Toyota Sienna 1998–2003 problems by year and mileage
1st generation (XL10)
NHTSA data through 18 October 20261,338 complaints, 614 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 1998 Toyota Sienna
Close- Median failure report
- 79,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 294
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 1998
- Latches and locks40 reports
- Hydraulic brake circuit39 reports
- Tyres38 reports
Recall areas Structure · Electrical system — ignition
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 1999 Toyota Sienna
Close- Median failure report
- 90,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 215
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 1999
- Engine and its cooling system39 reports
- Body structure36 reports
- Tyres28 reports
Recall areas Structure · Electrical system — ignition
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2000 Toyota Sienna
Close- Median failure report
- 82,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 363
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2000
- Transmission and driveline67 reports
- Engine and its cooling system66 reports
- Body structure52 reports
Recall areas Structure
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2001 Toyota Sienna
Close- Median failure report
- 66,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 180
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2001
- Body structure35 reports
- Latches and locks34 reports
- Engine and its cooling system24 reports
Recall areas Structure · Structure — frame and members
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2002 Toyota Sienna
Close- Median failure report
- 67,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 181
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2002
- Body structure42 reports
- Latches and locks27 reports
- Electrical system24 reports
Recall areas Structure
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2003 Toyota Sienna
Close- Median failure report
- 54,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 105
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2003
- Latches and locks21 reports
- Body structure18 reports
- Hydraulic brake circuit12 reports
Recall areas Structure
Check the VIN at NHTSA
Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. Latest: the 1999; earliest: the 2003, and the 1999 is 4 years older (part of the gap is age).
The short answer
“Is the 1998–2003 Toyota Sienna reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 74,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 150,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 614
- Recalls
- 3
Most reported
- Body structure16.3% of complaints · median 91,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system13.8% of complaints · median 70,000 mi
- Latches and locks13.2% of complaints · median 70,000 mi
Owners filed 1,338 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998–2003 Toyota Sienna; body structure leads with 16.3% of them, and half of the 614 that record an odometer reading came by 74,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.
No single peak: the middle half runs 36,000 to 113,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 1998–2003 Toyota Sienna last?
On the 1998–2003 Toyota Sienna, half of the 614 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 74,000 miles and 90% by 150,000 miles (why that is not a lifespan).
64 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 22 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Sienna reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Toyota Sienna 1998–2003 · 614 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
10,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 56 complaints
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 22 complaints (3.6%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 15,000
- 25%
- 36,000
- Median
- 74,000
- 75%
- 113,000
- 90%
- 150,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 43 | 7.0% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 38 | 6.2% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 32 | 5.2% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 54 | 8.8% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 31 | 5.0% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 30 | 4.9% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 51 | 8.3% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 56 | 9.1% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 34 | 5.5% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 40 | 6.5% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 43 | 7.0% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 28 | 4.6% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 28 | 4.6% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 28 | 4.6% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 14 | 2.3% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 19 | 3.1% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 9 | 1.5% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 6 | 1.0% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 5 | 0.8% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 3 | 0.5% |
| 200,000+ | 22 | 3.6% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
Common Sienna problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Toyota Sienna 1998–2003
When each system fails
Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)
- Tyres143 reportsmedian 45,000middle half 22,000–100,000
- Hydraulic brake circuit131 reportsmedian 52,000middle half 19,000–83,000
- Engine and its cooling system184 reportsmedian 70,000middle half 43,000–100,000
- Latches and locks177 reportsmedian 70,000middle half 25,000–106,000
- Electrical system89 reportsmedian 75,000middle half 45,000–118,000
- Transmission and driveline130 reportsmedian 79,000middle half 61,000–119,000
- Body structure218 reportsmedian 91,000middle half 55,000–120,000
- Your odometer, once entered below
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 218 | 16.3% | 91,000 | 55,000–120,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 184 | 13.8% | 70,000 | 43,000–100,000 |
| Latches and locks | 177 | 13.2% | 70,000 | 25,000–106,000 |
| Tyres | 143 | 10.7% | 45,000 | 22,000–100,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 131 | 9.8% | 52,000 | 19,000–83,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 130 | 9.7% | 79,000 | 61,000–119,000 |
| Electrical system | 89 | 6.7% | 75,000 | 45,000–118,000 |
| Steering | 74 | 5.5% | 66,000 | 12,000–109,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 63 | 4.7% | 112,000 | 70,000–153,000 |
| Seat belts | 60 | 4.5% | 79,000 | 55,000–100,000 |
Known problems with the 1998–2003 Sienna
Engine (oil Gelling / Sludge) 1998–2002
The 1MZ-FE V6 is part of the Toyota engine family affected by oil gelling - sludge accumulation that blocks oil passages and destroys the engine. Toyota's Oil Gel Policy extended engine coverage to 8 years with no mileage limit for affected owners. This is the defining engine risk for the generation.
Sliding Doors 1998–2003
Sliding door cable, latch and roller failures causing doors that will not open, will not latch, or bind on the track.
Before you buy a 1998–2003 Sienna: the 3-minute check
Generated from 614 mileage-tagged complaints, 3 recall campaigns, 2 documented problem areas.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 3 campaigns cover this generation.
- Check engine (oil gelling / sludge) on 1998–2002 cars. What each looks like: Known problems.
- Check sliding doors on 1998–2003 cars.
- Years differ here: from 105 to 363 complaints a year — compare them by model year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car.
Sienna problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer, or read the table.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi37% below | At 90k mi60% below | At 120k mi78% below | At 150k mi90% below | At 200k mi96% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 55,000–120,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 43,000–100,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Latches and locks | 25,000–106,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Tyres | 22,000–100,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 19,000–83,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 61,000–119,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 45,000–118,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Toyota Sienna 1998–2003 · 614 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Steps at bin edges (how to read it)
- 60,000 mi — 37% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 60% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 78% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 90% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 96% of reports below
- Median (the 50% line)
- Your odometer, once entered
Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
1998–2003 Toyota Sienna recalls (3)
NHTSA records 3 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).
The campaigns cluster around body structure (2), the electrical system (1) (why one area can repeat).
Apr 2010 · 1998–2003 · StructureThe cable may break due to excessive corrosion and the spare tire may separate from the vehicle, possibly…
The 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…
What can happen. The cable may break due to excessive corrosion and the spare tire may separate from the vehicle, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The free 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…
Mar 2001 · 2001 · StructureThis condition could cause failure of the assembly following long-term usage, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The front sub frame assembly has not been adequately welded.
What can happen. This condition could cause failure of the assembly following long-term usage, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the front sub frame, if necessary. Owner notification began april 9, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and…
Oct 1998 · 1998–1999 · Electrical SystemThis condition can cause intermittent performance of the vehicle's electrical components such as the dash…
The defect. Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles, MINI vans and passenger vehicles equipped with a theft deterrent systems (tds) supplied by audiovox corporation and distributed by southeast Toyota distributors, inc. In the states of alabama, florida, georgia…
What can happen. This condition can cause intermittent performance of the vehicle's electrical components such as the dash warning lights and/or hvac fan speed controls. Also, the vehicle may not run smoothly and…
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the date code label on the security system harness and any displaying the manufacturing/final date code will be replaced with newly produced harnesses. The date codes are: RAV4…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
Out of 1,338 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:
- Crashes
- 95 (7.1%)
- Fires
- 17
- Injury reports
- 73
- Fatality reports
- 3
Sienna problems by model year
The 2000 drew the most complaints of this generation, 363, most of them about the transmission and driveline, and the 2003 the fewest, 105. A typical year drew about 198.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 294 | 72 | 79,000 | Latches and locks (40) | 2 |
| 1999 | 215 | 67 | 90,000 | Engine and its cooling system (39) | 2 |
| 2000 | 363 | 156 | 82,000 | Transmission and driveline (67) | 1 |
| 2001 | 180 | 124 | 66,000 | Body structure (35) | 2 |
| 2002 | 181 | 118 | 67,000 | Body structure (42) | 1 |
| 2003 | 105 | 77 | 54,000 | Latches and locks (21) | 1 |
What Sienna owners reported
the contact owns a 2000 Toyota Sienna. When the ignition was started, the vehicle started to accelerate and moved forward without shifting into drive. The contact depressed the brake pedal and applied the emergency brake, but both failed to stop the vehicle. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by shifting into…
2000 · 211,000 miles · Parking brake
Brakes make a noise when the car is about to stop. There is a squeal and thump that can be heard. Have taken this in several times to be fixed. They say the brakes are safe. I am 74 years old and have had many cars over the years and the only times other cars have made this kind of noise it was time to change the…
2002 · 16,000 miles · Brakes
Outer door handles on doors of Sienna are extremely brittle and break easily even with normal everyday gentle use. Of the 4 main doors on my Toyota Sienna, 3 of them now have broken ousise handles causing the doors not to be accessible & opened from the outside. This has now affected both sliding doors and my…
2000 · 130,000 miles · Problems owners could not categorise
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…
2001 · 147,000 miles · Body structure
Built from 614 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built
Other Sienna generations
- Sienna 2004–2010 4,338 reports with mileage, most about body structure
- Sienna 2011–2020 956 reports with mileage, most about body structure