The Lemon Index2003 Toyota Sienna.
The 2003 Toyota Sienna is better than average by owner complaints: 44 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 51, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 1 recall, and it gets 19 mpg combined. The best Toyota Sienna year is 2020.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 105 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Toyota Sienna year. 2003 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 17K to 94K miles on the car (77 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- doors, locks & latches complaints mostly came at 20K–99K miles
Recalls 1
- body structure 2010
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, I…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 108 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Countermeasures to the air conditioner (a/c) magnetic clutch relay for a/c light flashing…
- The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of…
- The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★☆ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.0L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Consumer stated while traveling 15-30 mph depressed brakes and pedal traveled to floorboard, causing extended stopping distance.
2003 Toyota Sienna owner · NHTSA complaint 10059252
More owner reports
Sliding doors on the 2003 Toyota Sienna van may lock and prove unable to open from the inside or outside, trapping occupants.
NHTSA complaint 10098510
Brakes squeak when applied at low speed. Dealer fixed it three times, but it is back again. The van was purchased new and is still under 3 year/36,000 miles warranty.
NHTSA complaint 10049702
Quick answers
Is the 2003 Toyota Sienna reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 51; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Sienna year by this measure is 2020.
What are the most common 2003 Toyota Sienna problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (23%), doors, locks & latches (18%) and transmission & drivetrain (11%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2003 Toyota Sienna have?
1 safety recall (latest: body structure). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Toyota Sienna get?
19 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2003 Toyota Sienna problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 17,500 and 94,500 miles. The middle report was at 54,000 miles, from 77 complaints.
Does the 2003 Toyota Sienna have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 11% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2003 Toyota Sienna cost in fuel a year?
About $3400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2003 Toyota Sienna have?
3.0L 6-cyl.
What Toyota Sienna year is better than the 2003?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2020, 2013 and 2012.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works