Used 1999 Toyota Sienna Consumer Reviews
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Wish I Could Own It Forever
Happy Camper, 03/14/2010
1999 Toyota Sienna LE 4dr Minivan
44 of 45 people found this review helpful
Just passed 326,000 mi. on my Sienna. Purchased new in 1999 - absolutely the best car ever! Faithful maintenance seemed pricey at the time-timing belt every 60,000 miles, e.g., but I stuck to it & can count the number of repairs on one hand. Water pump at 200,000, stuck seat belt, tie rod ends @ 250,000. Had 3 prior Chrysler minivans, none of which lasted more than 140,000; all needed new radiators, transmissions etc. Inconceivable on this van. Not even broken plastic parts. Didn't use the tow package 'til recently. Added a trailer hitch and took a full U-haul across the Appalachians at 300,000 miles w/no problems. Driver seat has great lumbar support - when my back hurts I go sit in my car.
8 Years with Sienna
Earl H. Conrad, 04/02/2016
updated 04/08/2017
1999 Toyota Sienna CE 3dr Minivan
20 of 20 people found this review helpful
I have owned my '99 for 8 years. The brakes seem to last a long time, but I am on my 4th alternator. Two exterior door handles broke off. What I don't like is not being able to turn off the headlights, I need more leg room, and I don't like the radio tuning. But at 203,000 miles it has been overall reliable. It has outlasted my Ford and Chevy vans by 65,000 miles already. And I replaced the AC system twice. Maybe a screen in the grill would protect it from stones which cause leaks. Update: The latch handle on the back hatch door broke again.
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Fourteen years of great service
Dorcas, 08/02/2016
1999 Toyota Sienna XLE 4dr Minivan
18 of 18 people found this review helpful
I've had two toyotas, a total of 27 years great service. Just usual maintenance required until past 10 years old. At 17 years old, 14 years in my care, I felt it was worth the price to keep repairing it since I expected to use it for several more years. Smooth ride. Good accelerationI Excellent size and height for a handicapped person. XLE power package helped with handicapped issues. Plenty of cargo room for purchases, mobility aids, and luggage. Great for airport runs for people and luggage. I did have to replace 3 of four door handles and the back gate handle assembly at about $300 each. Also had to convince the automatic door slider chip that it wanted to work on occassion. Being in the sun, the roof had started peeling. There were a few other cosmetic things that needed replacing, nothing I could complain about at 17 years old. In it's demise, again the car served me well in protecting my life. I was hit hard directly in the drivers door - and pushed into the car in the next lane. Because the door was very sturdy, although it bowed inward, my life was spared. I had glass cuts, whiplash, and seatbelt bruising, but nothing broken or punctured. I know what a great vehicle for me is -- another XLE Sienna of a newer model!
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Great Mini Van
pastmaster, 07/11/2013
1999 Toyota Sienna CE 3dr Minivan
15 of 15 people found this review helpful
I have owned since new. Has never left me stranded, always been dependable. 139,000 miles and no major problems. I do most all my own maint. I do regular oil changes (syn) I also do drain and refill on tranny at every oil change, some may say thats not needed, but I have never had trouble with Trans. and it only takes 4 qts at a cost of $12.00 which is small price compared to new Trans. Biggest expense was new exhaust from manifold back including new converter, total cost $600.00. Some small problems such as right sliding door sticks, and drivers side window motor is bad. So overall been a great van. I will drive it until the doors fall off.
Amazing Gem of a vehicle
scott2011, 05/19/2011
1999 Toyota Sienna XLE 4dr Minivan
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
I thought I would never be a mini van family. I started out with a excursion for my family of 5-WAY TO THIRSTY and doesn't drive near as fun/GREAT as a Sienna. I drove a 04 Sienna than a 06 absolutely LOVED the way they handled, felt, and drove. I looked high and low for a a 04 or newer in my price range 11K it was not happening then I came across my new 99 Sienna XLE-I had my doubts at 1st. I didn't drive a 99 and with 159K mls??. THE XLE has beautiful leather seats and it still drove like it just came off the show room floor. These Sienna's are so remarkable do not short change yourself and settle with competition without driving Sienna first. It is truly a luxury mini above the rest.
Good Car, Doors Are Terrible
michaelia, 02/19/2012
1999 Toyota Sienna LE 4dr Minivan
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
It's reliable most of the time. We had to rebuild the alternator twice. Mechanically, it seems to do great, but it's the little things that drive me crazy. In the 4 years we've owned the vehicle, we've had to fix the doors 3 times (3 outside door handles, 1 inside door mechanism). Seems minimal, right? No. Each fix cost us between $200 and $300 because they have to take the door apart from the inside to get the handle in. It's all Labor. The sliding doors have always stuck too. My suspicion is the previous owner had these issues too because the inside sliding door panel on the right side won't stay in place, Probably been taken apart too many times. Current issue: stuck ignition switch.
Side Door Handle
lushbutterfly, 02/16/2010
1999 Toyota Sienna CE 3dr Minivan
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Bought this new--it's been great with regular maintenance. Replaced the battery twice, we're on 125K now. The side rear door handle on the outside broke off in my hand. $100/part alone. The inside rear door handle has stuck for about 10 of the 11 years--never worked, gets stuck in and then you can't close the door without prying it loose. The only drawbacks are the one side door and the lifting of seats in/out of the van. The newer ones seem a lot better designed. Overall, we love this van and we'll keep driving it till it dies...
The Camry of Minivans
MtnRoad, 03/08/2016
1999 Toyota Sienna CE 3dr Minivan
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
I have a 1999 Toyota Sienna CE with 3.0L V6 with 80,000 miles, sliding doors on both sides, grey cloth interior, light green paint on exterior. This is a fantastic car. When friends ride in it they immediately comment on how smooth the ride is. The engine is the same V6 they put in the Camry and acceleration is great. Functionality of the van is awesome. When you want to load groceries or other items in tight parking spaces the sliding side doors and huge lift back make everything so easy. I think having sliding doors on both sides was an option so not all Sienna's have that but one will still work out great in those tight parking spaces. I bought the car used from an older couple who had the 3rd row seating removed and a hydraulic lift installed for a motorized wheel chair. I had the lift removed and sold it, and I most likely won't hunt down some replacement 3rd row seats. I own rental properties and the Sienna is perfect for hauling all the stuff I need for work and keeping tools safe in parking lots. I don't like showing up at my rental properties in fancy new cars and the Sienna is perfect for maintaining the look I want in front of people who pay me rent. There is a lot of room in these vans to go camping, or haul stuff and people comfortably. I recently took my Sienna on a huge road-trip with a girlfriend to follow the Seattle Seahawks on some road games and the vehicle performed flawlessly. I set it up to sleep in the back of the van if I wanted, and when I did it was roomy. I don't have much to complain about but if I did it would be the power window control on both the driver and front passenger side short out every now and then and I have to pry them up and fidgit with them a bit to get them working again. The car is a 1999 so no big deal it comes with the age. The replacement part is cheap at the dealership but I'm holding out. The paint is pretty badly oxidized. I live in Arizona and the car is older so it's expected but looks kind of bad. The model I have is the CE edition and it came with steel wheels that had hubcaps and I regularly lost hubcaps (mostly because used ones have broken clips and they don't secure well). In fact there probably isn't a used Sienna hubcap within a 50 mile radius of my house because I have gone through them all. I finally just bought some late 1990's Toyota Camry alloy wheels off eBay for $200 and although they are scuffed a bit they match the age and condition of my car and maintain the original look of the vehicle. Door handles seem loose and ready to break and apparently its normal for Toyota's of this age but it still is something to look for if buying used because replacement cost and labor can run $75-100 for each handle. The only other thing I guess I would mention is the 3.0L V6 for this model uses a timing belt instead of a chain. My car has low mileage but due to the age of it I had the timing belt and water pump changed at the Toyota dealership with a coupon I found on their website. It cost $1500 to have that done along with a complete tune up with spark plugs, wires, etc. Sure, you can find some shade tree mechanic shop to do it for $150-200 less but I got genuine Toyota parts / service / and warranty. I recommend this model to anyone who wants reliability, a good looking vehicle, smooth ride, and lots of room. Sometimes people try to race around me on the freeway on-ramp but they get a nice little reality check when I throw that V6 into action. LOL eat my dust!!!
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Most reliable thing on the road!
Armani, 11/30/2006
1999 Toyota Sienna XLE 4dr Minivan
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I bought this minivan in May 99 and got the XLE because of the power door feature which surprised me, but was not happy that the power door needs repairing so soon. So far I have 88k miles and have never encountered problems with the engine because of its perfect realiability. A previous minivan didn't make it up hills had so many problems but the Sienna goes up hills with authority.
Really Great
fredlisancnc, 08/01/2009
1999 Toyota Sienna XLE 4dr Minivan
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Just had 10 year anniversary. Soccer mom. Purchased new. Has been a dream vehicle. Now have 135,000 miles. Drives like luxury vehicle. Has been extremely reliable. Have just needed reg. maintenance, i.e oil changes regularly, 18 month brake jobs, (heavy city travel). On 3rd set of Michelin tires, on 3rd battery. Had to replace motor for power window and an alternator. Am now having timing belt, water pump, and ac and ps belts changed for first time which is normal maintenance. Now in its 10th plus year, starting to have a few issues. Valve gaskets are now leaking oil and need replacement. Repair described is approx. $1000 for belts, wp, and new gaskets with labor. Heavily recommend vehicle.
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