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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
100,831 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2000 Toyota Sienna engine problems

engine problem

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2000 Toyota Sienna Owner Comments

problem #16

Jun 282021

Sienna

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2000 Sienna with 305000 miles. I have never had trouble with this vehicle until about 2 weeks ago. When I am stopped and my car is in drive, I just tap the gas pedal for a second and the engine RPM will increase to about 2000 RPM and will stay there until I put the car in neutral or turn the engine off. This is a problem because my breaks barely hold this and I must put the car into neutral for the car to stop pulling forward. Putting the car into neutral resets the rpm. If there is no car in front of me, I can release the brakes and the vehicle will continue to accelerate until the transmission switches to second gear, at this point I can drive normally. One time the vehicle continued to accelerate even after switching gears, I put the vehicle into neutral and the engine went to over 4000 RPM, the brakes could not stop the vehicle, I had to turn the engine off. The gas pedal is not sticky or stuck, floor mats are not in the vehicle. I can rev the engine normally when I am in park, this only happens when I am in gear. I have checked the Throttle Body, Throttle Position Sensor and disabled the cruise control module, I can see no reason for this to happen. I have seen many complaints about this same issue online but have not found a resolution. I can buy an ECM but this is an expensive trial. I will take it to the dealer from here.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #15

Sep 132019

Sienna

  • 210,581 miles
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Sienna. When the ignition was started, the vehicle started to accelerate and moved forward without shifting into drive. The contact depressed the brake pedal and applied the emergency brake, but both failed to stop the vehicle. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by shifting into neutral gear. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer and the manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was 210,581.

- Winchester, VA, USA

problem #14

Nov 232017

Sienna

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Sienna. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle accelerated on its own. The vehicle did a stop and go action that occurred every time the vehicle moved. The contact had to place the vehicle in neutral in order to stop it completely. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. There were no recalls on the vehicle. The failure mileage was 200,000.

- Reseda, CA, USA

problem #13

Apr 032017

Sienna

  • 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Yesterday afternoon, I was driving on a semi busy road in tucson, Arizona at about 40 mph and the van suddenly began to accelerate. I immediately thought I had hit the cruise control button but the dash showed no indication that this was case. I repeatedly pushed the cruise control button and jiggled the lever arm hoping to toggle something off but it had no effect. I began to push the breaks but they were not capable of slowing the car below about 25. I threw the van into neutral and the engine revved up to about 7000 RPM. That sound concerned me so I threw it back into gear and the van began to accelerate again. I pushed the emergency breaks, and with my pedal break fully compressed I could get the car to 5-10 mph but there was absolutely no way to stop the van. After narrowly missing a pedestrian, I turned right, found a place to pull off to the side of the road, threw the van into neutral and quickly turned the van off. With the engine turned off the breaks were as effective as the should have been so the the van came to a stop. After a brief period I turned the key, started the van and, again, the engine again revved to 7000 RPM. I turned it off again. I pumped the accelerator several times before starting it again and it started up fine. I had the van towed after this and I'm not likely to drive it again.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #12

Aug 152016

Sienna

  • 189,000 miles
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Sienna. While driving various speeds, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 189,000.

- Sacremento, CA, USA

problem #11

Aug 272016

Sienna

  • 152,717 miles
While parking the vehicle and curbing the tires on a medium downward grade, with car in "drive" and my right foot fully on the brake pedal, the engine suddenly and unexpectedly went full throttle. By applying maximum pressure on the brake pedal, I was able to slow the forward motion of the vehicle as it jumped the curb, heading for the wall of a local school. By continuing applying maximum brake pressure and disengaging the transmission, I was able to stop the vehicle...approximately two feet short of impact with the wall. By good fortune, there were on injuries, and no property damage. But it could have been a tragedy. There was a function at the school on the day of the incident, and parents with children were on the sidewalk in the area both before and after the incident. Upon stopping the car and turning off the engine, I immediately checked mat positions, my foot positions, and the throttle pedal area. The was absolutely no interference between the mat and the throttle pedal, nor any contact or interference of any kind with the pedal. As I considered the car far too dangerous to drive at that point, I had it towed back to my residence. Inspection of the vehicle and further action is pending.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #10

Nov 012015

Sienna

  • 200,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that when starting the vehicle, it would rev up than accelerate up to 60 mph without warning. The vehicle would also independently accelerate when attempting to accelerate from a stop. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000. The VIN was not available.

- Boston, MA, USA

problem #9

Apr 042016

Sienna

  • miles
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Sienna. While driving at an unknown rate of speed, the vehicle independently surged forward at a high rate of speed. The contact swerved and crashed into a wall. The driver's and front passenger side air bags deployed. The driver sustained extensive bruising to the left knee and sternum, which required medical attention. The manufacturer was not notified. A police report was filed. The failure mileage was not available.

- Glenside, PA, USA

problem #8

Oct 122015

Sienna

  • 226,000 miles
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Sienna. On several occasions, the vehicle accelerated independently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 226,000.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #7

Apr 252014

Sienna 6-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
Vehicle suddenly accelerates when the gas pedal is lightly tapped. The engine will accelerate over 2000 RPM a stay there until the ignition is turned off. If the brakes are not held down during this time the vehicle would certainly crash into anything in its way. Gas pedal is not sticky or stuck, floor mats are not in vehicle, and throttle is closed yet the vehicle still accelerates? can not find any other issues for this model and year online for help or advice.

- West Covina, CA, USA

problem #6

Oct 192003

Sienna

  • 37,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving on tollway in our 2000 Sienna with cruise set to 70 mph I pushed the accelerator a little to increase speed a few mph. It instantly took off as if I had hit the "resume" on the cruise control (cc) and had it set for 120 mph. After a few seconds of panic I hit the brakes to slow the van and release the cc. No luck. With no traffic near me I looked to see if the acc. Pedal was stuck, floor mat was interfering, or something else holding the pedal down - nothing was. I turned off the cc, pumped the accelerator pedal, stomped on the brakes and was just about to put van in neutral when we went back to normal control. We took van to Toyota dealer next day, but they could find nothing wrong. They called Toyota and were told it was not a known problem, so no fix. We still drive it daily, but do not use the cc in traffic, or accelerate with the cc on. This was not a stuck pedal, nor a floor mat problem. Because we have not used the cc in the same manner as when the sudden acceleration happened, I would think it is cc related.

- Wataga, IL, USA

problem #5

Jun 192000

Sienna

  • 18,000 miles
In summer of 2000, I had an accident in a 99 Toyota Sienna and my accelerator stuck causing me to have to put the car in reverse to stop forward motion after impact. I reported the stuck accelerator to dealer, and state farm. My car was totaled. The accident occurred at an intersection and another driver hit me from the right - he ran a red light and was cited as at fault, but after the impact, my car continued to go forward and although I had my foot on my brake all the way to the floor the car would not stop. I had my two young children in the car who were screaming in fear and pain, and there were two rows of cars in every direction stopped at the intersection. I looked at a concrete pillar in a parking lot and thought about running my car into it to stop. Instead, I reached for the gears and tried to shift to park. It went into reverse, and by some true miracle, I was able to miss all the sitting traffic and steer into a chain link fence. By yet another miracle, there was only one spot on the fence that was not tree lined. I backed between two trees into the fence and that stopped my car, which I left running as I got my two children out. A bystander was able to reach in and remove the keys and stop the car. The fence belonged to a catholic church which later sent a bill to my insurance company for the damage. This occurred in memphis, tn, and I have always been sure that the accelator was stuck in that incident. I was told to report it to the nthsa, but frankly, thought that sounded like redtape. I don't think the Toyota problem is mechanical or recent, but a massive, long-standing computer-based issue cover-up and Toyota drivers should be compensated by company.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #4

Feb 022005

Sienna 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles
While traveling 50 mph suddenly the vehicle accelerated to 80 mph, resulting in a crash and a roll over. The consumer was not injured in the collision.

- Edison, NJ, USA

problem #3

May 012001

Sienna

  • miles
There was a sudden decrease in acceleration while in cruise control, and an unusual noise.

- Charlottesville, VA, USA

problem #2

Jan 162000

Sienna

  • miles
We are very unhappy with this van and the little service we receive we wished we never purchuse this car..... unsafe & defective.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #1

Oct 302000

(reported on)

Sienna

  • miles
When driving at highway speed and upon accleration vehicle loses all power making it very difficult to operate vehicle, also, vehicle has cut off in the middle of oncoming traffic. Consumer has contacted the dealer.

- Fort Lee, NJ, USA

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