1999 Toyota Sienna Body & Structure Problems

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.

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.

I HAVE OWNED MY 1999 SIENNA FOR 5 YEARS. TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY REAR HATCH DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED. 3 YEARS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. NOW, EVERY DOOR HANDLE ON THE VAN IS BROKE. THE SLIDER DOORS STICK CAUSING YOU TO HAVE TO PULL HARD ON THE DOORS TO OPEN. (AND THEY WERE NOT STICKY FROM SODA) LAST MONTH BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR HANDLES BROKE. THE DESIGN OF THE HANDLES ARE POOR IN THAT THE WEIGHT IS NOT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED WHY PULLING THE HANDLE. IT ALL ON ONE SIDE AND THE WEAKER SIDE SNAPS. THE REAR IS A CHEAP PLASTIC THAT SNAPS FOR NO REASON. IF YOU GO ON THE WEB THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE REAR HATCH AND THE SLIDING DOOR HANDLES BREAKING. *TR

TOYOTA SIENNA 1999 THE POWER SLIDING DOOR GIVING A PROBLEM FROM LAST THREE YEARS AND NOW COMPLETELY JAM, NEITHER OPEN NOR CLOSES. THE OTHER SIDE DOOR HANDLE IS VERY POOR QUALITY AND BROKE TWICE NOW. *TR

CABLE ON PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR OF 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA VAN SNAPPED AND NOW THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. *TR

REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE LEAVING ONE UNABLE TO OPEN REAR DOOR. *TR

PASSENGER POWER SLIDING DOOR FAILED. *TR

THE REAR DOOR OF OUR 1999 SIENNA VAN HAS ALREADY BROKEN TWICE SINCE WE PURCHASED IT 5 YEARS AGO. I REPLACED IT ONCE, BUT CANNOT AFFORD TO AGAIN. AS A RESULT, I CANNOT GET TO THE BACK WHICH ALSO PREVENTS ME FROM GETTING TO MY SPARE TIRE SHOULD I NEED IT. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE BACK HANDLE BROKE A YEAR AGO A WEEK LATER A SLIDING DOOR HANDLE. NOW, THREE DAYS AGO, ANOTHER SLIDING DOOR HAS BROKEN. I HAVE NO MONEY TO REPLACE THIS HANDLES AND IT WILL RUN ABOUT 1,000 TO FIX ALL THREE. FURTHER, THE SLIDING DOOR PANELS KEEP LIFTING AND I HAVE TRIED REPLACING THE PEGS WITH NO LUCK. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR THAT HAS HAD NO MANY ISSUE WITH DOOR HANDLES. THEY SHOULD LAST THE LIFE TIME OF THE CAR. I SEE THROUGHOUT THE WEB OTHERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I CALL FOR USED PARTS, THEY ARE BACKED ORDERED BECAUSE THERE ARE NO MANY REQUEST FOR THEM. ESPECIALLY THE BACK DOOR ONE. I REALLY BELIEVE THEY ARE DEFECTIVE AND WERE NOT MADE TO WITH STAND OPEN AND CLOSING ON A DAILY BASES. I THINK THEY MADE THEM THINKING THEY WOULD BE ON DOORS THAT AUTOMATICALLY RELEASED AND OPENED VERSUS MANUAL DOORS. *TR

I AM WRITING IN REGARDS TO MY 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE. WE HAVE HAD (AND LOVED) THIS CAR FOR ALL OF IT 134,000 MILES, BUT RECENTLY THE POWER SLIDING DOOR (ON THE PASSENGER SIDE) STOPPED WORKING. USING BRUTE FORCE, AN ADULT CAN MANUALLY PULL THE DOOR OPEN AND SHUT, BUT A CHILD CANNOT. MY LOCAL TOYOTA ADMITS THAT THIS IS A "DESIGN ISSUE" AND THAT HE'S SEEN "DOZENS" OF SUCH CASES, BUT THAT HAS NO BEARING ON THE FACT THAT IT COSTS UPWARDS OF $1600 TO MAKE THE FIX. THIS HARDLY SEEMS FAIR, REASONABLE OR SAFE. I'M SURE TOYOTA WILL SPRING INTO ACTION ONCE A VAN WITH A SLIDING DOOR IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE A CHILD IS TRAPPED AND HURT, BUT IT'S TOO BAD THAT IT WILL HAVE TO COME TO THAT FOR THEM TO DO WHAT'S CLEARLY RIGHT. THE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE FURTHER -- A RECALL OF SOME KIND IS CLEARLY WARRANTED. *TR

SINCE I HAVE OWNED MY 1999, THE REAR HATCH HANDLE IS BROKEN TWICE AND THE SLIDING DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS ALSO BROKEN. WE I CALL FOR PARTS I FIND OUT THAT THE REAR IS ON BACK ORDER DUE TO IT BEING SUCH IN DEMAND FOR REPLACEMENT. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT ANOTHER SIENNA OWNER WAS CALLING FOR THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SLIDING DOOR HANDLE. ITS SEEMS THESE HANDLES ARE MADE VERY POOR AND DO NOT WITHSTAND THE PULL ACTION REQUIRED TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR. ON THE REAR, THERE IS A TINY PIECE THAT CONSTANTLY BREAKS OFF CAUSING THE HANDLE TO BE REPLACED. *TR

I TRIED TO OPEN THE REAR EXTERIOR DOOR IN THE BACK AND THE HANDLE MADE A SNAPPING SOUND AND IS NOW STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND NOW THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN ON THE OUTSIDE AND I DON'T SEE A WAY TO OPEN IT ON THE INSIDE. I PURCHASED THE VAN TO TRANSPORT MY GRANDKIDS. NOW I'M FEARFUL TO TAKE THEM ANYWHERE IN IT NOW FOR THEIR SAFETY REASONS. JUST IN CASE I HAVE TO GET IN THAT WAY FOR AN EMERGENCY. *TR

ON BACK DOOR OF MINIVAN, THE OUTSIDE HANDLE BROKE WHEN WE SQUEEZED IT TO OPEN. THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED. WHY IS THERE NO RELEASE FROM THE INSIDE? THE QUOTE TO FIX IS $275-300. ALSO, ON THE REAR SLIDING DOOR (DRIVER SIDE, NOT AN AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR), THE PUSH-BUTTON LATCH "STICKS" SO THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSING; WE HAVE TO PRY THE PUSH-BUTTON OUT WITH A KEY OR SCREW DRIVER SO THE DOOR WILL LATCH. *JB

THIS COMPLIANT IS REGARDING TWO SPECIFIC SAFETY ISSUES WITH A 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA VEHICLE. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE REAR HATCH HANDLE HAS BROKEN. (3 HANDLES SO FAR) THERE IS NO RELEASE MECHANISM FROM THE INSIDE, SO THERE IS NO WAY TO GET OUT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF FIRE OR ACCIDENT DISABLING THE SIDE DOORS. THE PART IN QUESTION IS POORLY DESIGNED AND IS MADE OF PLASTIC. THE PLASTIC HANDLE IS UNDER SPRING TENSION AND ACCUATES A METAL PART TO RELEASE THE DOOR LATCH. THE PLASTIC IS TOO WEAK TO PUSH AGAINST THE METAL PART IN NORMAL USE. THE HANDLE SHOULD ALSO BE MADE OF METAL TO CURE THIS DEFECT. THE LATEST AND SECOND SAFETY DEFECT INVOLVES THE REAR REMOVABLE POD SEATS. THE SEAT TODAY WILL NOT LOCK IN THE NORMAL SEATED POSITION. AN OCCUPANT CAN PULL THE SEAT UP AND OUT OF THE TRACK IF THEY LEAN FORWARD ENOUGH. I WOULD ASSUME IN AN ACCIDENT THE ENTIRE SEAT WOULD FLY FORWARD AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *NM

UPPER DOOR MOUNT PILLAR CRACKED DUE TO OVEREXTENSION HINGE GUARD FAILURE. *AK

PASSENGER SIDE POWER DOOR STARTED OPENING AND SHUTTING BY ITSELF AFTER OPENING TO ALLOW CHILDREN TO ENTER VEHICLE. THE DOOR ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE AND DID NOT STOP, EVEN WHEN ENCOUNTERING THE BODY OF MY CHILD. FORTUNATELY HE WAS OUR OLDEST CHILD AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY ENOUGH TO ONLY BE BRUISED ON HIS SIDES. TURNED POWER OFF TO DOOR AND TRIED TO DETERMINE CAUSE. OPENED DOOR MANUALLY AND CLOSED AGAIN - DOOR WOULD NOT REOPEN MANUALLY, EVEN WITH SUBSTANTIAL FORCE. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" AND WANTS $1200 TO REPAIR DAMAGE TO DOOR HINGE AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY.

THE SLIDING ELECTRONIC DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSED. WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED, IT WOULD REOPEN ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXAMINED TWICE BY THE DEALER. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE ELECTRICAL DRIVE IN THE DOOR SHOULD BE REPLACED. *AK THE DOOR COULD BE OPENED AND CLOSED MANUALLY, BUT WITH DIFFICULTY. *SC *JB

DRIVER'S DOOR WAS OPENED AND A GUST OF WIND GRABBED THE DOOR AND SNATCHED IT OFF THE HINGES. THE PINS POPPED OUT, AND THE DOOR COULD NOT BE CLOSED. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE DOOR HINGES WERE NOT A PART OF THE WARRANTY. *AK

BOTH THE SLIDING DOORS HAD BEEN RATTLING SINCE I BOUGHT THE VAN. THE DEALER SAID THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLES WITH COMPLETE ASSEMBLY, WHICH I DO NOT PLAN TO SPEND MY MONEY FOR. I BELIEVE IT IS MFR'S RESPONSIBILTY TO FIX THEM. ALSO I HAD REPLACED THE REAR DOOR LATCH THAT IS APPARENTLY MADE OF VERY CHEAP PLASTIC AND HAD BROKE OFF. ALL THE FRONT DASH VENTS FIRST CRACKED AND BROKE OFF WITHIN THE SECOND YEAR, NONE OF WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

THIS HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRUATING BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD USE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FOR ABOUT A THIRD OF THE TIME WE HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, AND I CAN NOT GET ANYONE AT TOYOTA TO TAKE THIS DEFECT SERIOUSLY. I WOULD RATHER NOT WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLE TWICE BECAUSE THE SLIDING DOOR HANDLES WILL LOCK UP AND THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

ELECTRIC SLIDING SIDE DOOR FAILS TO CONSISTANTLY CLOSE CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT WON'T LOCK AND HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR DRIVER TO DRIVE WHILE THE DOOR IS OPEN AS IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANUALLY CLOSE THE ELECTRONIC SIDE DOOR. DEFECT REPORTED TO DEALER 3 OCCASIONS UNDER 36K WARRENTY AND WERE UNABLE TO MAKE PERMANENT REPAIR. 9.10.02 SERVICE VISIT REPLACED DOOR LATCH ($300) AND RETIMED DOOR. INTERMITTANT DOOR FAILURE REDUCED AFTER SERVICE VISIT BUT NOT ELIMINATED. DEALER ADMITS MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THIS DOOR AND THAT THE DOOR REQUIRES SERVICING (TIMING)THAT IS NOT LISTED ON MANUFACTURERS OWNERS MANUAL. NEIGHBOR ALSO HAS SAME MODEL VAN WITH EXACT SAME FAILURE EXPERIENCES. MR

ELECTRIC SLIDING DOOR INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT FULLY CLOSE AND LATCH.*AKJLG

THE CONSUMER BACKED INTO A RETAINING WALL AT 2 MPH AND DAMAGED THE REAR BUMPER. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE BUMPER WAS INADEQUATE FOR THE PURPOSE IT WAS INTENDED AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE. *YH

THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SLIDING DOOR HAS HAD AN INTERMITTENT "STICKING" PROBLEM. THE STICKING PROBLEM GOT TO THE POINT WHERE A 200 POUND MAN COULD BARELY OPEN IT. ON THE FIRST 2 OCCASIONS, WE BROUGHT IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE THAT STATED "NO PROBLEM FOUND". THE LAST 2 TIMES, THE TOYOTA DEALER AGREED IT WAS A PROBLEM, BUT BLAMED IN ON SPILLED JUICE OR COLA (WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE). THE DEALER CLEANED THE DOORS THOROUGHLY BOTH TIMES, JUST TO HAVE THE PROBLEM COME UP AGAIN. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT A LITTLE SPILLED JUICE OR COKE COULD CAUSE SUCH A SUCTION THAT A DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF A CHILD GOT IN THE CAR AND COULD NOT GET OUT BECAUSE THE DOOR WAS STUCK CLOSED. THIS IS NOT THE SAME PROBLEM REPORTED BY OTHERS REGARDING THE BUTTON STAYING PUSHED IN. THIS PROBLEM WHEN YOU TRY TO OPEN THE DOOR, THERE IS SUCH A SUCTION THAT IT CANNOT EASILY BE OPENED.*AK

THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR POWER SLIDING DOOR HAS INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS. 3 DIFFERENT SYMPTONS EXIST FOR THE FAILING DOOR: 1) POWER DOOR IS CLOSED USING ONE OF THE THREE REMOTE BUTTONS; THE POWER DOOR OPEN LIGHT STAYS ON; THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS NOT ON; POWER DOOR ALARM BUZZES WHEN PUT IN GEAR. 2) POWER DOOR IS CLOSED USING ONE THE REMOTE BUTTONS; THE POWER DOOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENS AGAIN. 3) THE POWER DOOR IS CLOSED USING THE REMOTE BUTTONS; THE POWER DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE AT ALL. THE POWER MOTOR TRIES TO CLOSE, BUT WON'T. WHEN YOU MANUALLY TRY TO HELP IT ALONG, IT JUST OPENS UP AGAIN. IN ALL 3 SITUATIONS, THE DOOR WILL SUDDENLY WORK FINE FOR A WEEK OR TWO AND THEN BEGIN HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN. THE FIRST 2 TIMES THE DOOR FAILED, WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER JUST TO BE TOLD "NO PROBLEM BE FOUND". SO, WE WAITED FOR THE POWER DOOR TO FAIL COMPLETELY. WHEN IT DID, WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE 3RD TIME (9/00). THE MOTOR AND COMPUTER WERE REPLACED. A MONTH LATER (10/00), THE FIRST AND SECOND SYMPTOM BEGAN APPEARING. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS AN ADJUSTMENT. A MONTH LATER (11/00), THE SAME PROBLEMS OCCURRED; THE DEALER MADE ANOTHER ADJUSTMENT. A MONTH LATER (12/00), THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED; THE DEALER MADE ANOTHER ADJUSTMENT. A MONTH LATER (1/01), THE SAME PROBLEMS OCCURRED. THIS TIME THE DEALER SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY LOW VOLTAGE AND GAVE US A NEW BATTERY. IT CONTINUED TO FAIL. THIS TIME, WE WAITED UNTIL IT GOT SO BAD THE POWER DOOR WOULDN'T CLOSE AT ALL. 3 MONTHS LATER (4/01), THE 3RD OF THE SYMPTOMS OCCURS. THE DEALER PUT ANOTHER NEW MOTOR AND COMPUTER IN THE DOOR. ONLY THIS TIME THEY ALSO TOLD US THAT WE COULD NOT MANUALLY OPERATE THE DOOR UNLESS THE POWER DOOR WAS TURNED OFF. IF WE DID, IT WOULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR AND COMPUTER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR CAME OFF OF THE TRACKS. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED.*AK

THIS WAS NOT AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE BUT A DESIGN FAILURE. ON A HOT JULY EVENING I CHOSE TO REMAIN IN THE CAR WHILE MY HUSBAND WENT IN A STORE. HE ABSENTMINDEDLY TOOK THE KEYS AND HIT THE AUTOMATIC LOCK BUTTON ON THE KEYFOB. I THEN TRIED TO OPEN A DOOR FROM INSIDE. THIS TRIGGERED THE ALARM AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, TRAPPING ME INSIDE. THERE WAS NO WAY TO OPEN A WINDOW OR A DOOR. I GOT HOTTER AND BEGAN TO FEEL SUFFOCATED. FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF A PASSERBY WHO COULD HEAR ME THROUGH THE WINDOW, AND WHO GOT MY HUSBAND. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION, NOT TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE CAR FROM THE INSIDE. IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES (MY HUSBAND GONE LONGER, NO HELP NEARBY) IT COULD LEAD TO A SUFFOCATION OR HEAT-STROKE DEATH.

AUTOMATIC DOORS DO NOT FUCNTION PROPERLY. DOORS DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY OPEN IF A PERSON'S BODY PART HAS GOTTEN CAUGHT IN THE DOOR. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NEXT TO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR THERE IS A "POWER DOOR" SWITCH. THIS SWITCH CONTINUES TO OPERATE EVEN IF THE CHILD LOCK IS ON FOR THAT DOOR. MY SON COULD EASILY OPEN THE POWER DOOR EVEN IF THE CHILD LOCK IS ON TO MY SURPRISE. TOYOTA SAYS TO TO TURN OFF POWER DOOR FUNCTION OFF USING THE SWITCH ON THE FRONT DASH BOARD. THE PROBLEM IS ONE HAS TO REMEMBER TO TURN IT OFF EVERY TIME ONE ENTERS THE VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT FEASIBLE AND THE CHILD WILL HIT THE PWR DOOR SWITCH NEAR THE DOOR AND FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERN TO ME WITH THREE CHILDREN. I CAN PERMANENTLY TURN OFF THE POWER DOOR OPTION BUT THE PROBLEM IS ,IN THAT CASE THE POWER DOOR BECOMES VERY HARD TO OPERATE MANUALLY AS IT REQUIRES LOT OF EXTRA FORCE TO OPEN OR CLOSE.

THE POWER SLIDING DOOR IS DANGEROUS TO SMALL CHILDREN. IT REQUIRES TO MUCH PRESSURE TO STOP IF SOMETHING IS IN ITS WAY WHILE CLOSING. I HAVE TO DISABLE THE POWER DOOR WHICH LEAVES THE DOOR VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO USE NOW. ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS TO PUT A LIGHT SENSOR THAT WILL NOT ALLOW THE DOOR TO CLOSE AT ALL IF SOMETHING IS IN THE WAY OF THE DOOR (LIKE GARAGE DOORS) . THE POWER DOOR WILL STOP AND GO BACK IF IT HITS SOMETHING FIRST. BUT A 30 POUND CHILD CANNOT TAKE THAT KIND OF PRESSURE ON HIS NECK! I KNOW THESE ARE RELATIVELY NEW TRUCKS ON THE MARKET, AND I HOPE THAT NO SMALL CHILD WILL BE INJURED.*AK