Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
120–25K
2925–50K
2650–75K
2575–100K
37100–150K
28150K+
157 reports with mileage · 206 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.
Power Train. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
21 crash reports4 fire reports19 injury reports
What owners actually said
363 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2002
Tires
VAN EXPERIENCED EARLY AND SEVERE TIRE WEAR. TIRES REPLACED AFTER ROTATIONS AND 33,000 MILES. VAN STILL PULLED LEFT. DEALER REALIGNED VAN, BUT IT STILL PULLED LEFT. SENT US BACK TO TIRE STORE. TIRES REBALANCED TWO MORE TIMES (FOR A TOTAL OF 3) AND VAN STILL PULLS LEFT. DEALER CLAIMS IT IS THE TIRES AND WILL NOT FIX EVEN THO…
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VAN EXPERIENCED EARLY AND SEVERE TIRE WEAR. TIRES REPLACED AFTER ROTATIONS AND 33,000 MILES. VAN STILL PULLED LEFT. DEALER REALIGNED VAN, BUT IT STILL PULLED LEFT. SENT US BACK TO TIRE STORE. TIRES REBALANCED TWO MORE TIMES (FOR A TOTAL OF 3) AND VAN STILL PULLS LEFT. DEALER CLAIMS IT IS THE TIRES AND WILL NOT FIX EVEN THOUGH CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #761125
Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2002
Seat BeltsInjury
CONSUMER STATES CHILD IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT WAS STRANGLED BY THE SEAT BELT, THE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO REMOVE CHILD FROM SEAT AND THE SEAT BELT CONTINUED TO GET TIGHTER. NLM CONSUMER HAD TO, AS A LAST RESORT, CUT CHILD FROM SEAT BELT. THE PRESSURE FROM THE TIGHTENING SEAT BELT BECAME UNBEARABLE. *JG
NHTSA ODI #8007828
Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2002
Suspension
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT. MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8007685
Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2002
Power Train
WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE VAN SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND THE DEALER PROVIDED EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF WHICH CAUSES THESE FAILURES. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS …
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WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE VAN SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND THE DEALER PROVIDED EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF WHICH CAUSES THESE FAILURES. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT DISABLES THE VAN WITHOUT WARNING. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ROLL THE VAN OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY BEFORE ANYONE GOT HURT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #759620
Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2002
Steering
LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED ALL STEERING PARTS & TIRES. STILL PULLS SEVERELY TO LEFT. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF PULLING PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #758161
Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
SLUDGE BUILD UP LEADING TO CAMSHAFT FAILURE - FAST OIL LEVEL DROP. *AK
NHTSA ODI #758155
Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
OUR SIENNA WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SLUDGE BUILDUP IN MAY 2000. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AS EVENTUALLY WE WILL ENCOUNTER ENGINE FAILURE AT SOME POINT. TOYOTA REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY OF THIS MATTER AND CONTINUALLY BLAMES THE OWNERS FOR LACK OF MAINTANENCE. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE ENCOUN…
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OUR SIENNA WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SLUDGE BUILDUP IN MAY 2000. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AS EVENTUALLY WE WILL ENCOUNTER ENGINE FAILURE AT SOME POINT. TOYOTA REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY OF THIS MATTER AND CONTINUALLY BLAMES THE OWNERS FOR LACK OF MAINTANENCE. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE ENCOUNTERED ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO NOT HAVE HAD THAT. HOWEVER, WE HAVE NO PEACE OF MIND IN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE EVERY DAY, WITH OUR CHILDREN MIND YOU, AND KNOWING WE COULD HAVE ENGINE FAILURE AT ANY TIME. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER BE DONE. IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A PROBLEM AS TOYOTA HAS HAD OVER 3000 COMPLAINTS SUCH AS OURS. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF TOYOTAS NEGLIGENCE IN THIS MATTER. IS THERE A STIPULATION THAT SOMEONE NUST BE INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE AN AGENCY SUCH AS YOURS WILL INVESTIGATE? THAT MAKES NO SENSE. WHEN THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR INJURY YOU MUST FOLLOW THROUGH. PLEASE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #758132
Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingTires
SLUDGE PROBLEM STARTED AT 11111 MILES - ALSO TIRES NEEDED REALIGNMENT AND REPLACEMENT AT ONLY 13115 MILES. THE VAN BLOWS BLUE SMOKE UPON STARTUP. WE HAVE BEEN BLAMED FOR THE SLUDGE PROBLEM. WE HAVE RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES AND HAVE DONE SOME OURSELVES. NOW WE ARE TOLD, BY THE SERVICE DPT. THAT WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR OIL EVERY…
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SLUDGE PROBLEM STARTED AT 11111 MILES - ALSO TIRES NEEDED REALIGNMENT AND REPLACEMENT AT ONLY 13115 MILES. THE VAN BLOWS BLUE SMOKE UPON STARTUP. WE HAVE BEEN BLAMED FOR THE SLUDGE PROBLEM. WE HAVE RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES AND HAVE DONE SOME OURSELVES. NOW WE ARE TOLD, BY THE SERVICE DPT. THAT WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR OIL EVERY 1000 MILES AND CHECK THE OIL EVERY TWO DAYS. BEEN DOING A LOT OF READING ON THIS, AND HAVE TALKED TO OTHERS - THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE SIENNA AND OTHER CARS, LEXUS BEING ONE. WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WOULD SEIZE EVENTUALLY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PUT OUT $5000 - $8000 FOR A NEW ONE. THIS ISN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY EITHER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #758030
Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2002
Tires
THE TREAD ON THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE CAME OFF.
NHTSA ODI #9005165
Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE SLUDGED AT 29,080 MILES . ALL OIL CHANGES WERE PERFORMED AS REQUIRED PER WARRANTY MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT. AN ENTIRE ENGINE OVERHAUL IS NOW REQUIRED.*AK
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.
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
2000 Toyota Sienna Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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