Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 190 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Toyota Sienna, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Latches/locks/linkages | 22 | 12% |
| Structure | 19 | 10% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 17 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 12 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 10 | 5% |
| Tires | 10 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 5% |
| Structure | 9 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 8 | 4% |
| Air bags | 7 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE 3.0 L V6 ENGINE. HEAVY SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. VISIBLE OIL SLUDGE UNDER THE OIL REFILL CAP.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SLIDING DOOR HAS SEVERAL TIMES NOW REFUSED TO LATCH, AND WHEN IN EMERGENCY SITUATION I HAVE LOCKED IT AND FORCED IT TO SHUT THEN IT WILL NOT UNLOCK AND IT HAS TO BE TAKEN APART TO BE OPENED AND TH
NHTSA complaint: Structure
MY 9 YEAR OLD SON AND I WERE ON OUR WAY HOME FROM WORK LAST NIGHT AND I HEARD SOMETHING SNAP ON MY 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA. I THEN HEARD SOMETHING DRAGGING SO I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO CHECK AND REALIZED THE FUEL TANK WAS
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
I HAD JUST DROPPED MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER OFF AT SCHOOL AND AS I WAS LEAVING I HAD TO STOP BECAUSE SOME CHILDREN WITH THEIR PARENTS NEEDED TO CROSS IN FRONT OF ME I APPLIED MY BRAKES AS NORMAL AND I HAD NO ISSUES IN STOPPI
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
TAKATA RECALL. WHITE SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE EXHAUST WHEN I START THE CAR. THEN SMOKE DISAPPEARS OR STAY AT LOW LEVEL DURING DRIVING. DECREASE OIL. I PUT ONE QUARTER OIL EACH WEEK. MECHANICS SAYS IT MAY HEAD GASKIT OR SE
NHTSA complaint: Engine
THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER WAS FAULTY AND NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT STOPPED THE SRS DEPLOY AND HAVE THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
THE HORN ON THE SIENNA WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION WHEN DRIVING AS A HORN COULD POSSIBLY PREVENT AN ACCIDENT WITH A CAR OR PEDESTRIAN. FIRST HAD THE PROBLEM IN 2014, BUT WHEN WE BROUGHT IT TO T
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
HORN WILL NOT WORK IN THE RAIN OR WHEN YOU DRIVE IN WATER. IT TAKES ABOUT A DAY FOR THE HORN TO DRY OUT FOR THE HORN TO WORK AT ALL. PEOPLE COULD GET KILLED WHEN THE HORN WILL NOT WORK IN THE RAIN OR WATER. TOYOTA NEED
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2001 Toyota Sienna. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 HAMP
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 REME
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT SUB FRAME ASSEMBLY HAS NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY WELDED.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FAILURE OF THE ASSEMBLY FOLLOWING LONG-TERM USAGE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FRONT SUB FRAME, IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 9, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND
| Reliability raw | 69 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 92 | excellent |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other minivans & vans in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 190 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and latches/locks/linkages is the most reported area with 22 of them (12%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 69/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2001 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.