IllustrationSTEERING SHAFT MALFUNCTIONED. WHEN MAKING TURNS STEERING WHEEL WOULD CLICK ON LEFT HAND TURNS, AND THEN BECAME LOOSE ON LEFT HANDED TURNS. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
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
Steering complaints
25 reportsWHILE DRIVING SOMETHING IN STEERING WHEEL BROKE AND LOST CONTROL OF STEERING. STEERING WHEEL WOULD NO LONGER TURN WHEELS ON VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
WHEN TURNING LEFT AND ACCELERATING, THE STEERING WHEEL "STICKS" AND MUST BE MANUALLY PULLED BACK TO CENTER
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS/LOCKS INSTEAD OF AUTOMATICALLY RETURNING TO CENTER, THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE MORE NOTICEABLE IN WARM WEATHER, DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. NLM
THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT REAR WHEEL ALONG WITH THE AXLE/SPINDLE CAME OFF AFTER THE SPINDLE/AXLE SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON I-10 WESTBOUND NEAR POMONA, CA ON 9/22/2000 NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WENT TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE CENTER DIVIDER AND FINALLY LANDED ON TOP OF THE CONCRETE DIVIDER WITH DIRECTION…
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THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT REAR WHEEL ALONG WITH THE AXLE/SPINDLE CAME OFF AFTER THE SPINDLE/AXLE SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON I-10 WESTBOUND NEAR POMONA, CA ON 9/22/2000 NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WENT TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE CENTER DIVIDER AND FINALLY LANDED ON TOP OF THE CONCRETE DIVIDER WITH DIRECTION FACING EASTBOUND.*AK
WHILE TURNING THE WHEELS FROZE, AND I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. I HAD TO JAM ON THE BREAKS IN ORDER TO KEEP MYSELF FROM GOING OFF THE ROAD...VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK WHILE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN SNOW AND ICE CAUSED A FIRE IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. *YH
TRANSMISSION AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS.
HIT ON DRIVER SIDE AT 30MPH--VAN ROLLED OVER. *AK
BEGINNING AT 4,000 MILES, THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A RECURRING, INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM. WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, THE STEERING LOCKS AND CONTINUES TO TURN THE VEHICLE IN A CIRCLE. IT RELEASES ONLY WHEN MANUALLY FORCED BACK TO CENTER. DURING THE COLDER, WINTER MONTHS, THIS WOULD HAPPEN 2 OR 3 TI…
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BEGINNING AT 4,000 MILES, THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A RECURRING, INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM. WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, THE STEERING LOCKS AND CONTINUES TO TURN THE VEHICLE IN A CIRCLE. IT RELEASES ONLY WHEN MANUALLY FORCED BACK TO CENTER. DURING THE COLDER, WINTER MONTHS, THIS WOULD HAPPEN 2 OR 3 TIMES A DAY IN HEAVY CITY TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING CHECKED BY THE DEALER ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE DEALER INSISTS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS NEARLY 19.,000 MILES ON IT AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. ON FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1999, BECAUSE OF A LOCK UP OF THE STEERING MECHANISM, I NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BY BEING FORCED INTO THE CROSS TRAFFIC WHICH WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON SUNDAY, JULY 4, 1999. THE POWER STEERING WAS CHECKED AGAIN BY THE DEALER ON JULY 8, 1999, WHO INSISTS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG! *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