Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Toyota Sienna problems
Owners filed 217 complaints about the 1999 Toyota Sienna with NHTSA between Dec 1998 and Dec 2020. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (39).
Complaints
217
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
15
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
26
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling39
- Structure36
- Tires28
- Steering21
- Latches/locks/linkages19
- Service brakes, hydraulic14
- Suspension14
- Power train11
- Electrical system11
- Air bags8
- Seat belts6
- Vehicle speed control5
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Visibility5
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
29
37
32
22
15
24
11
6
4
3
8
13
2
3
1
4
0
1
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 29 |
| 2000 | 37 |
| 2001 | 32 |
| 2002 | 22 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 24 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
39 reports1 fire
“I HAVE A TOYOTA SIENNA 99 AND MY CHECK LIGHT COMING OUT AND START TO SMOKE SO I FIND THE ENGINE DO THE OIL BE SLUDGE, I WANT TO KNOW IF IS SOME WAY OF TOYOTA FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR ME WHIT OUT CHARGE BECAUSE IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM. *TR”
Structure
36 reports1 related recall
“THE CABLE TO MY DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR SNAPPED, THUS THE DOOR CAN NO LONGER BE OPENED AUTOMATICALLY. THIS DEFECT IS UNDER A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT FOR MODEL YEARS 2004-2007, BUT I HAVE A 2009 MODEL YEAR.”
Tires
28 reports2 crashes
“WHILE DRIVING, MY SPARE TIRE FELL FROM UNDERNEATH MY CAR DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CABLES SNAPPED. THE CAR BEHIND ME RAN OVER IT AND I AM NOW BEING CHARGED FOR THE DAMAGES TO THAT PERSON'S CAR. *TR”
Steering
21 reports1 crash
“TOYOTA 1999 SIENNA CE: STEERING PULLS TO LEFT. I HAVE TO HOLD STEERING TIGHT TO KEEP IT TO RIGHT. I ALREADY GOT ALIGNMENT DONE TWO TIMES AND NEW TIRES CHANGED BUT PULLING TO LEFT STARTS RIGHT AWAY. IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING. *TR”
Latches/locks/linkages
19 reports
“DRIVER-SIDE SLIDING DOOR AND THE REAR DOOR ON 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE BOTH WENT OUT OF CONTROL AT THE SAME TIME. BOTH DOORS ARE LOCKED AND DO NOT RESPOND TO REPEATED EFFORTS TO OPEN THEM, BY KEY OR MANUALLY. THE LOCK HANDLE ON THE REAR DOOR IS PERMANENTLY DEPRESSED, I.E., NO LONGER PRESSABLE, NO LONGER ACTING LIKE A MOVABLE PART. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
14 reports2 crashes
“ON OCTOBER 18, 2010 MY 2009 TOYOTA SIENNA DASHBOARD VSC (VARIABLE SKID CONTROL)/OFF TRACK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. I TOOK MY VAN IN FOR SERVICE IMMEDIATELY. THE DEALERSHIP MADE REPAIRS THAT WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND ASSURED ME THAT THE VAN WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010, THE SAME VSC/OFF TRACK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, I WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT HAVE AVAILABILITY UNTIL NOVEMBER 30, 2010. SERVICE ADVISOR ASSURED ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, AS LONG AS I STAYED IN TOWN, AND WASN'T PLANNING ON TAKING THE CAR ON ANY LONG TRIPS. HOWEVER, I NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO RETURN MY VAN TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE ON NOVEMBER 29, 2010 IT STARTED TO MAKE UNUSUALLY LOUD NOISES AND ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. NATURALLY, I ATTEMPTED TO STOP BY BRAKING, BUT THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL. I TRIED AGAIN AND AGAIN TO BRAKE, BUT TO MY DISAPPOINTMENT THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOTHING, NO MATTER HOW MUCH I PUMPED IT. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING ANY PEDESTRIANS OR CARS BY STEERING UP THE CURB AND INTO A LAMPPOST. THE VAN…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.