1999 Toyota Sienna — Known Issues & Recalls

The cable that opens your driver's side sliding door has snapped, so the door no longer opens automatically. Toyota has a warranty enhancement for this same problem on 2004-2007 model years, but your 2009 model isn't covered. The fix will likely involve replacing the sliding door cable assembly.

Your spare tire carrier rusted and became stuck in early 2006, so you paid $300 to have it repaired at an independent shop. Later you received a recall notice from Toyota about this same issue. When you requested reimbursement, Toyota denied it because the repair wasn't done at an authorized dealership. You then had the recall work performed at a Toyota dealer, but Toyota denied reimbursement again, saying your earlier repair didn't meet their criteria for the recall campaign. The issue may require replacing the rusted spare tire carrier assembly at an authorized Toyota dealership to qualify for any recall-related coverage.

Your front and rear bumpers are cracking and denting easily when struck, even from minor impacts. The bumper material appears to be defective and prone to damage. Replacing the damaged bumpers with new ones will be necessary to restore their appearance and protection.

Your car was off with the key removed, but when your daughter touched the gear shift, it moved between Park and Reverse and the car started rolling backward down your driveway without the brakes being pressed. The van hit a tree, and you found the shifter stuck between Park and Reverse positions. This suggests the transmission may have shifted out of Park without proper engagement or safeguards.

Your gear shift lever arm fractured after you shifted into Park at 90,000 miles. Your mechanic determined that the entire gear shift assembly would need to be replaced to fix the problem. This repair involves removing and installing a new gear shift module.

Your front driver-side tire developed bulges (bubbles) on both sides after 18 months of use, causing noise, vibration, and eventually going flat on the highway. You noticed a 4-inch bulge when you patched it, and a 3-inch bulge was found on the other side when inspected at the dealer. This type of tire damage can lead to a sudden blowout, which is a serious safety risk at highway speeds.

Your spare tire is loose in the cargo area of your van. After a recall repair removed the spare tire from its original mounting location due to cable corrosion, the tire wasn't secured down and moves around while you drive. In an accident or rollover, the heavy tire and rim could shift around the seating area and cause serious injuries.

Your engine made strange noises and ran rough, sounding like not all cylinders were firing normally. When you tried to turn off the engine by removing the key, it kept running. After driving less than a mile, you noticed the temperature gauge was at midway, and when you stopped at home and removed the key, the engine continued running and began smoking from the engine area. You used a fire extinguisher to stop the smoking, and the engine finally shut down.

The complaint filing appears to be incomplete or unclear — it only references a 2009 Toyota Sienna sale with no specific vehicle issue described. Without details about what problem you're experiencing, it's impossible to determine what might need repair or attention.

Your rear door handle came off in your hand when you tried to use it. Your power sliding door motor has failed and is no longer working. Your power sliding door handle also came off in your hand. The door handles and motor will need to be replaced to restore proper function.

Both your driver-side sliding door and rear door became stuck and won't open, even when you try using the key or opening them manually. The lock handle on the rear door is permanently pressed in and no longer moves. The doors appear to be mechanically jammed and may need professional inspection to diagnose whether the latch mechanisms, hinges, or door frame alignment are damaged.

Your van sometimes accelerates suddenly on its own, making it difficult to slow down or stop, especially when you first start driving after it has been parked for a few hours. This problem is most noticeable during stop-and-go driving. The issue may involve the throttle control system, fuel delivery, or engine speed control components that may need inspection and adjustment or replacement.

While driving, your spare tire fell from underneath your car because the cables holding it snapped. The car behind you ran over it, causing damage that you're being charged for.

Your brake pedal completely failed while driving, leaving you unable to stop the vehicle even after multiple braking attempts. The van accelerated unexpectedly and continued accelerating uncontrollably until it hit a lamppost and came to rest on courthouse steps. This happened after warning lights (VSC/OFF Track and Check Engine) had appeared twice in the prior month, with the dealership assuring you the van was safe to drive. The repair will likely require a complete diagnostic of the brake hydraulic system and replacement of failed brake components.

Two seat belts in your 1999 Toyota Sienna have suddenly jammed and stopped working properly — one won't retract enough to buckle, and the other is stuck in the retracted position. Both belts failed within the same month, and you haven't found a way to fix them yourself. The repair will likely involve replacing the seat belt assemblies, which may include the retractor mechanism and webbing.

Your vehicle suddenly accelerated to about 45 mph on its own while you were driving. You had to press the brake pedal hard to get it to stop. This happened multiple times at different speeds, but you didn't take it to a dealer for diagnosis. The problem occurred around 125,000 miles.

Your check engine light is on and your engine is smoking. You discovered that your engine oil has turned into sludge, which is a thick, dirty buildup. You believe this is a manufacturing defect and are asking if Toyota will fix it for free. Addressing this will likely require an engine flush or oil system cleaning, and possibly engine component inspection or replacement.

Your car's steering pulls strongly to the left, forcing you to grip the steering wheel tightly to keep it going straight. Even after getting wheel alignment done twice and installing new tires, the pulling to the left starts immediately after each fix. This suggests a deeper steering or suspension problem rather than a simple alignment issue.

Your horn stops working and then starts working again without any pattern. You took your vehicle to the dealer, but the technician couldn't figure out what's causing the problem. The issue started around 150,000 miles and is still happening. Fixing this will likely involve testing the horn circuit, checking the horn relay, and possibly replacing the horn switch or horn assembly.

Your horn requires turning the steering wheel to function properly. The dealership replaced the clock spring (the contact mechanism under the steering wheel) in 2005 for $399.35, but the same problem has returned. This repair involves replacing the clock spring assembly, which carries electrical signals from your steering wheel controls to the car's systems.