KnownCarProblems2003 Toyota Sienna Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 105 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Toyota Sienna, most often about the doors and locks (20% of complaints, typically around 39,000 miles). It is 17th of 21 Sienna model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2003 Toyota Sienna problems
Doors and locks
21 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: doors, hood.
: the contact stated the sliding door failed to open. The manufacturer was called who determined the vehicle was not under warranty. The contact would be charged for any work done to the vehicle. So thus far the contact has not taken the vehicle to the service dealer to address the issue.
The contact owns 2003 Toyota Sienna ce. He was not able to unlock the driver or passenger side rear doors. He will take the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The current and the failure mileages were 40,000.
Body and structure
18 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
I own Toyota Sienna 2003 ce. I am not able to open passenger sliding door from inside. This is been problem for a while. It is very inconvenient that every time some one has to step out to open the door from outside. This can be some time safety issue if driver has to step out to open passenger door, risking driver…
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.
Brakes
13 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 16,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
When braking or accelerating there was a loud grinding noise, took vehicle to dealer, dealer said that rotors and brakes needed replacing.
Brakes squeak when applied at low speed. Dealer fixed it three times, but it is back again. The van was purchased new and is still under 3 year/36,000 miles warranty.
Speed control
11 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles.
Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) 2003 Toyota Sienna my vehicle was accelerating from a ramp onto the highway when I discovered to my horror that even after I took my foot off the gas pedal (about 60 MPH), the vehicle continued to accelerate (up to 90 MPH). I…
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…
Transmission
10 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 75,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle assembly.
My vehicle in the last 6 months has started experiencing a hesitation when shifting gears. Took to the dealer to check, and they updated with the patch. Car continues to have problems. The dealer is calling it a "hard shift" that is normal for this vehicle even though it didn't do it the first 2 years of ownership.…
Drove vehicle into a gas station to fill up with gas. After this was completed, restarted vehicle and used gear shift to put the vehicle into drive. Gear shift linkage inside steering column broke. Gear could not be changed. Car was stuck in reverse. Fortunately, this problem occurred at a gas station staffed with a…
Wheels and tires
8 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 29,000 miles. Parts named most often: tread/belt, lugs/nuts/bolts/studs.
I was driving home from washington state, and noticed that my driver's side rear tire tread was seperating from the sidewall and steal. My son then found that the passanger rear was doing the same thing. I had to call home and find the closest place to replace the tires. Eugene. Or. Was the closest and it was 49…
Firestone tires 205/70r15, this is the 3rd tire of 4 that has split. The tread has split away from the belt with plenty of tread left on the tire. I drive the freeway 27 miles each way to work and I could have had a terrible accident. One of the 3 did blow but I was going slow and I did not roll the car.
Engine
6 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 66,500 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine.
Our 2003 Sienna van (Toyota) has begun throwing blue smoke out the exhaust. We took it to a mechanic that told US that it's a valve,ring sludge problem in the motor . He said it's been happening to this particular model . I researched it on google and found this website from other owners of siennas. From what I…
Here is a list of mechanical malfunctions indicating manufacturing defects on my Toyota Sienna. The current models recalled by Toyota motors do not cover all vehicles with defects. Based on my personal experience in the past few years, Toyota motors have a lot of lying employees in their authorized dealership. In…
Seat belts
5 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: rear/other.
: the contact stated all rear seat belts are jammed and will not pull out for use. The dealership inspected and determined the seat belts needed to be replaced however, no repairs have been made. The manufacturer has been alerted.
The seat belt on the second row of the Toyota Sienna minivan, become inoperative under normal conditions. The seat belt will not retract making the seat useless.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Toyota Sienna recalls
Body and structure: structure
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2003 Toyota Sienna
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Toyota Sienna?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: doors and locks (21 complaints, typically around 39,000 miles); body and structure (18 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles); brakes (13 complaints, typically around 16,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Toyota Sienna have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 20, 2010 (body and structure). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Toyota Sienna?
- It is 17th of 21 Sienna model years by number of complaints, with 105 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.