Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Toyota Sienna owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Since leasing the car new 3 yrs. Ago, we've taken the car back to the dealer a couple of times because the middle row seat belts lock up. Two weeks ago we were in a car accident, the front passenger seat belt did not lock, allowing the passenger to be thrown to the dash and back.
Front passenger window does not close completely. Middle right and left seat belts lock passengers to seat without undue motion. Notified dealer several times, unable to fix the problem. Front passenger seat belt failed to lock passenger during rear end collision.
2000 Toyota Sienna. The seat belt warning light is faulty. In the beginning, the warning light indicated the opposite -- blinking when buckled, off when unbuckled. Then after couple weeks it just keeps blinking no matter what. It's believed that the problem is caused by a malfunction sensor. The malfunction is caused by the housing of the sensor. The housing is over-sized and allows the sensor cap pops out easily and causes the malfunction. It is a manufacturing defect! And if the SRS system will be affected by this is a big question. The warning light just keeps blinking after the malfunction, no matter if you are buckled up or not. The driver, after some time, will get used to the false warning and will tend to ignore it and will not be aware if the seat belt is really buckled. Which May increase the possibility of injury or death in a crash. …
I have had a problem with the front seat belts in my Sienna for some time now. The warning indicator never goes off although the seat belt is on. This is for both the driver and front passenger. I have taken it to Toyota at least four times and have been told it is a very costly repair. At least $500 per belt. When I asked if it was safe to keep it in the current condition, I was told by Toyota to carry a pair of scissors with me in case the seat belt fails in an accident. I believe Toyota should be responsible for this type of repair for the life of a car since it is a safety issue.
2000 Toyota Sienna. The passenger seat belt sensor suddenly started working backwards. The warning light is off when the seat belt is buckled and comes on when the seat belt is unbuckled, including when the passenger seat is vacant. Dealer says it will cost about $350 to replace the belt and that it is a safety issue because the faulty sensor is also linked to the air bag, which May not deploy properly in an accident. Given this scenario, I think Toyota should fix this at their cost even though the car is out of warranty.
My seatbelt in my 2000 Toyota Sienna van became entangled with the gastank opening switch upon release. I could not thereafter re-engage the seatbelt until I stopped the vehicle, opened the door and observed the entanglement. I had loosened the seatbelt in a drive-thru line to get my wallet from my pocket, and attempted to re-fasten the belt which frequently becomes entangled in the mechanism possibly because of age.
Child wrapped rear seat belt around neck. Seat belt would not release. Had to cut seat belt to release child. This was the rear shoulder harness. Child was hanging by the neck. Should not have to fully retract seat belt to have some slack. I have had other passengers refuse to wear the other seat belts complaining they "lock up" and something was wrong. A child could be choked to death.
The driver's seat belt buckle receiver stopped working. According to the dealers service manager, a small plastic tab (he called it a "spacer") in the buckle receiver broke off and prevented the buckle from latching. I note that a similar problem on the 2001 Ford escape was the subject of a voluntary recall (NHTSA campaign id number: 03V507000).
The lights for both front seat belts flash when the seat belts are fastened. When they are not fastened and are fully retracted into the door post, the lights go off. This began first with the passenger side a couple of months ago and started on the drivers side this month. Additionally the seat belts don't always retract properly.
Three shoulder strap seat belts in my 2000 Toyota Sienna have failed. They are frozen and inoperable. The dealer says he will replace at $200 per seatbelt. Other than that there is nothing he can do to repair the seatbelt. The vehicle is useless without seatbelts. I am afraid that the other 3 will fail also.
Seat Belt complaints in other Sienna years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat belt problems on the 2000 Toyota Sienna?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the seat belts of the 2000 Toyota Sienna, 6% of the model year's 363 complaints. The component named most often is front › warning light/devices (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Toyota Sienna seat belt problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seat belts recall for the 2000 Toyota Sienna, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 Toyota Sienna seat belt problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 73,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries to seat belts problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.