Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Toyota Sienna problems

Owners filed 207 complaints about the 2002 Toyota Sienna with NHTSA between Aug 2001 and Feb 2026. The most-cited component is structure (43).

Complaints
207
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
19
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
21
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure43
  2. Latches/locks/linkages31
  3. Electrical system25
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic23
  5. Power train17
  6. Tires17
  7. Engine and engine cooling17
  8. Steering11
  9. Vehicle speed control10
  10. Air bags8
  11. Suspension7
  12. Seat belts7
  13. Equipment5
  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 9, 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
20014
200213
200321
200423
200527
20069
200713
200814
200916
201023
201115
20126
20137
20142
20154
20163
20171
20182
20191
20200
20211
20220
20231
20240
20250
20261

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

43 reports1 crash1 related recall
“WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR IT WOULD NOT OPEN ELECTRICALLY OR MANUALLY. AFTER SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS TO OPEN I CUT THE CABLE AND WAS ABLE TO THEN OPEN THE DOOR. AT THIS POINT IN TIME BOTH SLIDING DOORS WILL NOT OPEN ELECTRONICALLY BUT WILL OPEN MANUALLY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 8, 2015Electrical system, StructureODI 10704379

Latches/locks/linkages

31 reports
“WHEN THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM ERUPTED I REMEMBER SEEING AN INTERNAL DOCUMENT WHICH RELATED TO THE REAR DOOR LATCH FOR SIENNAS. I OWN A SIENNA AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR LATCH TWICE SO FAR. IT JUST BRAKES APART AND IT BECOMES A REAL HUZZLE SINCE THE REAR DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED. TOYOTA MUST REPLACE THIS LATCHES WITH A GOOD WELL MANUFACTURED MATERIAL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 15, 2011Structure, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10440048

Electrical system

25 reports3 fires
“Dear Sir, On April 2026, I need to do the semiannual smog check. Right now, I face DTC P0420 error code and I can't pass the smog check inspection. Note that I don't have the engine light on indicating the a/m error code. Only my OBD2 shows the error DTC Code P0420. I did some searhing and noticed that the ECM for Sienna should be updated to erase the a/m DTC code. I would appreciated to help me how the resolve this issue ASAP. It will enable me to renew my registration.You may contact on my cell phone 747 217 7254 or my email at [email protected]. Regards, Massey”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 15, 2026Electrical systemODI 11718059

Service brakes, hydraulic

23 reports2 crashes
“MY SON WAS DRIVING THE VAN WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL CUT IN FRONT OF HIM PROMPTING MY SON TO PUT ON HIS BRAKES TO AVOID CONTACT WHICH HE DID (THANK GOD). SO HE CONTINUE TO HIS DESTINATION ( OUR HOUSE ) BUT HE STARTED TO HEAR THE CAR WAS MAKING SOME STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END AND ALSO WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE THE CAR STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT .HE GOT HOME AND TOLD ME ABOUT THE SITUATION AND IT WAS WHEN I TOOK CAR TO LOCAL MECHANIC .AT THAT TIME WE DISCOVER WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM. THE ROTOR BROKE AND IT WAS JUST HANGING THERE . THE MECHANIC TOLD US THAT HE NEVER SEEN SOMETHING LIKE IT AND TO BE THANKFUL THAT NO ONE GOT HURT. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN AND NEED SOMEONE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION . *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 1, 2012Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10449989

Power train

17 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN A SMALL INCLINE AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE POST. A SMALL CHILD WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MAITA TOYOTA (2500 AUBURN BLVD, SACRAMENTO, CA). THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED A MECHANISM FAILURE, BUT THE EXACT CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,200.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2018Power trainCrash reportedODI 11061205

Tires

17 reports2 crashes
“THE SPARE TIRE IS MOUNTED UNDER THE VEHICLE WITH THE SHREDDER VALVE ORIENTED DOWNWARD FOR EASY ACCESS. THE WHEEL IS STEEL AND IS LOCATED SO THE TIRES KICK UP WATER AND ROAD SAND AND, WITH THIS ORIENTATION, WATER IS TRAPPED, LIKE IN A BOWL, AND SITS ON THE STEEL. THE PAINT HAS LONG BEEN BLASTED AWAY FROM THE SAND EXPOSURE AND NOW THE WHEEL IS RUSTED SO BADLY IT IS EXTREMELY THIN AND CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT RISKING FAILURE OF THE WHEEL, ESPECIALLY ON THE FRONT WHERE LOADS CAN REACH IN EXCESS OF 2500 POUNDS IN A DYNAMIC FATIGUE SITUATION. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THIS SIENNA HAS BEEN RECALLED ONCE ALREADY FOR RUST IN THIS AREA, THANKS TO YOU GUYS, AS RUST WAS DAMAGING THE RETAINING SYSTEM AND THE TIRE WAS FALLING OFF IN TRAFFIC. THEY HAVE SEEN THE RUSTED WHEELS AND THE STRENGTH IS NOW UNPREDICTABLE. ROAD SALT, RAIN, SAND ETC. AMOUNTS. THE SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE ANY TYPE OF COVER. DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD 2 FLAT TIRES AND I THINK WITH MY WIFE & KIDS IN THE CAR IT IS A PROBLEM. IT IS A PROBLEM WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 7, 2013Tires, WheelsODI 10501958
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.