2002 Toyota Sienna recalls & problems

The 2002 Toyota Sienna has 1 safety recall and 181 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is structure (42 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints181filed by owners

Crashes · fires16 · 4reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths19 · 0reported in complaints

2002 Toyota Sienna in an NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Structure

NHTSA recall 10V160000 · Apr 20, 2010 · 600,000 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2002 Toyota Sienna

Overall	Not Rated
Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Sienna 2WD

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Structure Body › Door; Body	42	1	0	0	75,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages Doors › Latch	27	0	0	0	76,750 mi
Electrical system Wiring › Front underhood; Wiring › Interior/under dash	25	0	3	0	84,112 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components › Drum; Foundation components › Disc › Pads	21	2	0	0	32,515 mi
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline	16	0	0	0	40,000 mi
Tires Tread/belt; Sidewall	15	2	0	1	63,750 mi
Power train Automatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Torque converter	13	1	1	0	81,443 mi
Steering Hydraulic power assist system; Rack and pinion	10	0	2	0	78,873 mi
Vehicle speed control Accelerator pedal	10	3	0	6	98,000 mi
Air bags Frontal	7	6	0	9	68,770 mi
Seat belts Front › Retractor; Rear/other	7	1	0	3	57,500 mi
Suspension Front	4	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Feb 7, 2026Electrical system
Dear Sir, On April 2026, I need to do the semiannual smog check. Right now, I face DTC P0420 error code and I can't pass the smog check inspection. Note that I don't have the engine light on indicating the a/m error code. Only my OBD2 shows the error DTC Code P0420. I did some searhing and noticed that the ECM for Sienna should be updated to erase the a/m DTC code. I would appreciated to help me how the resolve this issue ASAP. It will enable me to renew my registration.You may contact on my cell phone 747 217 7254 or my email at massey.miri@gmail.com. Regards, Massey
Apr 5, 2023Electrical system
CHECKING ENGINE LIGHT ON AND OFF SLIDE DOOR NOT WORKING PROPERLY
Mar 24, 2021 · 200,000 milesSuspension
THE LOWER REAR MOUNT FOR THE PASSENGER-SIDE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER WAS FOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY TO HAVE BECOME PARTIALLY FRACTURED OVER TIME. IT IS MADE OF THIN HOLLOW METAL WITH INTERNAL THREADS. THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT FOR THIS EXCEPT TO PURCHASE A LARGE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL UNIT COSTING $1,688.00
Mar 18, 2003 · 15,523 milesService brakes
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 BRAKES. IN THIS CASE THE BRAKE PADS SEEM TO HAVE PLENTY OF LIFE LEFT. FUNNY THAT WHEN THE REAR DRUMS ARE REMOVED AND THE BRAKE AND DRUMS ARE THOROUGHLY CLEANED THE NOISE DOES NOT HAPPEN FOR A WHILE. THE FIRST COMPLAINT WAS MADE AT 15,523 MILES AND CONTINUES TOO THIS DAY. AT 31,842 MILES THE REAR DRUMS WERE REPLACED PER TSB BR003-04. TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN AT 125,559 MILES AND WE…
Nov 17, 2017 · 104,273 milesSteering
STEERING GETS STIFF HARD TO TURN STEERING
Nov 11, 2017 · 136,200 miles · crashPower train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN A SMALL INCLINE AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE POST. A SMALL CHILD WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MAITA TOYOTA (2500 AUBURN BLVD, SACRAMENTO, CA). THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED A MECHANISM FAILURE, BUT THE EXACT CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,200.
Jun 3, 2017 · 208,000 milesVehicle speed control
INCIDENT #1 (6/3/2017) - TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN TURNING ON CITY STREET. CAR PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WENT UP TO 35 MPH FOR SEVERAL BLOCKS INCIDENT #2 (6/4/2017) - WHILE PARKING CAR IN DRIVEWAY, APPLIED FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL. ENGINE ROARED AND THRUSTED FORWARD.
Jul 14, 2015 · 24,000 milesEquipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LEAKED WATER FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND THE SRS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. ...UPDATED 09/12/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. *JS

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

PE01036 · opened Oct 19, 2001 · closed Feb 11, 2002ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE