2002 Toyota SIENNA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
181 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
68,385 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 120 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 181 complaints (10.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 33 | 18.2% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 5.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 19 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 19 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 19 |
| Structure | 13 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 |
| Structure:Body | 9 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 8 |
Electrical System: 19; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 19; Structure:Body:Door: 19; Structure: 13; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Structure:Body: 9; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 25 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 11
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 61 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2001: 4; 2002: 10; 2003: 17; 2004: 19; 2005: 18; 2006: 9; 2007: 8; 2008: 14; 2009: 16; 2010: 22; 2011: 15; 2012: 6; 2013: 7; 2014: 2; 2015: 4; 2016: 3; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10012434 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
THE BRAKES FAILED, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012434 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019908 · 2003-05-15 (May 15, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10076258 · 2004-06-15 (June 15, 2004)
A 3 YEAR OLD MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CHILD EASILY MOVED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GEAR SHIFT BUTTON. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10076258 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139465 · 2005-10-12 (October 12, 2005)
THE STEERING WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. 45 MINUTES PRIOR TO THIS, I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR, THANKFULLY I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT THE TIME, SO NO PERSONAL INJURY OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND. I COULD HAVE VERY EASILY HAVE BEEN KILLED DO TO DEFECTIVE WORKMANSHIP. I PROMPTLY CALLED GREENVILLE TOYOTA AND REPORTED IT AND THEY WERE TO COME TOW THE CAR FROM RALEIGH BACK TO GREENVILLE. GREENVILLE TOYOTA SAYS THE STEERING COLUMN IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WOULD COST ME $328 TO REPLACE IT. IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE COME L…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,746 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065237 · 2004-03-30 (March 30, 2004)
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS NOT OPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH BURNED OUT. THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH WAS REPLACED NUMEROUS TIME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065237 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067997 · 2004-04-28 (April 28, 2004)
APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AGO THE CLOCK LOST THE TIME. 4/28/04 MILEAGE 42K DRIVING ON NH HIGHWAY RTE 3 SO. APPROACHING THE BEDFORD TOLL IN THE HIGHSPEED LANE (40-45 MILES PER HOUR) THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER! ENOUGH SPEED LEFT TO PULL INTO THE LEFT BARRIER AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THIRD ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER WAS REGAINED. AUTOFAIR TOYOTA DEALER SHIP INDICATED THAT TOYOTA HAD FORWARDED A CHAMPAIGN. TOYOTA CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE INDICATED THAT THE CHAMPAIGN IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ONL…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045682 · 2003-11-07 (November 7, 2003)
I HAD BOUGHT MY VAN MAY 2,2003 WITH ABOUT 19,000 MILES. ON OCTOBER 7, WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. WHEN I PULLED INTO A PARKING STALL, PASSERBYERS WERE YELLING THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. AN INDEPENDENT ARSON INVESTIGATOR SAID HE FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE ENGINE, AND THAT IT HAD PROBABLY BEEN LEAKING SINCE I PURCHASED MY VAN. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045682 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138965 · 2005-10-06 (October 6, 2005)
OBSERVED SLIPPING DURING FULL STOPS, ENGINE DIED SEVERAL OCCASIONS BEFORE THE ACTUAL TOTAL FAILURE OF PARTS INVOLVED, LOSS OF FORWARD MOTION OR SPEED PICK-UP, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED (TOYOTA ISSUED AN AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE INVOLVING 1998-2000 SIENNAS BUT APPARENTLY THE COMPANY ALREADY HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM TO OCCUR). *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 81,443 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081395 · 2004-07-06 (July 6, 2004)
ENGINE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF AN ACCUMALATION OF SLUDGE WHICH DEVELOPED IN THE BASE OF THE MOTOR. THEN, ENGINE STALLED. THIS WAS THE THIRD ENGINE REPLACEMENT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081395 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10319345 · 2010-03-12 (March 12, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHENEVER THE CHARCOAL CANISTER OR ANY MINOR MALFUNCTION OCCURRED IN THE VEHICLE THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS DEACTIVATED. THE TRACTION CONTROL ALSO DEACTIVATED WHEN THE FUEL CAP WAS NOT REPLACED PROPERLY ON THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE DEFECT; YET, THEY REQUIRE THE CONTACT TO COME IN WHENEVER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK SINCE IT RAINS IN FLORIDA AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WHEN …
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319345 at NHTSA ↗