Toyota · Sienna · 2003
1
Recall
105
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2003 Toyota Sienna has 1 recall and 105 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: latches/locks/linkages (16 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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 STOWED UNDER THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN THE COLD CLIMATE REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES WHERE ROAD SALT IS FREQUENTLY USED, WATER SPLASHED BACKWARDS WITH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT CAN REACH THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER AND CORRODE THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER ASSEMBLY CABLE.
Remedy Status
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.
A plug-in battery charger failed. You may inspect it. It got hot and smoked, and I suppose was a fire hazard. The problem has not been confirmed nor inspected. There were no symptoms of the problem before the failure. - - - - I used the automotive charger to charge a battery after a light had been on overnight, discharging the battery. I removed the battery from the vehicle because the terminals might have been corroded. When I first put the charger on the battery it indicated full and did not start to recharge it, so I used jumper cables to charge the discharged battery from a good battery in my car and left the charger at 10 amps on the good battery at the same time so that battery would not become discharged. I left it to sit, figuring it would take several hours at that setting, and after about 5 minutes I saw smoke. Both 12v wires were hot and insulation burned or melted off. There is damage to the car where the wires rested on the painted plastic bumper and a plastic bit near the battery, and of course the charger is useless. I wrote to the manufacturer on March 28 to make them aware, and ask how to avoid it in the future, and ask if it can be repaired. I have not heard back. - - - - The user manual for this product is at http://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/60000-60999/60653.pdf The current year model of this product is at https://www.harborfreight.com/10250a-12v-manual-charger-with-engine-start-60581.html - - - - The charger is sold by Harbor Freight Tools under the Cen-Tech brand.
TAKATA RECALL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT THAT INVOLVED IN CAR BEING AIRBORNE AND ROLLING OVER. CAR WAS TOTALED. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, CAR WENT THROUGH 50 FOOT OF CORNFIELD AND LANDED ON THE ROOF. WINDOWS WERE ALL COLLAPSED DOOR RIPPED OFF ITS HINGES. I HAVE PICTURES ON MY PHONE I CAN PRINT AND GET TO YOU.
MVA - OTHER PARTY REAR-ENDED US AT 35-40 MILES/HR. WHILE WE WERE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BACKS BROKE. OUR VEHICLE WAS TOTALED , OTHER VEHICLE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY . APPEARED TO BE MINIMAL DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE. PICTURES OF BOTH VEHICLES AVAILABLE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. UPDATED 3/13/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DID NOT FIND ANYTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG. THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD BACK TO THE DEALER. UPDATED 04/09/2013 *JS
THE REAR WINDOW AT DRIVER SIDE STARTED TO LOOSE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. AT THE BEGINNING, IT MADE NOISE WHEN OPEN THE REAR WINDOW. SO WE KEPT IT CLOSED ALL THE TIME. BUT GRADUALLY, IT IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. NOW EVEN WITH THE WINDOW CLOSED, THE WINDOW STILL SHAKES AND MAKES NOISES, SOUNDS LIKE THE WINDOW GLASS WILL DROP AT TIME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WAS LOCKED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE WHEELS WOULD SEIZE AT TIMES, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES FOR A DIAGNOSIS, HOWEVER THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,618.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A RECURRING FAILURE IN THE PAST IN WHICH BOTH REAR DOORS WOULD EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY LOCKING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK AND WHEN THE VEHICLE EXCEEDS 30-40 MPH, IT SLOWS DOWN AND THE ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATE. THE LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE SENSORS FOR THE COMPUTER, BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
SOME TIMES WHEN AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS HARD TO PUSH(GO). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA WITH TOYO EXTENSA TIRES, TIRE SIZE 215/65/15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND NOTICED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT AN OBJECT PUNCTURED THE TIRE AND A PATCH WAS USED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THREE MONTHS LATER THE SAME TIRE WAS PUNCTURED AGAIN BY A SMALL ROCK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,800.
DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR STARTED MAKING LOUD CLICKING SOUNDS WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS BACK IN MAY OF LAST YEAR. THEN ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE FULLY AND WOULD ONLY OPEN UP A FEW INCHES. AFTER I WAS ABLE TO OPEN UP, I NOTICED THE DOOR WELD HAD SNAPPED AND BROKEN OFF (WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE DOOR). I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SIENNAS AND THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH NOT FOR MY YEAR. FROM WHAT I'VE READ, DOOR WELDS ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO BREAK OFF ON DOOR AND THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE CARE OF. *TT
WE HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN. THE DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC DOOR NOW WILL NOT OPEN MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY. I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO IS HANDICAPPED AND THIS IS THE EASIEST DOOR TO PUT HER IN THE CAR, SO AS OF RIGHT NOW THE CAR THAT HOLDS HER WHEELCHAIR IS COMPLETELY USELESS TO US. TOYOTA HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY NO HELP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. WHAT IS SHE WAS IN THE CAR AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED AND WE COULD NOT GET HER OUT???? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. IT WENT THROUGH THE CONTACT'S GARAGE AND INTO THEIR LIVING ROOM. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 112,000.
BOTH OF THE REAR DOORS IN MY TOYOTA SIENA WILL NOT OPEN FROM EITHER SIDE. TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IN AM EMERGENCY PEOPLE HAVE TO CLIMB OVER TO THE FRONT SEATS. *TR
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.
THE HANDLE ON THE LIFT GATE FOR MY 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA BROKE OFF RIGHT IN MY HAND. THE GATE REMAINS LOCKED AND UNABLE TO OPEN IT. *TR
I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM OPENING OR CLOSING THE TRUNK DOOR OF MY 2003 SIENNA VAN. SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASE MY SIENNA IN 2007, I DID NOTICE THE TRUNK HANDLE, WHICH IS COVERED FROM ALL ELEMENTS, WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. TO SEE THE CORROSION YOU MUST GET ON YOUR KNEE AND LOOK UP PAST THE LICENSE PLATE OR OPEN THE TRUNK DOOR AND LOOK UP INTO THIS SAME GROOVE.. I INFORMED THE TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER ABOUT THE CORROSION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANT AND WAS TOLD THAT WAS NOT A PROBLEM THAT WAS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. AFTER A TRIP TO THE GROCERY STORE ON LABOR DAY, THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN. I HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE REAR SEAT TO UNLOAD THE VAN. WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE COST OF THE REPAIR. HOW CAN THAT PART BE TOTALLY CORRODED THE WAY IT IS COVER? *TR
BROKEN CABLE FOR SLIDING DOOR OF MY 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA XE. THE CONTACT STATED HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V160000 (STRUCTURE). THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE REMEDY REPAIR; HOWEVER, THE TIME FRAME PROVIDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE CONTACT'S WORK HOURS. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALER SHOULD PROVIDE A FREE RENTAL VEHICLE DURING THE TIME OF THE RECALL REPAIR. THERE WAS NO FAILURE RELATED TO THE RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT.
OPENED TAIL GATE ON 03 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN. REACHED IN TO GET SOMETHING AND GATE SUDDENLY CAME DOWN STRIKING ME ON THE TOP OF MY HEAD CAUSING A CONCUSSION. GAS STRUTS WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $300. OLD PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2003 Toyota Sienna has 1 recall recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 105 owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Toyota Sienna.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2003 Toyota Sienna.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2003 Toyota Sienna are latches/locks/linkages (16 reports), structure (11 reports), service brakes, hydraulic (10 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 1 recall on record for the 2003 Toyota Sienna. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.