1st generation (XL10) · XL10 (Camry XV20-derived) · 1,648 complaints, 752 with mileage
Owners filed 1,648 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998–2003 Toyota Sienna, and 752 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 36,000 and 114,254 miles. The median is 75,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are body structure (13.5% of complaints, typically around 90,900 miles), the engine and its cooling system (11.7% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles), latches and locks (10.9% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles).
1 recall campaign cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 222 | 13.5% | 90,900 | 51,329–120,000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 192 | 11.7% | 70,000 | 43,000–100,081 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 180 | 10.9% | 70,000 | 25,000–102,000 |
| Tires | 151 | 9.2% | 45,000 | 21,500–100,500 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 142 | 8.6% | 48,644 | 19,000–80,205 |
| Power Train | 136 | 8.3% | 79,000 | 61,000–118,580 |
| Electrical System | 92 | 5.6% | 75,000 | 45,000–118,000 |
| Steering | 74 | 4.5% | 65,692 | 12,000–108,884 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 63 | 3.8% | 112,000 | 70,000–152,717 |
| Seat Belts | 63 | 3.8% | 79,700 | 55,400–100,500 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 352 | 89 |
| 1999 | 250 | 83 |
| 2000 | 459 | 183 |
| 2001 | 238 | 158 |
| 2002 | 225 | 148 |
| 2003 | 124 | 91 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 75,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
Body structure accounts for 13.5% of complaints (222 reports, 114 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 90,900 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 51,329 and 120,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 11.7% of complaints (192 reports, 72 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 43,000 and 100,081 miles.
Latches and locks account for 10.9% of complaints (180 reports, 113 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 25,000 and 102,000 miles.
The tyres account for 9.2% of complaints (151 reports, 37 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail early — a median of 45,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 21,500 and 100,500 miles.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 8.6% of complaints (142 reports, 56 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 48,644 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 19,000 and 80,205 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 8.3% of complaints (136 reports, 56 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 79,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 61,000 and 118,580 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2000 model year drew the most — 459 complaints — while 2003 drew the fewest at 124. The median year sits at 244.
NHTSA records 1 recall campaign covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 1,648 complaints filed against this generation, 113 reported a crash; 24 reported a fire; 123 reported an injury; 3 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 6.9% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 36,000 and 114,254 miles, with a median of 75,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, body structure and the engine and its cooling system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine and its cooling system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 70,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
The 1MZ-FE V6 is part of the Toyota engine family affected by oil gelling - sludge accumulation that blocks oil passages and destroys the engine. Toyota's Oil Gel Policy extended engine coverage to 8 years with no mileage limit for affected owners. This is the defining engine risk for the generation.
Sliding door cable, latch and roller failures causing doors that will not open, will not latch, or bind on the track.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 10V160000 | 2010-10-12 | Structure |