2001 Toyota Sienna Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe problems with the power sliding doors and rear hatch — doors that stop opening or closing, handles and latches that fail, and power motors or control modules needing replacement. Engine complaints center on oil sludge and gelling, with some reports of engines being replaced, and a smaller group of owners describes coolant, brake, and electrical problems. Many reports arrive at higher mileage, though door and sensor complaints also appear at low miles.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Power sliding door and rear hatch problems

   • 35 complaints (19%)
   • median 67,235 mi at 7.7 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,219 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2001–2018

   Owners describe power sliding doors that stop opening or closing with the button or remote, sometimes only partway, and occasionally only in rain or snow. Several report the door had to be switched to manual operation, or a cable cut, to make it usable, and some say the door opened on its own while driving. Dealers commonly quoted replacement of the door motor and control module, in some cases over a thousand dollars, and owners report repeat visits for the same problem. Reported from very low mileage up to about 160,000 miles, with many appearing after the basic warranty period.

   What to check: Cycle both sliding doors through power and manual operation several times, listen for clicking or grinding from the motor, and ask whether the door motor or control module has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dear sirs, I want Toyota to buy back my Sienna van. I have had my van repaired 4 time for a inoperative power sliding door,erratic operating power sliding door, unintentional activation power sliding door. The door is now broke again. After they fix the door this will be the 5th repair to the door. The door now opened one time while driving the car at slow speed. This is not safe!”

   NHTSA complaint #10039448, filed 2003-09, 34,000 miles

   “I purchased a brand new 2001 Toyota Sienna xle in 2001. The passenger side power sliding door has given us problem since we purchased the car. We had it back to the dealer for the same power door issue at least 11 times. They now want to charge me. The ntsb should force a recall to fix this issue. The door will not open or close and now it will not move at all either by remote or manually.”

   NHTSA complaint #10420074, filed 2011-08, 8,000 miles
2. 2
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Door handles and latches fail or stick

   • 18 complaints (10%)
   • median 74,245 mi at 8.6 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2003–2011

   Complaints describe exterior and interior door handles and latches that break or stick, leaving doors that will not latch shut or will not open from inside or outside. Some owners report the tailgate latch failing with no outside release, requiring the interior panel to be removed to open the hatch. In some reports the handle buttons stick in hot weather until the cabin cools. Spread from about 13,000 to 155,000 miles, with some owners reporting repeated latch failures.

   What to check: Open and close every door and the tailgate from both inside and outside, check that latches engage firmly, and confirm the remote and interior releases work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The door latch on the passenger side sliding door has failed on two occasions. The first time was in september 2007. We had it replaced at the dealership at our own expense. Then it failed again last week. The dealership tells us it needs to be replaced again. The latch on the rear door has also failed and been repaired at our expense.”

   NHTSA complaint #10292417, filed 2009-11, 79,000 miles

   “Rear tailgate latch broke. Because there's no remote way to open the latch (either wireless or wired), it's necessary to climb inside the vehicle remove and disassemble the interior rear-hatch door paneling and manually engage the release cable. This is the third time this has happened with this vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10390034, filed 2011-03, 155,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Oil sludge and oil gelling in the engine

   • 14 complaints (8%)
   • median 91,040 mi at 8.6 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2001–2021

   Owners describe oil that disappears between changes, a check engine light, knocking or stalling at highway speed, and heavy smoke from the exhaust. In several reports a shop or dealer attributed the damage to sludge or gelled oil and recommended engine replacement or cleaning. Some owners say they kept up with scheduled oil changes and still had the problem. Mostly reported between roughly 25,000 and 150,000 miles; several complaints note the problem appeared without warning.

   What to check: Check the oil level and condition, look under the oil filler cap for sludge, ask for oil change records, and have a mechanic inspect for sludge before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The engine of my Toyota Sienna 2001 with an identified oil sludge problem seized while driving at highway speeds. Vehicle could not be controlled and my toddler threw up in fear as we tried to avoid being smashed into while the car coasted to a stop. Mechanic repeatedly said cam seized, metal filings found, and could not think of any other reason but the sludge problem. Toyota refused to repair the vehicle under unlimited mileage, 8-year warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10146013, filed 2005-12, 82,000 miles

   “I bought the car in 2001, used at 18,000 miles. I have had all scheduled maintenance done. On aug 8th I had and oil change and by sept. 17 there was no oil , another oil change was done. By sept. 22 there was no oil. I brought the car to stevenson Toyota in jacksonville, nc, where they told me I had an oil gelling problem. They are keeping my car for 1-2 weeks, without the use of a loaner car. They state that Toyota will clean the parts one time as a good will gesture and possibly pay for a rental car for 3 days. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10070880, filed 2004-01, 55,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Hard to refuel or fuel vapor system faults

   • 9 complaints (5%)
   • median 42,500 mi at 4.4 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2004–2007

   Complaints describe the fuel nozzle clicking off every few seconds during refueling, sometimes with fuel spilling, which owners were told was a problem with the charcoal canister or vapor valve. Others report an air-fuel sensor failure code and a check engine light; the sensor was replaced at the owner's cost in several cases. Reported from about 35,000 to 60,000 miles in the sampled complaints.

   What to check: Fill the tank during a test drive to see whether the pump clicks off repeatedly, and scan for stored check engine codes before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2001 Toyota Sienna.. Having problems with evap control system. I cannot fill up the gas tank continously.. Stops every few seconds... Sometimes spilling gasoline..(started at about 46,000 miles).. I paid $98 dollars to a local toyotal service center to have it check. They said, my van has a problem with the charcoal cannister and would cost me $500.00 dollars to replace... …”

   NHTSA complaint #10086567, filed 2004-08, 46,000 miles

   “Failure code p1155 air fuel sensor failure at 40k miles $282.00 for just the sensor. The vehicle is less than 3 years old no help offered from the dealer with cost of repair. From my research on various bullitens, I find that Toyota has had numerous problems with thier sensors. The part number of my faulty part 89467-41040. I own two 2001 Toyota vehicles and all service oil changes provided at dealer ships. I had two GM's and because I had my service provided at the dealer they took care of things like this out to 50k miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10066069, filed 2004-04, 39,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake noise, pulsation, and weak assist

   • 14 complaints (8%)
   • median 61,500 mi at 7.6 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2013

   Owners describe grinding or squealing brakes, a pedal that vibrates or feels hard, and ABS warning lights, with some reporting the van did not stop as expected. In one report a disconnected vacuum hose was found to have disabled the power assist. Other complaints describe repeated premature brake wear and rotor problems. Reported from about 4,000 up to 210,000 miles, with several cases above 70,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the brakes at low speed for grinding, pulsation, or a hard pedal, check for an ABS light, and ask when the pads, rotors, and brake fluid were last serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I replaced my brakes pad and routers less than a year ago and replaced all 4 tires december 2012 at sears. My ABS light and tire pressure light come on every time I drive and recently I pulled out of my driveway at no more than 5 MPH and pressed on the brake and I couldn't stop reversing in the street. I fell when I driving the anti brake system tries to work. Because my pedal jumps and vibrates and I hear clicking grinding sounds. I have had to stop intersections because my van wouldn't stop when I needed it too.”

   NHTSA complaint #10505177, filed 2013-04, 210,000 miles

   “Car had been driven for 15 minutes, brakes worked, was parked for 30 minutes and upon pulling out of driveway realized brakes did not function. Was able to brake the car with parking brake. No accident ensued, called tow truck and brought it to service center. Was told that vacuum hose came unattached, so power assisted brakes were not working.”

   NHTSA complaint #10169214, filed 2006-09, 72,000 miles

Buying note. Check the sliding doors, latches, and brakes closely on a test drive, and have a mechanic look for engine sludge and any stored codes, since these are the areas owners report most. Ask for maintenance records, particularly oil change history.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.