THE TOYOTA SIENNA'S GAS PEDAL HAS BEEN AND REMAINS INTERMITTENTLY STICKY. IT TAKES SOME FOOT STOMPING TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM A FEW YEARS AGO. *TR
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.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
11 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. UPDATED 3/13/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DID NOT FIND ANYTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG. THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD BACK TO THE DEALER. UPDATED 04/09/2013 *JS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. IT WENT THROUGH THE CONTACT'S GARAGE AND INTO THEIR LIVING ROOM. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 112,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CRASHING INTO THE FRONT OF THE CONTACTS HOME. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT TAKEN. THE CONTACT DIDN'T SAY IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES. THE CONTACT DID NOT REPORT ANY INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMAT…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CRASHING INTO THE FRONT OF THE CONTACTS HOME. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT TAKEN. THE CONTACT DIDN'T SAY IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES. THE CONTACT DID NOT REPORT ANY INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000. UPDATED 05/18/10. *LJ
I TURNS MY TOYOTA SIENNA INTO A DRIVEWAY OF A STORAGE FACILITY AND PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK WHILE TRAFFICPASSED BY AS THIS ROAD WAS ALSO THE EXIT ROAD FROM COSTCO. WHEN IT WAS SAFE FROM OTHER VEHICLES AND IS WAS SAFE TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY I TOOK THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD RAMMING …
Read full complaint
I TURNS MY TOYOTA SIENNA INTO A DRIVEWAY OF A STORAGE FACILITY AND PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK WHILE TRAFFICPASSED BY AS THIS ROAD WAS ALSO THE EXIT ROAD FROM COSTCO. WHEN IT WAS SAFE FROM OTHER VEHICLES AND IS WAS SAFE TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY I TOOK THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD RAMMING INTO AN IRON GATE BENDING IT WIDE OPEN. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED THROUGH THE GATE EVEN THOUGH I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION , JAMMED MY BRAKES AN TRIED TO PLACE IT INTO PARK ALL TO NO AVAIL. CONTINUING THROUGH THE GATE I WAS ABLE TO REACH A LARGE OPEN AREA WHEREUPON I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AS HARD AS I COULD TO MAKE SURE THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY CIRCLE. AFTER A BIT OF TIME THE ENGINE ROARED PICKUP SPEED THEN STOPPED. THIS SAME SURGE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT I THOUGHT I DID SOMETHING TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
I HAVE OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA SINCE NEW. I HAD A EXTENDED 100K WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE. AT 80,000 MILES A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT WAS REPLACED, AT 82,000 MILES IT CAME ON AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED., THEN AT 94,000 MILES THE CAR STARTED STALLING AND WOULD NOT CRANK FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS IN M…
Read full complaint
I HAVE OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA SINCE NEW. I HAD A EXTENDED 100K WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE. AT 80,000 MILES A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT WAS REPLACED, AT 82,000 MILES IT CAME ON AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED., THEN AT 94,000 MILES THE CAR STARTED STALLING AND WOULD NOT CRANK FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS IN MY HEAD, NOTHING WAS WRONG, IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS MORE OFTEN, AT 94,400 I TOLD IT BACK AND THE IDIOTS TOLD ME THE SAME THING, I FOUGHT WITH THIS CONDITION UNTIL IT FINAL EFFECTED THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR REVVED UP WIDE OPEN AND CONTINUED UNTIL I GOT IT TO THE DEALER WHILE IT WAS DOING THE REVVING WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL, THEY FINALLY REPAIRED THE VALUE . I WROTE TO TOYOTAS AND TOLD THEM AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT OF THERE CONCERN, IDIOTS KNEW THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WOULD NOT FIX IT, BUT 800 DOLLARS LATER THEY DID AND NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY. THOSE PEOPLE NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIDING ALL THE CONCERNS, I WANT ME REPAIR MONEY BACK AND PLAN ON CAUSING ENOUGH CRAP WITH THE NEWS MEDIA UNTIL I DO. *TR
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA MY VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING FROM A RAMP ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHEN I DISCOVERED TO MY HORROR THAT EVEN AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL (ABOUT 60 MPH), THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE (UP TO 90 MPH). I EVEN TRI…
Read full complaint
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA MY VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING FROM A RAMP ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHEN I DISCOVERED TO MY HORROR THAT EVEN AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL (ABOUT 60 MPH), THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE (UP TO 90 MPH). I EVEN TRIED USING MY FOOT TO HOOK THE GAS PEDAL TOWARD ME TO STOP THE CAR. WHEN THAT DID NOT SUCCEED, I PRESSED ON THE PARKING AND NORMAL BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. THE VERY NEXT DAY, I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO , DIEHL TOYOTA OF YORK [XXX] . THEY DID NOT DISCOVER ANY ISSUES. HOWEVER IN LIGHT OF THE MASSIVE TOYOTA RECALLS, I BELIEVE THAT MY CAR IS SIMILARLY DEFECTIVE. I HAD TRIED CALLING 800 331 4331, THE PHONE NUMBER PROVIDED BY TOYOTA FOR SUCH DEFECTIVE VEHICLE ISSUES BUT NO ONE EVER PICKS UP. *TR
DEFECTIVE VEHICLE CONTROL SENSOR ON 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA CAUSED AUTOMATIC BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT (CAR WAS NOT IN A SKID) AT OVER 10 MPH. THIS FIRST HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 TIMEFRAME. AFTER READING BLOGS IN HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/WEBX?14@112.TUXHAXBJDJ5@.F0FA178/49#49, WE FOUND THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT W…
Read full complaint
DEFECTIVE VEHICLE CONTROL SENSOR ON 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA CAUSED AUTOMATIC BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT (CAR WAS NOT IN A SKID) AT OVER 10 MPH. THIS FIRST HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 TIMEFRAME. AFTER READING BLOGS IN HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/WEBX?14@112.TUXHAXBJDJ5@.F0FA178/49#49, WE FOUND THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT WAS AT THE TIME COMMON TO TOYOTA RAVS. SINCE THEN THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MORE PROBLEMS REPORTED INCLUDING THOSE THAT HAVE OCCURRED WITH TOYOTA SIENNAS. THIS CAUSED US TO REMOVE THE SENSOR, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE FOR AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH WE SLID OUR MINIVAN OFF OF AN ICY ROAD AND DROPPED 7 FEET INTO A EMBANKMENT WHILE TRAVELING WITH OUR 4 CHILDREN. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED, HOWEVER WE BELIEVE THAT IF THE VSC HAD BEEN PROPERLY FUNCTIONING IT WOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED US TO DISABLE IT, AND IT MAY HAVE PREVENTED THE ACCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED IN JANUARY OF 2009. MY HUSBAND HAD THE VSC SENSOR SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED THIS PAST YEAR AND HE REPORTED RECENTLY THAT THE VSC HAD AGAIN AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATED ON DRY PAVEMENT (NO SKID). I BELIEVE THAT THEIR IS A DEFECT IN THE VSC SENSOR OR THE COMPUTER CONTROL SOFTWARE WHICH ACTIVATES THE BRAKES. I AM REQUESTING THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS FAILURE AS I BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN ENOUGH INCIDENTS TO WARRANT INVESTIGATION. I ALSO KNOW THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
2003 TOYOTA SIENNA MAY ALSO HAVE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. WHY ISN'T 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA ON TOYOTA'S RECENT RECALL LIST YET? THIS HAPPENED TO ME ONCE, I AM STILL VERY SCARED NOW, BUT I AM PUZZLED WHY 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA IS NOT ON TOYOTA'S RECENT RECALL LIST YET. PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING LINK FIRST. HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.ED…
Read full complaint
2003 TOYOTA SIENNA MAY ALSO HAVE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. WHY ISN'T 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA ON TOYOTA'S RECENT RECALL LIST YET? THIS HAPPENED TO ME ONCE, I AM STILL VERY SCARED NOW, BUT I AM PUZZLED WHY 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA IS NOT ON TOYOTA'S RECENT RECALL LIST YET. PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING LINK FIRST. HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F105086 I BELIEVE MY ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2009. VERY FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO INJURY, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I DID NOT REPORT THE ACCIDENT THEN. I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA FROM HOUSTON TO AUSTIN, TX. MY OLDEST SON WAS A FRESHMAN AT THAT TIME AND THE SPRING SEMESTER WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN. MY WIFE, MY YOUNGEST SON, WERE ALSO IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. THERE WERE TOTAL OF FOUR IN THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 71 USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. ABOUT 50 MILES (I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY THE LOCATION, BUT I CAN FIND THAT LOCATION IF I DRIVE ON HIGHWAY 71 AGAIN) FROM AUSTIN, THERE WAS A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN I WAS APPROACHING TO THAT TRAFFIC LIGHT, IT ALREADY TURNED TO RED, AND I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO TRY TO STOP THE CAR IN FRONT OF THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. AT THIS MOMENT, SOMETHING SCARING HAPPENED. THE BRAKE DID NOT SEEM TO WORK, AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE IN STEAD. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR, AND MY CAR RUN THROUGH THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, AND EVERYONE IN THE CAR WAS VERY VERY SCARED. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE BECAUSE THE CARS IN THE OTHER DIRECTION WERE STILL WAITING FOR THEIR GREEN LIGHT. FINALLY THE CAR WAS STOPPED APPROXIMATELY 40 YARDS AFTER THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. I SLOWLY DROVE MY CAR INTO A GAS STATION NEARBY AND CHECKED THE CAR (BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS BECAUSE I AM NOT A MECHANIC). AFTER THAT, I SLOWLY DROVE THE CAR TO AUSTIN TO DROP MY SON THERE, AND I DROVE BACK TO HOUSTON THROUGH HIGHWAY 290 VERY SLOWLY. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I TOLD THE STORY TO MY COLLEAGUES AND MY CHURCH GROUP. I TOLD THEM IT WAS THE GOD WHO STOPPED THE CARS IN OTHER DIRECTION. *TR
TOYOTA SIENNA 2003 I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING GARAGE. I BELIEVE I HAD PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK UP TO STRAIGHTENED THE CAR AND I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR SUDDENLY SHOT FORWARD FULL FORCE AND WAS STOPPED BY A CONCRETE AND WIRE RETAINING WALL. THE ENGINE DIED AT IMPACT. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVA…
Read full complaint
TOYOTA SIENNA 2003 I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING GARAGE. I BELIEVE I HAD PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK UP TO STRAIGHTENED THE CAR AND I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR SUDDENLY SHOT FORWARD FULL FORCE AND WAS STOPPED BY A CONCRETE AND WIRE RETAINING WALL. THE ENGINE DIED AT IMPACT. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED. I WAS STUNNED. I WENT INTO THE BUILDING AND AFTER A SHORT TIME FELT CHEST PAIN AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH. I WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND WAS TREATED AND RELEASED. I RECEIVED A CHEST WALL CONTUSION, PROBABLY CRACKED RIB(S), DEEP TISSUE CONTUSION AND A LARGE BRUISE FROM THE SEAT BELT. I WAS GIVEN VICODIN FOR PAIN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP BUT THE DAMAGE HAS NOT BEEN ESTIMATED YET. I AM AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM OF UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION IN TOYOTA SIENNAS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO BOTH THIS AGENCY AND TOYOTA BEFORE (NHTSA REPORT #10265288). WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED OR THE VEHICLE RECALLED? ARE YOU WAITING FOR ANOTHER TRAGEDY LIKE THE ONE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED ON BY THE MEDIA? I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR
Official recalls
110V160000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration