Toyota Sienna 1998–2003
1st generation (XL10)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20261,648 complaints, 752 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 36,000 and 114,254 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 30 complaints (4.0%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 15,000
- 25%
- 36,000
- Median
- 75,000
- 75%
- 114,254
- 90%
- 150,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 57 | 7.6% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 49 | 6.5% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 38 | 5.1% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 63 | 8.4% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 38 | 5.1% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 35 | 4.7% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 57 | 7.6% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 65 | 8.6% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 40 | 5.3% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 49 | 6.5% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 55 | 7.3% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 37 | 4.9% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 39 | 5.2% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 36 | 4.8% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 18 | 2.4% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 20 | 2.7% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 11 | 1.5% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 7 | 0.9% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 5 | 0.7% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 3 | 0.4% |
| 200,000+ | 30 | 4.0% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 1,648 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998–2003 Toyota Sienna, and 752 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 36,000 and 114,254 miles. The median is 75,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are body structure (13.5% of complaints, typically around 91,000 miles), the engine and its cooling system (11.7% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles), latches and locks (10.9% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles).
1 recall campaign cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Body structure91,000median 90,900 miles, middle half 51,000 to 120,000
- Engine and its cooling system70,000median 70,000 miles, middle half 43,000 to 100,000
- Latches and locks70,000median 70,000 miles, middle half 25,000 to 102,000
- Tyres45,000median 45,000 miles, middle half 22,000 to 100,000
- Hydraulic brake circuit49,000median 48,644 miles, middle half 19,000 to 80,000
- Transmission and driveline79,000median 79,000 miles, middle half 61,000 to 119,000
- Electrical system75,000median 75,000 miles, middle half 45,000 to 118,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 222 | 13.5% | 91,000 | 51,000–120,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 192 | 11.7% | 70,000 | 43,000–100,000 |
| Latches and locks | 180 | 10.9% | 70,000 | 25,000–102,000 |
| Tyres | 151 | 9.2% | 45,000 | 22,000–100,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 142 | 8.6% | 49,000 | 19,000–80,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 136 | 8.3% | 79,000 | 61,000–119,000 |
| Electrical system | 92 | 5.6% | 75,000 | 45,000–118,000 |
| Steering | 74 | 4.5% | 66,000 | 12,000–109,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 63 | 3.8% | 112,000 | 70,000–153,000 |
| Seat belts | 63 | 3.8% | 80,000 | 55,000–100,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 75,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
Body structure accounts for 13.5% of complaints (222 reports, 114 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 90,900 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 51,329 and 120,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 11.7% of complaints (192 reports, 72 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 43,000 and 100,081 miles.
Latches and locks account for 10.9% of complaints (180 reports, 113 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 25,000 and 102,000 miles.
The tyres account for 9.2% of complaints (151 reports, 37 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail early — a median of 45,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 21,500 and 100,500 miles.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 8.6% of complaints (142 reports, 56 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 48,644 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 19,000 and 80,205 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 8.3% of complaints (136 reports, 56 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 79,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 61,000 and 118,580 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2000 model year drew the most — 459 complaints — while 2003 drew the fewest at 124. The median year sits at 244.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 1 recall campaign covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 1,648 complaints filed against this generation, 113 reported a crash; 24 reported a fire; 123 reported an injury; 3 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 6.9% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 36,000 and 114,254 miles, with a median of 75,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, body structure and the engine and its cooling system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine and its cooling system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 70,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
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.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 352 | 89 |
| 1999 | 250 | 83 |
| 2000 | 459 | 183 |
| 2001 | 238 | 158 |
| 2002 | 225 | 148 |
| 2003 | 124 | 91 |
Recalls (1)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 10V160000 | 2010-10-12 | Structure |
What owners reported
While driving 35 MPH, the check engine light illuminated on the dashboard and the vehicle stalled on the highway. The dealer examined the vehicle and found a build up of sludge in the engine. A new engine was installed. Two years later, the same problem recurred and a new engine was needed. *Ak on march 22…
1998 · 92 miles · Engine and its cooling system
1998 Toyota Sienna sliding door on left and right get stuck and will not open. In case of accident or fire my grandchildren would not be able to get out. Rear door handle broke off in my hand which would create the same hazard of not being able to exit. I've had this problem since i bought the car, and they have…
1998 · 1,500 miles · Latches and locks
On numerous occasions since purchasing this vehicle (and most recently, today), the sliding door handle/latch/lock has failed. Usually, the failure is such that the door cannot be opened from the inside or outside. Sometimes, the door can only be opened from the inside and sometimes the door can only be opened from…
1998 · 5,000 miles · Latches and locks
Passenger sliding door handle/button (interior) jam 6 out of 10 times, making it impossible for passengers to exit car. I have reported this to dealer several times, only to be told it's a billable repair, despite there being a known problem with this vehicle/handle. Many occasions my kids have had to climb out…
1998 · 10,000 miles · Latches and locks
Built from 752 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page