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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

What owners actually said

105 reports
Mileage unknown · May 1, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEEL WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10017970

1,083 miles · Apr 11, 2003
Suspension

THE VEHICLE PULLED SEVERELY TO THE LEFT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10015704

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2003
Power TrainStructure

PROBLEMS WITH SLIDING DOOR, TRANSMISSION. MR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10015200

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2003
Power Train

UNSAFE DESIGN OF OVERDRIVE FEATURE ON TOYOTA SIENNA. EVERY TIME CAR IS PUT INTO DRIVE, IT DEFAULTS TO 'OVERDRIVE' MODE - WHICH MEANS IT IS FREE WHEELING WHENEVER DRIVER'S FOOT COMES OFF THE ACCELERATOR. NO ENGINE BRAKING!! TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THE CAR ROLLS FREELY. THIS IS GROSSLY UNSAFE, PARTICULARLY IN TOWN DRIVI…

Read full complaint

UNSAFE DESIGN OF OVERDRIVE FEATURE ON TOYOTA SIENNA. EVERY TIME CAR IS PUT INTO DRIVE, IT DEFAULTS TO 'OVERDRIVE' MODE - WHICH MEANS IT IS FREE WHEELING WHENEVER DRIVER'S FOOT COMES OFF THE ACCELERATOR. NO ENGINE BRAKING!! TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THE CAR ROLLS FREELY. THIS IS GROSSLY UNSAFE, PARTICULARLY IN TOWN DRIVING. TO GET ENGINE BRAKING, DRIVER MUST PUSH A BUTTON. THE DEFAULT SHOULD BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND: CAR SHOULD BE DESIGNED SO IT AUTOMATICALLY PROVIDES REGULAR, SAFER ENGINE BRAKING MODE, AND THE DRIVER SHOULD HAVE TO PUSH A BUTTON TO GET INTO LESS SAFE, ECONOMY OVERDRIVE MODE. A COMPUTER CHIP RECALL WOULD PROBABLY CORRECT THIS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE!!!!!!!!

NHTSA ODI #10000557

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2002
Child Seat

I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA TO ONLY HAVE ONE TETHER RESTRAINT IN THE 2ND ROW. SO IF YOU HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS THEY BOTH CAN'T BE TETHERED IN THE 2ND ROW. ALSO THE PLACEMENT OF THIS 2ND ROW TETHER IS TERRIBLE! IT INTERFEARS WITH THE PERSON IN THE 3RD ROW, THEIR FEET GET TANGLED IN THE TETHER. NOT SAFE!!! DT

NHTSA ODI #769717

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.