Is the 2001 Toyota Sienna a bad year?
179 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sienna years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2001 Toyota Sienna are in line with other Sienna years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2001 Sienna owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 78,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 35 (20%) | 35k–115k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 34 (19%) | 13k–91k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 24 (13%) | 40k–105k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 20 (11%) | 44k–115k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 18 (10%) | 30k–123k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Fuel system | 13 (7%) | 35k–113k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Seat belts | 9 (5%) | 57k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 6 (3%) | 46k–115k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed control | 9 (5%) | 80k–166k miles · ahead | — |
| Tires | 13 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 78,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 179 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 9 report an injury.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Mar 2021.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2001 Toyota Sienna: 2
The subject vehicles are equipped with the spare tire stowed under the vehicle. The cable may break due to excessive corrosion and the spare tire may separate from the vehicle, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The front sub frame assembly has not been adequately welded. This condition could cause failure of the assembly following long-term usage, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 46
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2001 Toyota Sienna. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic…
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues…
Low battery voltage can contribute to a MIL "ON" condition for P0335 (Crankshaft Position Sensor Circuit) and/or P0340…
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels…
Neighbouring years
2000 Sienna: 363 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2002 Sienna: 181 complaints, keep it.
Every Toyota Sienna year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · All Sienna years side by side
Other Toyota models: Toyota 4Runner · Toyota Avalon · Toyota C-HR · Toyota Camry · Toyota Camry Hybrid · Toyota Camry Solara · Toyota Celica · Toyota Corolla · Toyota Corolla Cross · Toyota Corolla Matrix · Toyota Echo · Toyota FJ Cruiser · Toyota Grand Highlander · Toyota Highlander · Toyota Highlander Hybrid · Toyota Matrix · Toyota Prius · Toyota Prius c · Toyota Prius v · Toyota RAV4 · Toyota RAV4 Hybrid · Toyota RAV4 Prime · Toyota Sequoia · Toyota Sienna Hybrid · Toyota Tacoma · Toyota Tundra · Toyota Venza · Toyota Venza Hybrid · Toyota Yaris. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2001 Toyota Sienna a bad year?
179 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sienna years. At 78,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Toyota Sienna?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: body structure (35), latches and locks (34), engine (24), electrical system (20), brakes (18).
How many recalls does the 2001 Toyota Sienna have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Body structure (NHTSA 10V-160), Body structure (NHTSA 01V-072). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.