RoadVitals

1999 Toyota Sienna Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Feb 11, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 215 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Toyota Sienna submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Feb 11, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 225,000.

NHTSA ID
10563840
Incident
May 3, 2005
Mileage
150,000 mi
ElectricalOther / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Jul 12, 2010

I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA, BOUGHT NEW IN APRIL 1999. ON NOVEMBER 11, 2005, I HAD TO HAVE THE HORN FIXED BECAUSE TO MAKE THE HORN FUNCTION, YOU HAD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT COST ME $399.35. THE DEALERSHIP LISTED "POOR CONTACTS IN CLOCK SPRING; REPLACE CLOCKSPRING". I NOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE VEHICLE. TOYOTA WILL NOT HELP WITH THE EXPENSE AS THE WARRANTY IS ONLY GOOD FOR 36,000 MILES OR 3 YEARS. HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES? IN ALL THE YEARS AND WITH ALL THE CARS WE HAVE OWNED (WE KEEP THE CARS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS) THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM WITH HORNS NOT WORKING; THAT IS WHY I FEEL THIS PROBLEM IS INHERENT WITH THIS MODEL IF NOT OTHER TOYOTA MODELS. (PLEASE NOTE; THE EQUIPMENT CHOICES PICKED ARE TO FILL IN THE REQUIRED INFORMATION FROM THE CHOICES GIVEN; NOT NECESSARILY CORRECT. THE PARTS NUMBERS ARE LISTED ELSEWHERE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10342583
Incident
Apr 30, 2010
Electrical
Filed Jun 19, 2008

I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THE 1999 TOYOTA SIENNA LE WITH WHICH HAS ONLY 61,000 MILES SO FAR. HOWEVER, IN THE EVENING OF TWO DAYS AGO, I STARTED IT AND COULDN'T STOP IT ANYMORE. IT KEPT RUNNING EVEN I TOOK THE KEY OUT. I WAS SO AFRAID OF CAUSING FIRE EVENTUALLY, BUT I STILL HAD TO DRIVE AROUND TRYING TO STOP IT. EVENTUALLY I SMELT SOMETHING BURNING AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT FROM RUNNING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER IN DUBLIN, CA TO HAVE THE STARTER REPLACED. THIS IS SCARY PROBLEM FOR THE CAR I BOUGHT IN THE BELIEF OF SAFETY AND RELIABILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10231555
Incident
Jun 16, 2008
Mileage
61,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 5, 2006

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH FUSE #12 WHICH CONTROLS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, CLOCK, AND REMOTE ACCESS-KEEPS BLOWING. ALSO THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY FLASHES EVEN WHEN THE BELT IS LATCHED. DRIVER'S VANITY LIGHT HAS DISLODGED FROM VISOR. *NM

NHTSA ID
10175186
Incident
Nov 6, 2004
Mileage
71,000 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 13, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON A RAINY DAY ON FLAT ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL BACK LIGHTS. THE RAIN WATER CREATED A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE VEHICLE HARNESS CABLES IN THE HITCHER. THE CABLE HARNESS WAS REQUIRED TO CONNECT THE TRAILER LIGHTS. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE HARNESS CABLES TO RESTORE THE VEHICLE BACK LIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID
10168153
Incident
Nov 20, 2005
Mileage
100,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jul 7, 2006

POWER DOOR LOCKS HAVE STARTED TO FAIL ON MY 1999 SIENNA LE. THE DRIVER'S DOOR SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEMATIC PART OF THE SYSTEM. THE OTHER DOORS SEEM TO WANT TO RESPOND BUT DRIVER DOOR MAKES A 'CLICK, CLICK, CLICK' SOUND AND DOESN'T RESPOND. KEY USUALLY WORKS TO LOCK AND UNLOCK BUT NOT CONSISTENTLY. DANGEROUS SINCE PEOPLE COULD BE TRAPPED IN VEHICLE DURING AN ACCIDENT, ETC AND OTHER POSSIBLY DANGEROUS SCENARIOS COULD OCCUR. REPORTING THIS SINCE IT MOST LIKELY HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AND WANTED IT ON RECORD. DRIVER AND OTHERS COULD BE TRAPPED INSIDE WHICH IS DANGEROUS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10161849
Incident
Jul 6, 2006
Mileage
55,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 5, 2005

98E035000 THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. THE ALARM GOES OFF WITHOUT REASON. THE CAR WILL NOT START ONCE THE ALARM GOES OFF WITHOUT REASON

NHTSA ID
10127504
Incident
Mar 1, 2005
Mileage
100,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 25, 2004
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY VAN CUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START BACK. I COASTED INTO A DRIVEWAY AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD. I GOT OUT OF MY VAN TO CALL MY HUSBAND. BY THE TIME I HAD HUNG UP THE PHONE, THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE POURING FROM OUT UNDER THE HOOD AND IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME WITHIN 5 MINUTES. MY VAN WAS A TOTAL LOSS. MY VAN WAS FINE WHEN I LEFT ON THIS SHORT TRIP, BUT THEN WITHIN 10 MINUTES, IT WAS DESTROYED. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10096401
Incident
Sep 14, 2004
Mileage
110,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine+4 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

ALL THE ABOVE DATA IS AN ESTIMATE BECUASE WE ARE WAITING FOR COPIES OF ALL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR RECORDS FROM TOYOTA - - BUT WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE INCLUDING SCREECHING BRAKES, LEFT VEER WHEN DRIVING, BAD TRANSMISSION (REPLACED TWICE),SMOG CHECK FAILURE DUE TO OXYGEN SENSOR AND/OR ENGINE PROBLEMS, CLUNKING NOISES IN ENGINE, A SHUDDERING OF VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING OR BRAKING. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALERS FOR AS LONG AS 3 WEEKS; DEALER ADMITS NOT KNOWING WHAT IS WRONG. FAILED

NHTSA ID
10068983
Incident
Nov 15, 2001
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jun 9, 1999

POWER SLIDING DOOR NOT LATCHING PROPERLY; WARNING LITE ON; ECU SHORT CIRCUITED; CANNOT VERIFY IF RIGHT SLIDING DOOR IS CLOSED SHUT; EXACT PROBLEM ON SAME VEHICLE TAKEN FROM CARSON TOYOTA IN FEBRUARY; OTHER VEHICLE'S VIN NR IS [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
707381
Incident
May 12, 1999

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .