Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Toyota Sienna problems
Owners filed 185 complaints about the 2001 Toyota Sienna with NHTSA between Dec 2000 and Mar 2021. The most-cited component is structure (35).
Complaints
185
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
15
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
People reported injured
Deaths
5
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Structure35
- Latches/locks/linkages34
- Engine and engine cooling24
- Electrical system20
- Tires15
- Service brakes, hydraulic15
- Vehicle speed control9
- Seat belts9
- Visibility9
- Air bags8
- Steering8
- Fuel system, gasoline8
- Power train6
- Fuel system, other4
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 Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
19
9
27
22
12
5
8
9
11
23
15
1
8
2
3
6
1
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 19 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 27 |
| 2004 | 22 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 23 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 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
Structure
35 reports2 related recalls
“THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SLIDING DOOR HAS SEVERAL TIMES NOW REFUSED TO LATCH, AND WHEN IN EMERGENCY SITUATION I HAVE LOCKED IT AND FORCED IT TO SHUT THEN IT WILL NOT UNLOCK AND IT HAS TO BE TAKEN APART TO BE OPENED AND THE WHOLE LATCH AND LOCK MECHANISM REWORKED BY THE MECHANIC, AND IN THE MEANTIME THE DOOR IS UNABLE TO BE OPENED WHICH IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE WHEN I HAVE CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE AND BACK ROWS OF THE VAN. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN THE PAST 3 YEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED, SO IT IS DEFINITELY AN ACTUAL PROBLEM WITH THE HARDWARE OF THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM ITSELF AND NOT SIMPLY A GLITCH THAT OCCURRED ONCE OR SOMETHING.”
Latches/locks/linkages
34 reports
“I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE IN 2001. THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR HAS GIVEN US PROBLEM SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. WE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME POWER DOOR ISSUE AT LEAST 11 TIMES. THEY NOW WANT TO CHARGE ME. THE NTSB SHOULD FORCE A RECALL TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE AND NOW IT WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL EITHER BY REMOTE OR MANUALLY. *KB”
Engine and engine cooling
24 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART SO IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD-UP AND OIL JELLING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 134,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Electrical system
20 reports
“HORN WILL NOT WORK IN THE RAIN OR WHEN YOU DRIVE IN WATER. IT TAKES ABOUT A DAY FOR THE HORN TO DRY OUT FOR THE HORN TO WORK AT ALL. PEOPLE COULD GET KILLED WHEN THE HORN WILL NOT WORK IN THE RAIN OR WATER. TOYOTA NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL NOW TO SAVE THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE USA.”
Tires
15 reports1 crash
“THE SPARE TIRE MECHANISM BROKE ON MY 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN. THANKFULLY I WAS TRYING TO REMOVE THE SPARE WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THE SPARE TIRE DID NOT GO FLYING INTO TRAFFIC. THE CABLE BROKE AT THE END WHERE THE CABLE GOES THROUGH THE METAL HOLDER/BRACKET THAT ACTUALLY CLAMPS TO THE WHEEL. IF THIS HAD BROKEN OFF WHEN THE VAN WAS MOVING, EITHER THE VAN WOULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY THE SPARE GETTING CAUGHT BETWEEN THE ROAD AND THE VAN OR THE SPARE MAY HAVE HIT ANOTHER CAR. THIS IS MAYBE THE SECOND TIME THAT WE HAVE HAD THE SPARE OFF IN THE 258K MILES WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR SO IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE INSPECT REGULARLY. THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE VANS OUT THERE AND I REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE BEHIND ONE WHEN THE SPARE LETS GO. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT MY VAN DID NOT HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ITEM. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
15 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ABS MOTOR. THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.