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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling39
  2. Structure36
  3. Tires28
  4. Steering21
  5. Latches/locks/linkages19
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic14
  7. Suspension14
  8. Power train11
  9. Electrical system11
  10. Air bags8
  11. Seat belts6
  12. Vehicle speed control5
  13. Fuel system, gasoline5
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19981
199929
200037
200132
200222
200315
200424
200511
20066
20074
20083
20098
201013
20112
20123
20131
20144
20150
20161
20170
20180
20190
20201

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.

03 —Owner reports

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 18, 2010Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10361130

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 3, 2016StructureODI 10862745

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 10, 2014Tires, WheelsCrash reportedODI 10663491

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 11, 2010Steering, SuspensionODI 10360000

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 4, 2010Structure, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10323688

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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 5, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicCrash reportedODI 10380837
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.