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U.S. public vehicle records

Toyota SIENNA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

8,420 owner complaints analyzed

50 distinct recall campaigns

68,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1996 to 2020 model years. Data snapshot: . 5,918 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1,124 of 8,420 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior96311.4%
Steering behavior5796.9%
Transmission and shifting3814.5%
Electrical and battery issues3033.6%
Fuel system concerns1081.3%
Engine operation1041.2%

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.

Structure:Body
1,124
Structure:Body:Door
871
Air Bags
810
Electrical System
628
Unknown Or Other
609
Latches/Locks/Linkages
521
Steering
461
Vehicle Speed Control
435
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Structure:Body1124
Structure:Body:Door871
Air Bags810
Electrical System628
Unknown Or Other609
Latches/Locks/Linkages521
Steering461
Vehicle Speed Control435

Structure:Body: 1,124; Structure:Body:Door: 871; Air Bags: 810; Electrical System: 628; Unknown Or Other: 609; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 521; Steering: 461; Vehicle Speed Control: 435

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
1,063
25,000 to 49,999
1,002
50,000 to 74,999
1,204
75,000 to 99,999
1,086
100,000 to 149,999
1,129
150,000 and above
434
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001063
25,000 to 49,9991002
50,000 to 74,9991204
75,000 to 99,9991086
100,000 to 149,9991129
150,000 and above434

Under 25,000: 1,063; 25,000 to 49,999: 1,002; 50,000 to 74,999: 1,204; 75,000 to 99,999: 1,086; 100,000 to 149,999: 1,129; 150,000 and above: 434

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1,204). 2,502 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.

2000
124
2001
138
2002
114
2003
182
2004
237
2005
259
2006
216
2007
313
2008
368
2009
471
2010
930
2011
625
2012
488
2013
448
2014
477
2015
482
2016
496
2017
710
2018
343
2019
263
2020
205
2021
141
2022
91
2023
90
2024
56
2025
78
2026
75
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
2000124
2001138
2002114
2003182
2004237
2005259
2006216
2007313
2008368
2009471
2010930
2011625
2012488
2013448
2014477
2015482
2016496
2017710
2018343
2019263
2020205
2021141
202291
202390
202456
202578
202675

2000: 124; 2001: 138; 2002: 114; 2003: 182; 2004: 237; 2005: 259; 2006: 216; 2007: 313; 2008: 368; 2009: 471; 2010: 930; 2011: 625; 2012: 488; 2013: 448; 2014: 477; 2015: 482; 2016: 496; 2017: 710; 2018: 343; 2019: 263; 2020: 205; 2021: 141; 2022: 91; 2023: 90; 2024: 56; 2025: 78; 2026: 75

Pattern summary

Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 963 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 579 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 381 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 10017373 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, THE ABS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017373 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10081801 · 2004-07-13 (July 13, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH ABS ENGAGED. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081801 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004275 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 40MPH BOTH TIRE RODS BROKE CAUSING LOST OF STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004275 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10034334 · 2003-09-15 (September 15, 2003)

THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED IN THE RIGHT POSITION AND THE DRIVER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF STRAIGHTENING IT WHEN IT LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED LOST OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD GONE INTO THE HIGHWAY DIVIDER AND WAS TOTALED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. *AK *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034334 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10017087 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)

1998 TOYOTA SIENNA - COMPLETE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON HIGHWAY AT 67,800 MILES. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 67,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017087 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10040131 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION.*MR THERE IS A NOISE WHEN DRIVING CHANGES PITCH WITH SPEEDS. BEARING NOISE FROM INSIDE TRANSMISSION.*TS

Owner-reported narrative. 134,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040131 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10027334 · 2003-07-15 (July 15, 2003)

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMOBLE, IN THAT WHEN SHE TURNS IT OFF, IT STARTS, AND WHEN SHE PUTS IT IN PARK, IT STARTS UP. SHE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, WHO DISCONNECTED THE ALARM SYSTEM, AND THE AUTOMOBILE STOPPED DOING THE ABOVE. SHE STATED THAT THE MECHANIC FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THESE CARS, AND THAT WAS THE EXACT PROBLEM SHE WAS HAVING WITH VEHICLE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027334 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10336630 · 2010-06-16 (June 16, 2010)

WIRING PROBLEM--ELECTRIC GOING ON UNUSUAL PATHS--PUSHING THE BRAKE TURNS ON THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH--I WONDER IF PUSHING THE BRAKE COULD CAUSE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS? *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 131,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10336630 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10063122 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)

THE FUEL INJECTOR SEALS WERE LEAKING. THE DEALER CLAIMED THIS WAS A FIRE HAZARD AND REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTOR SEALS. *AK *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 40,545 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063122 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 857074 · 2000-02-16 (February 16, 2000)

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY WOULD COME ON. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER'S SHOP ON SIX OCCASIONS, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAP ON THE FUEL TANK WAS LOOSE. BUT PROBLEM WAS REOCCURRING. OTHER THEN THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE VEHICLE? PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 857074 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10068476 · 2004-05-07 (May 7, 2004)

WE LEASED A 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA BECAUSE IT WAS THE SAFEST VAN OUT THERE AT THE TIME. TWO YEARS LATER I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, WHEN THE ( DUMMY GAUGE) FOR THE OIL LIGHT TURNED ON. I STOPPED AT THE FIRST GAS STATION AND CHECKED THE OIL IT WAS FINE. ON MY WAY HOME THAT MORNING FROM WORK ON THE FREEWAY. THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, THEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STALLED & I HEARD SOME KNOCKING NOISE , I PULLED OVER, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALEARSHIP WHERE WE LEASED THE VAN. THEY HAD IT CHECKED OUT THEN TOLD US THAT THERE WAS OIL SLUDGING AN…

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068476 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10072153 · 2004-06-14 (June 14, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A BUILD UP OF SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. A NEW ENGINE WAS INSTALLED. TWO YEARS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED AND A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. *AK ON MARCH 22, 2004 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON. ON MARCH 23, 2004 THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO SUGGESTED THAT SLUDGE WAS THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 92 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072153 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2004
10
2005
12
2006
11
2007
10
2008
9
2009
10
2010
8
2011
14
2012
9
2013
6
2014
6
2015
6
2016
5
2017
10
2018
7
2019
7
2020
2
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
200410
200512
200611
200710
20089
200910
20108
201114
20129
20136
20146
20156
20165
201710
20187
20197
20202

2004: 10; 2005: 12; 2006: 11; 2007: 10; 2008: 9; 2009: 10; 2010: 8; 2011: 14; 2012: 9; 2013: 6; 2014: 6; 2015: 6; 2016: 5; 2017: 10; 2018: 7; 2019: 7; 2020: 2

Year-by-year records

Toyota SIENNA model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
199630Not available
1997200
19982102+2
199918520
20003571-1
20011802+1
20021811-1
200310510
20042,06210+9
20051,13012+2
20061,01711-1
200736410-1
20084299-1
200920710+1
20101728-2
201161214+6
20122479-5
20131836-3
201416360
201523060
2016755-1
201715310+5
2018707-3
20194570
2020382-5