1999 Toyota Sienna XLE review from North America

This vehicle has had a severe steering pull problem since new. Two new tires were required at 7,500 miles due to excessive wear on the original tires.

There are numerous rattles in the doors and the interior of the van.

The brakes make loud clunking sounds as the vehicle comes to a stop in reverse gear.

There is a persistent leak in the rear window washer unit.

A piece of plastic trim on the rear lift gate separated from the paint within the first few months of ownership.

The paint is so thin that when traveling a highway speeds even a grain of sand can do considerable damage.

Finally, the baffle directly below the engine oil filler cap has a thick deposit of blackened, gritty oil. The oil in the engine itself has been determined to contain a very high level of silicon. This problem was confirmed by analysis of an oil sample sent to the Blackstone Laboratories.

With the exception of the loose piece of trim, all attempts to have these deficiencies corrected have been met with arrogant indifference on the part of both of my local Toyota dealers.

This is not a vehicle I would ever recommend to a young family with a tight budget and concern for the safety of their children. In fact, it would be an excellent vehicle for all prospective buyers to avoid especially if they are interested in owning a trouble free van.