Illustrationsteering component that breaks, causing a driver to lose control.
1998 Toyota Sienna
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Toyota Sienna do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 183.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sienna years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 73 of 294 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports3 fire reports13 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
39 reportsWHILE DRIVING 5 MPH ABS ENGAGED. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, THE ABS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB
BRAKES HAVE BEEN NOISY SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN SPONGY AND NEEDED A LOT OF PRESSURE TO STOP. THE FRONT DISCS WERE RESURFACED AND PADS WERE REPLACED WHEN THE CAR WAS 7 MONTHS OLD! THE NOISE CONTINUED, THE CAR PULSES WHEN I TRY TO STOP AND AT 54,000 MILES THE FRONT ROTORS ARE WARPED. I DRIVE MAINLY ON FLAT …
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BRAKES HAVE BEEN NOISY SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN SPONGY AND NEEDED A LOT OF PRESSURE TO STOP. THE FRONT DISCS WERE RESURFACED AND PADS WERE REPLACED WHEN THE CAR WAS 7 MONTHS OLD! THE NOISE CONTINUED, THE CAR PULSES WHEN I TRY TO STOP AND AT 54,000 MILES THE FRONT ROTORS ARE WARPED. I DRIVE MAINLY ON FLAT ROADS AND DON'T RIDE MY BRAKES. THE ROTORS SHOULD NOT HAVE WARPED! 1998 SIENNAS CLEARLY HAVE BRAKE PROBLEMS AND IT'S TIME TOYOTA ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE PROPERLY!*AK
ABS ACTUATOR FAILED ON 38 MONTH OLD VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES, RESULTING IN TOAL FAILURE OF ABS SYSTEM. *AK
FRONT BRAKES WERE GRINDING, AND STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING, BRAKES HAD BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED, CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG.*AK *YD
I AM CURIOUS IF ANY REPORTS ABOUT POTENTIAL BRAKE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED. I HAVE MY BRAKES CHECKED FREQUENTLY AS THEY SQUEAK CONTINUOUSLY AND DON'T SEEM TO STOP THE VEHICLE AS THEY SHOULD. THERE IS ALSO A PULLING TO THE RIGHT SIDE WHEN BRAKING AT ANY SPEED, WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A LOCAL DEALER THA…
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I AM CURIOUS IF ANY REPORTS ABOUT POTENTIAL BRAKE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED. I HAVE MY BRAKES CHECKED FREQUENTLY AS THEY SQUEAK CONTINUOUSLY AND DON'T SEEM TO STOP THE VEHICLE AS THEY SHOULD. THERE IS ALSO A PULLING TO THE RIGHT SIDE WHEN BRAKING AT ANY SPEED, WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A LOCAL DEALER THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS, YET HAVE HEARD FROM OTHERS THAT THERE HAS BEEN. A SEARCH HERE TURNED UP NOTHING. I AM JUST TRYING TO KEEP MY FAMILY SAFE. THANK YOU. *AK
AT ALL TIMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY WOULD MAKE A HIGH PITCH/GRINDING NOISE. DID NOT AFFECT STOPPING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT ENTIRE BRAKING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BACKING PLATE IS TOO THIN AND DEF…
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AT ALL TIMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY WOULD MAKE A HIGH PITCH/GRINDING NOISE. DID NOT AFFECT STOPPING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT ENTIRE BRAKING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BACKING PLATE IS TOO THIN AND DEFECTIVE. LEFT FRONT REAR WHEEL LUG NUT WAS CROSS THREADED. KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, DEALER REPLACED STRUT MOUNTS. *SLC
BRAKES SQUEAL AND GRIND, DEALER STATES THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS. *SLC
BRAKES MAKING CLUNKING AND SCRAPING NOISE. DEALER SAYS DRUMS ARE CRACKING. *AK
Official recalls
210V160000 · Structure
Apr 20, 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, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE SPARE TIRE STOWED UNDER THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN THE COLD CLIMATE REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES WHERE ROAD SALT IS FREQUENTLY USED, WATER SPLASHED BACKWARDS WITH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT CAN REACH THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER AND CORRODE THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER ASSEMBLY CABLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CABLE MAY BREAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND THE SPARE TIRE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS WITH AN INTERIM LETTER INITIALLY INSTRUCTING THEM TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AUTHORIZED DEALERS TO INSPECT FOR CORROSION. A SECOND NOTICE WILL BE SENT WHEN THE PERMANENT REMEDY IS AVAILABLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE TOYOTA'S AMENDED RECALL REPORT OF JULY 19, 2010. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OCTOBER 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
98V278000 · Electrical SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL Module
Oct 19, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS (TDS) SUPPLIED BY AUDIOVOX CORPORATION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN 'OPEN CIRCUIT' CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS AND/OR HVAC FAN SPEED CONTROLS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RUN SMOOTHLY AND COULD STALL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2DP02004 · Engine Seizure
Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
PE99070 · Steering Wheel To Return To Center
Opened Nov 17, 1999 · Closed Apr 12, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available