Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Toyota Sienna owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Car: Toyota Sienna ce, 2003 re: latches, locks, linkage you have a number of complaints in your data base regarding latches, locks, linkage. On which I also have a complaint. I have a sticky (inside) door release button problem. When it is depressed, to open the door, the button will not return to its normal position resulting in not being able to keep the door closed (latches will not engage to hold the door shut). I also had this problem in 2005 (other sliding door), which was fixed under warranty (invoice #310955, 06dec05). Driving with the door un-latched is dangerous and is also a safety issue. Because of the many complaints filed under this heading (but unable to determine if sticky button was the real problem), in your data base, I would like to see Toyota fix this item if it is a problem. Dealer estimated cost to fix this problem is $170 (invoice #425596, 12nov08). …
My minivan passenger doors intermittently either fail to open or close properly. Most often the doors won't open and passengers cannot exit without crawling through to the other side or front. Occasionally the doors will not catch when closed, forcing me to drive slowly with hazards until it gets "unstuck". I've had these problems intermittently since the van was less the 1 year. The dealer has tended to blame me or make a repair which hasn't lasted. Most recently they replaced a door handle and supposedly adjusted a cable and told me the problem was fixed and guaranteed for 6 months and then wanted to charge for additional parts and service when brought back in 5 weeks later with ongoing problems. In reviewing your website this is a problem which has been reported by others. Sometimes the thumb piece sticks, other times the handle fails to open the door. …
I never had a problem opening or closing the trunk door of my 2003 Sienna van. Shortly after I purchase my Sienna in 2007, I did notice the trunk handle, which is covered from all elements, was completely corroded. To see the corrosion you must get on your knee and look up past the license plate or open the trunk door and look up into this same groove.. I informed the Toyota service center about the corrosion while the vehicle was under warrant and was told that was not a problem that was covered by the warranty. After a trip to the grocery store on labor day, the trunk would not open. I had to climb over the rear seat to unload the van. When I contacted Toyota I was informed that there were no recalls for that particular problem and that I would have to pay the cost of the repair. How can that part be totally corroded the way it is cover?
The passenger door handled broke on the back side sliding door. It was repaired but now to open the door from the inside you have use brute strength. It will not open easily and the shop is stating there is nothing wrong with it. However, the driver sliding door opens with ease even by a 10 yr old. I saw on many blogs that many people have the same problem. This is a safety issue and most places (school) and camps and any place else you are going to take your kids, they will have to get out on the passenger side. It is not safe for them to have to go into traffic to get out of the car. Then what if the same thing happens to the other door. Will the children be forced to climb through the front to get out, what if there is an accident and the front doors are inaccessible, how will the people in the back get out. This is very unsafe.
The door latch buttons on the sliding doors(where my children sit) have gotten stuck. I think the problem is related to heat (days where the car sits in the sun with temps of 95+). When the button is stuck the door either ( May not latch or May not open). If anything happened to my children because of this known and documented door latch failure, I hold Toyota responsible. 30aug03 our family was going to our pool (it was a hot day). We all got in the van. My daughter closed the siding door. Uh-oh the button is stuck , the door wont close and latch. Our trip in this van is over. I stayed with the van, called our Toyota dealer and scheduled a time to repair the door. Toyota could not recreate the sticking button and will not fix or replace. This was the third time the button stuck.
2003 Toyota Sienna minivan, both sliding doors do not operate properly. The driver side stays shut always and will not open from the inside or the outside. The passenger slider will open from the outside if you place the childproof lock on. This happened on and off and got to be constant after the 3 year warranty is up. This is not from wear and tear. It is a known 'Sienna problem forum' issue and every time someone goes to Toyota, they deny that a problem exists. Does that sound familiar? Is it safe when you cannot get out of your door?
Tl contact owns a 2003 Toyota Sienna. While driving 55 MPH, the vehicle's hood blew open and damaged the windshield and roof. The contact was able to pull off the road and discovered that the hood latch failed. He felt that the latch was defective. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, however, they were unable to determine the cause of failure. The insurance company is scheduled to evaluate the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 65,000.
We have a 2003 Toyota Sienna minivan. The drivers side automatic door now will not open manually or automatically. I have a daughter who is handicapped and this is the easiest door to put her in the car, so as of right now the car that holds her wheelchair is completely useless to us. Toyota has been absolutely no help. This is very dangerous. What is she was in the car an accident occurred and we could not get her out????
Dt*: the contact stated the sliding door failed to open. The manufacturer was called who determined the vehicle was not under warranty. The contact would be charged for any work done to the vehicle. So thus far the contact has not taken the vehicle to the service dealer to address the issue.
Dt: the contact stated the button used to open the sliding doors jammed. The occupants in the back seat were unable to exit the vehicle. The dealership has been alerted. Updated 7/25/2006 - the consumer lubriacted the button and now the door works.
Door Lock & Latch complaints in other Sienna years
Frequently asked questions
How common are door lock & latch problems on the 2003 Toyota Sienna?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the locks & latches of the 2003 Toyota Sienna, 20% of the model year's 105 complaints. The component named most often is doors › latch (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Toyota Sienna door lock & latch problems?
No. NHTSA lists no locks & latches recall for the 2003 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 2003 Toyota Sienna door lock & latch problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 38% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to locks & latches 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.