2001 Toyota Sienna problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Structure:body:door (15) · Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch (13) · Electrical System (10)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Sienna model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
124 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Structure 2010-04-20 · campaign 10V160000 · 600,000 vehicles
Defect: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998 THROUGH 2010 SIENNA PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 7, 1997 AND JANUARY 4, 2010, CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE SPARE TIRE
Risk: THE CABLE MAY BREAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND THE SPARE TIRE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS WITH AN INTERIM LETTER INITIALLY INSTRUCTING THEM TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AUTHORIZED DEALERS TO INSPECT FOR CORROSION. A SECOND NOTICE WILL BE SENT WHEN THE PERMANENT REMEDY IS AVAILABLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE TOYOTA'S AMENDED RECALL REPORT OF JULY 19, 2010. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OCTOBER 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Service bulletins (124)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Structure:body 2024-12-05 · T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
toyota vehicles are currently protected with rapgardtm protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. this material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. follow the removal procedure in this bulletin to remove the rapgardtm protective film wi
Structure:body 2024-12-03 · T-SB-0062-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. this type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surfa
Structure:body 2024-07-12 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Showing the 6 most recent of 124 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2021-03-13 · Engine · 75 mi“a known issue with these 3.0 l v6 engine. heavy smoke from the exhaust pipe. visible oil sludge under the oil refill cap.…”
2018-05-30 · Structure:body · 147,000 mi“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 …”
2017-06-20 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 154,000 mi“my 9 year old son and i were on our way home from work last night and i heard something snap on my 2001 toyota sienna. i then heard something dragging so i immediately pulled over to check and realized the fuel tank was dragging and the back straps holding the gas tank up had broken loose causing the back section of the tank to drag on the road. …”
2016-09-12 · Vehicle Speed Control · 160,000 mi“i had just dropped my youngest daughter off at school and as i was leaving i had to stop because some children with their parents needed to cross in front of me i applied my brakes as normal and i had no issues in stopping but then it feels like a "ghost" pushes the gas pedal down because i can feel it move and see my rpm gauge go up and i hear my …”
2016-08-07 · Engine“takata recall. white smoke comes out of the exhaust when i start the car. then smoke disappears or stay at low level during driving. decrease oil. i put one quarter oil each week. mechanics says it may head gaskit or seals. costs 2000 and above to repair. if not better to garbage this vehicle. it has a clean title with 106k.…”
2016-06-20 · Seat Belts · 90,000 mi“the seat belt pretensioner was faulty and not working properly. it stopped the srs deploy and have the airbag light on.…”
2016-05-16 · Unknown Or Other · 118,203 mi“the horn on the sienna works intermittently. this is a very unsafe situation when driving as a horn could possibly prevent an accident with a car or pedestrian. first had the problem in 2014, but when we brought it to toyota, it would work, so they couldn't check it out. in april 2015, they finally thought it was a defective spiral cable, so they …”
2016-04-26 · Electrical System · 142,112 mi“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.…”
2016-02-25 · Visibility · 120,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2001 toyota sienna. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 mph, the hood was shaking violently and unlatched from the vehicle causing the windshield to crack. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the failure was undetermined. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified …”
2015-08-23 · Unknown Or Other · 133,000 mi“i was entering the parking area of a shopping center. immediately after turning in the car accelerated quickly. i braked to no avail. then i put on the foot emergency brake, which slowed but did not stop the car. a passenger then turned off the key and we lurched to an abrupt stop, short of a typical parking lot light pole. after a brief time …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.