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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2000
Tires

YOU GUYS ARE WORTHLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )

NHTSA ODI #732172

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2000
Tires

FIRESTONE AFFINITY (P215/65R15) TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. NLM

NHTSA ODI #554889

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2000
Unknown Or Other

INDICATOR WHICH CONTOLS MANY OTHER COMPONENTS INCLUDING ABS DOES NOT WORK UNLESS ALL FOUR TIRES ARE EXACTLY THE SAME. THIS INDICATOR CONTROLS THE TIRE SIZE AND NOT THE PRESSURE AS INDICATED IN THE SALES BROCHURE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IF YOU REPLACE JUST ONE TIRE WHEN YOU HAVE A FAILURE YOU HAVE TO REPLACE ALL FOUR NO MATTER WHA…

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INDICATOR WHICH CONTOLS MANY OTHER COMPONENTS INCLUDING ABS DOES NOT WORK UNLESS ALL FOUR TIRES ARE EXACTLY THE SAME. THIS INDICATOR CONTROLS THE TIRE SIZE AND NOT THE PRESSURE AS INDICATED IN THE SALES BROCHURE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IF YOU REPLACE JUST ONE TIRE WHEN YOU HAVE A FAILURE YOU HAVE TO REPLACE ALL FOUR NO MATTER WHAT THE WEAR ON THE OTHER THREE ARE. OTHERWISE THE INDICATOR LIGHT WILL CONTINUE TO CYCLE ON AND OFF. I DID NOT STOP WHEN I REALLY HAD A FLAT TIRE AND THUS WAS PUT IN A STRANDED SITUATION WITH 2 INFANTS IN 103 DEGREE WEATHER. TOYOTA SAYS THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO CORRECT IT. THE SYSTEM WILL ULTIMATELY OVER CORRECT ITSELF AND INTERFERE WITH OTHER CRITICAL COMPONENTS UNLESS EVERY TIME YOU CHANGE ONE TIRE YOU REPLACE ALL FOUR. WHAT A MAINTENANCE NIGHTMARE !( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ODI #731735

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2000
Latches/locks/linkages

REAR DOOR LATCHES DO NOT CATCH, PREVENTING DOORS FROM FULLY CLOSING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE LATCHING MECHANISM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #870370

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2000
Child SeatInjury

THE MECHANISM THAT RETRACTS SEAT BELT, HAS A RATCHET OPTION FOR CAR SEAT USAGE. DURING NORMAL DRIVING, THE MECHANISM TURNS INTO RATCHET MODE, TIGHTENING AND TRAPPING CHILD IN BELT. IT LEFT RED BURN ON CHILDS STOMACH. SOFFOCATION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DEATH HAD THE CHILD BEEN SLEEPING DURING THIS TRIP. TOYOTA CHECKED OUT SEA…

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THE MECHANISM THAT RETRACTS SEAT BELT, HAS A RATCHET OPTION FOR CAR SEAT USAGE. DURING NORMAL DRIVING, THE MECHANISM TURNS INTO RATCHET MODE, TIGHTENING AND TRAPPING CHILD IN BELT. IT LEFT RED BURN ON CHILDS STOMACH. SOFFOCATION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DEATH HAD THE CHILD BEEN SLEEPING DURING THIS TRIP. TOYOTA CHECKED OUT SEAT BELT LATCH ( NOT MECHANISM ) AND STATED NO LATCH DEFECT. THEY IGNORED THE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS THAT THE MECHANISM IS DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #731218

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2000
Visibility

WHILE STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING INTO LITTLE PIECES, THAT SHATTERED COMPLETELY. THERE WAS NO COLLISION INVOLVED TO CAUSE THIS. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS UNSAFE BECAUSE CHILDREN WERE PRESENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #869002

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2000
Tires

OUR FRONT TIRES FAILED BY BLOW OUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. LEFT SIDE WAS JUST AS BAD BUT NOT BLOWN OUT. WAS PAPER THIN ON INSIDE CORNERS OF TIRES. HAD HAD ROTATED AT 16000 MILES AND NOTHING WAS REPORTED WRONG. I KNOW THESE TIRES ARE NOT THE BEING RECALLED, AND TOYOTA HAS REIMBURSED US FOR A NEW SET OF GOODYEARS; BUT THE WHOLE THI…

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OUR FRONT TIRES FAILED BY BLOW OUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. LEFT SIDE WAS JUST AS BAD BUT NOT BLOWN OUT. WAS PAPER THIN ON INSIDE CORNERS OF TIRES. HAD HAD ROTATED AT 16000 MILES AND NOTHING WAS REPORTED WRONG. I KNOW THESE TIRES ARE NOT THE BEING RECALLED, AND TOYOTA HAS REIMBURSED US FOR A NEW SET OF GOODYEARS; BUT THE WHOLE THING IS TOO SCARY IN LIGHT OF WHAT'S GOING ON NOW WITH FIRESTONES. JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW. THANKS...ROBERT( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/75R15 )

NHTSA ODI #728498

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2000
Structure

THIS WAS NOT AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE BUT A DESIGN FAILURE. ON A HOT JULY EVENING I CHOSE TO REMAIN IN THE CAR WHILE MY HUSBAND WENT IN A STORE. HE ABSENTMINDEDLY TOOK THE KEYS AND HIT THE AUTOMATIC LOCK BUTTON ON THE KEYFOB. I THEN TRIED TO OPEN A DOOR FROM INSIDE. THIS TRIGGERED THE ALARM AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, TRAPPING …

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THIS WAS NOT AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE BUT A DESIGN FAILURE. ON A HOT JULY EVENING I CHOSE TO REMAIN IN THE CAR WHILE MY HUSBAND WENT IN A STORE. HE ABSENTMINDEDLY TOOK THE KEYS AND HIT THE AUTOMATIC LOCK BUTTON ON THE KEYFOB. I THEN TRIED TO OPEN A DOOR FROM INSIDE. THIS TRIGGERED THE ALARM AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, TRAPPING ME INSIDE. THERE WAS NO WAY TO OPEN A WINDOW OR A DOOR. I GOT HOTTER AND BEGAN TO FEEL SUFFOCATED. FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF A PASSERBY WHO COULD HEAR ME THROUGH THE WINDOW, AND WHO GOT MY HUSBAND. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION, NOT TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE CAR FROM THE INSIDE. IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES (MY HUSBAND GONE LONGER, NO HELP NEARBY) IT COULD LEAD TO A SUFFOCATION OR HEAT-STROKE DEATH.

NHTSA ODI #727691

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2000
Tires

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED AND STEERING WHEEL WAS BUMPING AND VIBRATING. ON THREE TIRES TREADWAS SEPARATED. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE FR680, AND TIRE SIZE P205/70R15 95S M/F. *AK

NHTSA ODI #867618

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2000
Power Train

SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING AT STARTUP. AFTER SOME DRIVING, THE NEEDLE BEGINS TO REGISTER. DEALERSHIPS SAYS A "STICKY SUBSTANCE" (??) CAUSED INOPERATIVE NEEDLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #726826

Official recalls

2

10V160000 · 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

2

DP02004 · 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