1999 Toyota SIENNA: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC MY 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE VAN WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR BY A HONDA CIVIC. ALL OCCUPANTS OF THE VAN WERE WEARING LAP AND SHOULDER SEAT BELTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED BACKWARDS CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FORCE FROM THE HONDA STRIKING THE VAN WAS SUFFICIENT TO DRIVE IT FORWARD INTO THE CHEVROLET PICKUP STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE VAN. BEING UNABLE TO SEE OVER THE DASHBOARD OR HANG UNTO THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY TO TRY AND AVOID THE PARKED VEHICLE IN …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000513 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CONSUMER STATES" NOTICED BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM EXHAUST. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A ENGINE OVERHAUL. CONSUMER FEELS ENGINE MAY SEIZE UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004198 at NHTSA ↗

BOTH THE SLIDING DOORS HAD BEEN RATTLING SINCE I BOUGHT THE VAN. THE DEALER SAID THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLES WITH COMPLETE ASSEMBLY, WHICH I DO NOT PLAN TO SPEND MY MONEY FOR. I BELIEVE IT IS MFR'S RESPONSIBILTY TO FIX THEM. ALSO I HAD REPLACED THE REAR DOOR LATCH THAT IS APPARENTLY MADE OF VERY CHEAP PLASTIC AND HAD BROKE OFF. ALL THE FRONT DASH VENTS FIRST CRACKED AND BROKE OFF WITHIN THE SECOND YEAR, NONE OF WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005378 at NHTSA ↗

ROLLOVER OF VEHICLE DUE TO TREAD SEPERATION FROM TIRE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010657 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER BELIEVED TOYOTA WAS NOT HONORING THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM AS REPORTED BY OWNERS, IN REGARDS TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP IN ENGINES. *AK *JB UPDATED 05/04/10.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012388 at NHTSA ↗

MODEL: TOYOTA SIENNA VAN - XLE YEAR: 1999 MILEAGE : 60600 OTHER OWNERS: THERE ARE MANY OWNERS WHO HAVE THIS ISSUE AS REPORTED IN WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM AND WWW.EDMUNDS.COM - FORUMS. PROBLEM REPORTED: THE SIENNA TRANSMISSION IS DEFINATELY A PROBLEM IN OUR CASE AS MENTIONED BY TOYOTA DEALER AND MANY OTHER OWNERS AT OR NEAR 60K MILES. THIS IS UNCALLED FOR OF A TOYOTA FOR WHICH WE PAY A PREMIUM. I DODNOT SEE ANY RECALLS AND DEALERSHIP CHARGES MAXIMUM AMOUNT FOR LABOU - IN OUR CASE UPTO $3200. DETAILS : WE CURRENTLY HAVE A 1999 (5/1999) SIENNA V…

Owner-reported narrative. 60,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021153 at NHTSA ↗

TRANSMISSION PREMATURELY FAILS ON 99 SIENNA AFTER 61K MILES. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023017 at NHTSA ↗

FIRESTONE TIRE TREAD SEPERATION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 33,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025953 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2010-04-20 (April 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: 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.

Reported: 1998-10-19 (October 19, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS (TDS) SUPPLIED BY AUDIOVOX CORPORATION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN 'OPEN CIRCUIT' CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS AND/OR HVAC FAN SPEED CONTROLS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RUN SMOOTHLY AND COULD STALL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.