2002 Toyota SIENNA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000410 · 2002-12-28 (December 28, 2002)
I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM MAGIC TOYOTA IN EDMONDS WA. THE VAN HAS 20000 MILES ON IT AND IS NOW IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE HAD IT SERVICED BUT APPARENTLY THE TOYOTA ENGINES HAVE AN OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP PROBLEM WHICH DESTROYS THE ENGINE IF IT OCCURS. TOYOTA IS UNCERTAIN AT THIS JUNCTURE IF THEY ARE GOING TO REPAIR THE ENGINE WHICH IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD IT SERVICED ON 11/20/02 AT MAGIC TOYOTA. FOUR WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE IS DEAD LINED WITH BLUE SMOKE, POOR COMPRESSION, AND A KNOCK. I HAVE RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006509 · 2002-04-16 (April 16, 2002)
POWER DOORS CAN NOT BE STOPPED BY A CHILD. REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO REVERSE DIRECTION. DEALER TOLD ME THEY WILL INFORM TOYOTA. NO FURTHER INFO. THERE WAS NO CRASH. *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**760751 ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***760751
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008298 · 2003-03-01 (March 1, 2003)
AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENS, BUT WILL NOT CLOSE. OWNERS MANUAL RESCUE INFORMATION DOES NOT WORK. THREE MAJOR AND SEVERAL MINOR FAILURES. DOOR OPENED WHILE ON VACATION AND WAS NOT CLOSED UNTIL WE COULD GET AWAY FROM THE BEACH. TODAY OPENED DOOR IN RAIN STORM AND IT WOULD NOT CLOSE. HAVE TAKEN IT IN UNDER WARRANTY REPAIR WAS LUBRICANT. TODAY TOOK IT IN AND THEY WANT 70.00 DOLLARS TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM PLUS REPAIR. THEY CLOSED IT AGAIN WITH MASSIVE LUBRICATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009680 · 2003-03-03 (March 3, 2003)
THE ENGINE LOCKED UP.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009680 at NHTSA ↗
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 10014910 · 2003-04-15 (April 15, 2003)
TOYOTA SIENNA ENGINE FIRE. THE CONSUMER INQUIRED WHEN THE RESULTS OF THE FIRE INVESTIGATION WOULD BE PUBLISHED. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014910 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 10020734 · 2003-05-30 (May 30, 2003)
TOYOTA SIENNA SLUDGE & FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 27,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020734 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
10V160000 · Structure
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗