NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
294 reportsMileage unknown · Feb 8, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE SLUDGED AT 35000 MILES, AND AGAIN AT 79000 MILES. WARRANTY COVERAGE WAS DENIED EVEN THOUGH WE PRESENTED EVIDENCE OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE. WE WERE RECENTLY OFFERED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FIRST REPAIR BY TOYOTA IN THE AMOUNT OF $2300. THEY DENIED REIMBURSEMENT ON THE SECOND REPAIR IN THE AMOUNT OF $7100 BECAUSE THE VEHICLE…
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ENGINE SLUDGED AT 35000 MILES, AND AGAIN AT 79000 MILES. WARRANTY COVERAGE WAS DENIED EVEN THOUGH WE PRESENTED EVIDENCE OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE. WE WERE RECENTLY OFFERED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FIRST REPAIR BY TOYOTA IN THE AMOUNT OF $2300. THEY DENIED REIMBURSEMENT ON THE SECOND REPAIR IN THE AMOUNT OF $7100 BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE ENGINE HAS SLUDGED TWICE IN SPITE OF REGULAR OIL CHANGES. TOTAL REPAIR AND INCIDENTAL COSTS HAVE EXCEEDED $10,000.*AK
NHTSA ODI #757961
Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAD OIL CHANGED IN THE VAN IN SEPTEMBER ,2001 LESS THAN THREE THOUSAND MILES LATER IT BEGAN TO SMOKE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD ENGINE SLUDGE, IN RESEARCHING THIS SUBJECT ON THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY VAN WAS NO LONG…
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I HAD OIL CHANGED IN THE VAN IN SEPTEMBER ,2001 LESS THAN THREE THOUSAND MILES LATER IT BEGAN TO SMOKE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD ENGINE SLUDGE, IN RESEARCHING THIS SUBJECT ON THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY VAN WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY HOWEVER, THAT DUE TO THE LOW MILEAGE I HAVE ON MY VAN THE DEALERSHIP WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP WITH THE COST OF REPAIRS. THE VAN WAS IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS, WHEN I WENT TO RETRIEVE IT I WAS TOLD THAT THE TOYOTA REP. HAD ALSO AGREED TO TAKE CARE OF PART OF THE EXPENSES. NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT TOYOTAS' AND THE DEALERSHIPS' GENEROSITY HAVE MADE ME SOMEWHAT SUSPICIOUS SINCE I WAS INFORMED AT THE BEGINNING THAT THE VAN WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. FURTHERMORE THE COMPLAINTS THAT I ENCOUNTERED FROM OTHER OWNERS ON THE INTERNET LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA MAY BE TRYING TO COVER-UP SOMETHING. REPAIRS COST ME $1430.81. *AK
NHTSA ODI #757585
Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS ACTUATOR FAILED ON 38 MONTH OLD VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES, RESULTING IN TOAL FAILURE OF ABS SYSTEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #756718
Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2002
Tires
ORGINAL EQUIPMENT PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR FIRESTONE, FR680, TIRES SIZE P205/70/R15 WITH FOURTY SEVEN THOUSAND MILES, TREAD SEPARATED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT SIXTY PERCENT OF TIRE TREAD WAS GONE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8001782
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE DID NOT PASS VEHICLE EMISSIONS TEST, DEALER SAID THAT DIRTY OIL HAD LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING ENGINE SLUDGE, REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, OWNER STATED THAT THE OIL WAS CHANGED REGULARLY, AND KNEW OF OTHER SIMILAR CASES, ONWER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS CONDITION IS A RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFEC…
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VEHICLE DID NOT PASS VEHICLE EMISSIONS TEST, DEALER SAID THAT DIRTY OIL HAD LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING ENGINE SLUDGE, REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, OWNER STATED THAT THE OIL WAS CHANGED REGULARLY, AND KNEW OF OTHER SIMILAR CASES, ONWER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS CONDITION IS A RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. *TT
NHTSA ODI #785839
Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
ACCORDING TO DEALER, ENGINE IS SLUDGED UP (AS MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPEREINCED). THEY SAID THEY WILL REPAIR IT (W/O GUARANTEE) FOR $2000, OR $5500 (GUARANTEED).*AK
NHTSA ODI #755972
Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE SLUDGE AT 25,000 MILES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #755354
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2001
Electrical System
SUMMARY OF VEHICLE (TOYOTA SIENNA), GARAGE, AND HOUSE FIRE ON AUGUST 13, 2001. *AK
NHTSA ODI #755296
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FRONT BRAKES WERE GRINDING, AND STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING, BRAKES HAD BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED, CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG.*AK *YD
NHTSA ODI #898371
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2001
Seat Belts
SEAT BELT LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED. DEALER REPLACED SYSTEM WHICH HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED AND THE WARNING LIGHT NO LONGER ILLUMINATES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #898247
Official recalls
2Apr 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.
Oct 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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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