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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure35
  2. Latches/locks/linkages34
  3. Engine and engine cooling24
  4. Electrical system20
  5. Tires15
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic15
  7. Vehicle speed control9
  8. Seat belts9
  9. Visibility9
  10. Air bags8
  11. Steering8
  12. Fuel system, gasoline8
  13. Power train6
  14. 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
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
20002
200119
20029
200327
200422
200512
20065
20078
20089
200911
201023
201115
20121
20138
20142
20153
20166
20171
20181
20190
20200
20211

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

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 30, 2018StructureODI 11098879

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 18, 2011Structure, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10420074

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 24, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10421331

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2016Electrical systemODI 10861483

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 24, 2014Tires, WheelsODI 10565639

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicCrash reportedODI 10386911
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.