Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Toyota Sienna problems
Owners filed 116 complaints about the 2003 Toyota Sienna with NHTSA between Nov 2002 and Feb 2026. The most-cited component is latches/locks/linkages (22).
Complaints
116
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Latches/locks/linkages22
- Structure19
- Vehicle speed control14
- Power train14
- Service brakes, hydraulic12
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Tires7
- Equipment5
- Seat belts5
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Visibility4
- Electrical system4
- Suspension4
- Steering4
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
1
20
11
7
9
10
9
7
23
6
5
2
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 20 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 23 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 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
Latches/locks/linkages
22 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THE SLIDING REAR DOORS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE SLIDING DOORS WOULD NOT LATCH PROPERLY AND OCCASIONALLY THE REAR DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Structure
19 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, AN ABNORMAL SQUEAKING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT SPARE TIRE CARRIER ASSEMBLY CABLE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V160000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE RECALL PART NEEDED WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.”
Vehicle speed control
14 reports8 crashes
“THE TOYOTA SIENNA'S GAS PEDAL HAS BEEN AND REMAINS INTERMITTENTLY STICKY. IT TAKES SOME FOOT STOMPING TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM A FEW YEARS AGO. *TR”
Power train
14 reports1 crash
“I HAVE OWNED 3 TOYOTA SIENNA'S. IN ALL OF THE MODELS I IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM WHICH THE DEALERS TOLD ME WAS NORMAL. I THEN MADE SURE TO ADVISE ANYONE DRIVING MY CARS OF THIS ISSUE. NOW THAT YOU ARE LOOKING MORE CLOSELY AT SAFETY I THOUGHT I WOULD BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION. WHEN A SIENNA IS IN DRIVE AND ON A HILL WITH THE FRONT END UP AND THE BACK END DOWN. AND WHEN YOU THEN REMOVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE THE CAR WILL IMMEDIATELY ROLE BACKWARDS. I LEARNED TO PRESS THE GAS SLOWLY AS I WAS RELEASING THE BRAKE SLOWLY TO AVOID THIS, BUT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. IF A PERSON WAS BEHIND THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER DID NOT KNOW THIS OCCURS THEY COULD BE RUN OVER. THANKS FOR CHECKING ON THIS. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
12 reports1 crash
“HERE IS A LIST OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS INDICATING MANUFACTURING DEFECTS ON MY TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CURRENT MODELS RECALLED BY TOYOTA MOTORS DO NOT COVER ALL VEHICLES WITH DEFECTS. BASED ON MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, TOYOTA MOTORS HAVE A LOT OF LYING EMPLOYEES IN THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. IN SHORT, TOYOTA MOTORS PUT THEIR BUSINESS INTEREST WAY AHEAD OF THE LIFE SAFETY OF AMERICAN PEOPLE. I HOPE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WILL CHECK THIS MANNER AND ENFORCE PROPER REGULATION. UPDATED 03/14/10 *BF *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER RADIATOR HOSE AND COOLANT. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED HE HAD PROBLEMS STOPPING THE VEHICLE, WHICH LED TO AN ACCIDENT. UPDATED IVOQ 10/12/10”
Engine and engine cooling
8 reports1 crash
“2003 TOYOTA SIENNA, SPONTANEOUS, UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION. FIRST OCCURRENCE ON OR ABOUT 7/20/09. AT LEAST 3 SUCCESSIVE OCCURRENCES. TOYOTA DEALER (LARRY H MILLER BIG TOYOTA CITY) WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM IN ROAD TESTS. WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME, I THREW TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. ENGINE HIT REDLINE IN TIME IT TOOK TO TURN KEY TO OFF.(1-2 SECONDS) FIRST MIS IDENTIFIED AS STICKING THROTTLE CABLES. TOYOTA REPLACED CABLES EVENTUALLY (AFTER RECURRENCE) REPLACED THROTTLE BODY. WIFE NEARLY HAD ACCIDENT WITH FIRST OCCURRENCE, HAD TO STAND ON BRAKES TO GET CAR STOPPED. SHUT DOWN VEHICLE IN LEFT TURN LANE ON BUSY SIX LANE ROAD. VEHICLE TOWED. I HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES/ROTORS. ABLE TO AVOID ACCIDENT WITH RECURRENCE BY SHOWING WIFE HOW TO THROW TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND SHUT DOWN VEHICLE. WIFE DOES NOT TRUST VEHICLE ALTHOUGH NEW THROTTLE BODY SEEMS TO HAVE SOLVED PROBLEM. TOYOTA KEPT VEHICLE TWICE FOR TOTAL OF TWO WEEKS, WE PAID OVER $1,300. TOYOTA NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED NOR ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. OFFERED FREE CAR WASH WHEN WE COMPLAINED TO SERVICE MANAGER. *TR”
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.