE NEEDED A STEERING GEAR BOX. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10063443

2,000 miles · Dec 3, 2003
SteeringFire

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE LOSING POWER STEERING FLUID.*MR CONSUMER FILLED THE VEHICLE WITH POWER STEERING FLUID WHEN RETURNING HOME. ONCE HOME HE RETURNED THE INCIDENT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ORDER HE TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR A CHECK UP. WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. CONSUME…

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PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE LOSING POWER STEERING FLUID.*MR CONSUMER FILLED THE VEHICLE WITH POWER STEERING FLUID WHEN RETURNING HOME. ONCE HOME HE RETURNED THE INCIDENT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ORDER HE TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR A CHECK UP. WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. CONSUMER NOTED THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. ONLY THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN DUE TO LOW POWER STEERING FLUID. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10049946

24 miles · Sep 11, 2003
SteeringTires

THIS IS FOR A NEW TOYOTA SIENNA VAN. THE STEERING HAS ALWAYS HAD A SHAKE IN IT FROM DAY ONE. DEALER CHECKED TIRES FOR FLAT SPOTS. FOUND ONE BAD TIRE AND REPLACED. SHAKE STILL THERE.TOOK THE VAN TO ANOTHER TIRE STORE TO HAVE BALACES ON TIRES CHECKED AND THEY WERE NOT BALANCED PROPERLY. HAD TIRES RE-BALANCED AGAIN. SHAKE STILL THE…

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THIS IS FOR A NEW TOYOTA SIENNA VAN. THE STEERING HAS ALWAYS HAD A SHAKE IN IT FROM DAY ONE. DEALER CHECKED TIRES FOR FLAT SPOTS. FOUND ONE BAD TIRE AND REPLACED. SHAKE STILL THERE.TOOK THE VAN TO ANOTHER TIRE STORE TO HAVE BALACES ON TIRES CHECKED AND THEY WERE NOT BALANCED PROPERLY. HAD TIRES RE-BALANCED AGAIN. SHAKE STILL THERE. DEALER THEN CHECKED STEERING COMPONANTS AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. DEALER THEN ROTATED AND RE-BALANCED TIRES AND STATED THAT THE SHAKE MAY WORK ITS WAY OUT WITH SOME ADDITIONAL MILEAGE PUT ON THE TIRES AFTER THE ROTATION. WAS ADVISED TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE VAN ON VACATION AND SEE HOW IT GOES. AFTER VACATION MILEAGE OF 1600 MILES,SHAKE STILL THERE. DEALER RE-INSPECTS AND FINDS AN INNER TIE-ROD DEFECTIVE(LEFT SIDE). TOYOTA SENDS A WHOLE NEW RACK AND PINNION STERRING SYSTEM TO BE REPLACED. DEALER COMPLETES WORK BUT SAYS THEY DIDN'T REPLACE RIGHT SIDE OUTER TIE-ROD BECAUSE THE DEFECTIVE TIE-ROD WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE. NEXT DAY THE SHAKE STILL THERE. BACK TO DEALER FOR MECHANIC TO TEST DRIVE. HE STATES THERE IS A DEFINATE SHAKE IN THE STEERING BUT DOESN'T KNOW WHY. SO THEY HAVE MY VAN AGAIN TODAY FOR THE FOURTH TIME TO TRY AND FIGURE IT OUT.

NHTSA ODI #10038708

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2003
SteeringSuspension

VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING. *MR THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED, BOTH LOCK NUT(S) WERE LOOSE AND THE TIE ROD(S) WERE EQUALLY ADJUSTED 1/8 OF A TURN TO COMPENSATE FOR THE STEERING WHEEL, A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED, THE TOE IN AND CAMBER WAS ADJUSTED, AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE MOUNTED AND BALANCE…

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VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING. *MR THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED, BOTH LOCK NUT(S) WERE LOOSE AND THE TIE ROD(S) WERE EQUALLY ADJUSTED 1/8 OF A TURN TO COMPENSATE FOR THE STEERING WHEEL, A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED, THE TOE IN AND CAMBER WAS ADJUSTED, AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE MOUNTED AND BALANCED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10026612

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.