IllustrationENGINE WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE. CURRENTLY, NEW ENGINE IS MAKING A RATTLING SOUND INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM WITH ENGINE. ALSO, POWER LOCKS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, SOMETIMES IT TAKES 3 OR 4 TIMES BEFORE DOORS WILL OPEN. *AK
1999 Toyota Sienna
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Toyota Sienna do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 183.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sienna years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
70–25K
325–50K
1750–75K
1275–100K
21100–150K
7150K+
67 reports with mileage · 148 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports4 fire reports14 injury reports
What owners actually said
215 reportsAFTER STOPPING AT A GAS STATION TO PUT FUEL IN VEHICLE, AND UPON OPENING FUEL CAP FLAMES WERE COMING FROM INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK, BURNING CONSUMER'S FACE. FIRE INVESTIGATOR COULD NOT SAY WHAT HAD CAUSED FIRE.*AK
BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS LEAKING FLUID CAUSING THE BRAKES TO SQUEAK, THE CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL STOP SALES ORDER ISSUED ON ALL BRAKE PARTS AND THE DEALER HAD TO WAIT FOR PARTS. NLM
WHILE TAKING GAS CAP OFF FLAMES SHOT OUT BURNING CONSUMER'S HAIR AND FACE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
EXCESSIVE SLEDGE BUILD UP IN ENGINE WHICH CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
CONSUMER STARTED TO HEAR A SLIGHT SQUEAK WHEN STOPPING. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND THEY SAID BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT BRAKE CALIPERS WERE LEAKING.*AK THE DEALER FOUND OUT THE FLUID THAT WAS LEAKING WAS NOT BRAKE FLUID BUT WAS ASSEMBLY LUBE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO RETURN FOR INSPECTION AFTER 500 MILES BUT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT …
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CONSUMER STARTED TO HEAR A SLIGHT SQUEAK WHEN STOPPING. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND THEY SAID BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT BRAKE CALIPERS WERE LEAKING.*AK THE DEALER FOUND OUT THE FLUID THAT WAS LEAKING WAS NOT BRAKE FLUID BUT WAS ASSEMBLY LUBE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO RETURN FOR INSPECTION AFTER 500 MILES BUT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY.*YH
FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS WERE LEAKING FLUID. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.*AK
A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DEVELOP SLUDGE, THIS IS WHEN THE OIL TURNS INTO A THICK TAR LIKE GOOP THAT CLOGS THE ENGINE A OIL SYSTEMS, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS STATED THAT THE ONLY CAUSE WAS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE WHICH VOIDS THE CUSTOMERS WARRANTY, THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT…
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A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DEVELOP SLUDGE, THIS IS WHEN THE OIL TURNS INTO A THICK TAR LIKE GOOP THAT CLOGS THE ENGINE A OIL SYSTEMS, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS STATED THAT THE ONLY CAUSE WAS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE WHICH VOIDS THE CUSTOMERS WARRANTY, THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT THE ENGINE AS ABOUT TO BE DAMAGED, THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED IN THEIR NEW VEHICLE. NLM
TIRE SEPARATION. *AK (TIRESIZE: 215/65/15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215/65/15 )
FRONT TIRES ARE UNEVENLY WORN WITHOUT NO ALIGNMENT PROBLEM REPORTED FROM DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT.*AK
Official recalls
210V160000 · Structure
Apr 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.
98V278000 · Electrical SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL Module
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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
2DP02004 · Engine Seizure
Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
PE99070 · Steering Wheel To Return To Center
Opened Nov 17, 1999 · Closed Apr 12, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available