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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 →

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 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 1999
Steering

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, STEERING ASSEMBLY WILL MOMENTARILY NOT RETURN TO CENTER, BUT WILL STICK AT ~30DEGREES LEFT OF CENTER. EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO RETURN STEERING TO CENTER, ELSE IT WILL REMAIN IN LOCKED POSITION. ONLY AFFECTS LEFT TURNS AND ONLY WHEN ACCELERATING, OTHERWISE UNDPREDICTABLE (NOT _…

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WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, STEERING ASSEMBLY WILL MOMENTARILY NOT RETURN TO CENTER, BUT WILL STICK AT ~30DEGREES LEFT OF CENTER. EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO RETURN STEERING TO CENTER, ELSE IT WILL REMAIN IN LOCKED POSITION. ONLY AFFECTS LEFT TURNS AND ONLY WHEN ACCELERATING, OTHERWISE UNDPREDICTABLE (NOT _EVERY_ TURN). NOT RELATED TO ENGINE OR EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707357

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train

ACCEPTED FOR ARBITRATION BY WA STATE ATTY GENERAL

NHTSA ODI #704278

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 1998
Steering

VEHICLE WHEN TURNING LEFT SUCH AS AT AN INTERSECTION WILL CONTINUE TO TURN UNLESS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MANUALLY RETURNED TO THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION. IN OTHER WORDS IF YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO TURN AND WOULD TURN IN A CIRCLE. THIS OCCURS SPORADICALLY. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEIR REPSONS…

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VEHICLE WHEN TURNING LEFT SUCH AS AT AN INTERSECTION WILL CONTINUE TO TURN UNLESS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MANUALLY RETURNED TO THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION. IN OTHER WORDS IF YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO TURN AND WOULD TURN IN A CIRCLE. THIS OCCURS SPORADICALLY. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEIR REPSONSE IS THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT USUALLY OCCURS WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. THEY ARE WORKING IN THE PROBLEM. OUR FEELING IS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE IN CATCHING IN THE LEFT TURN MODE. TOYOTA SAYS THERE IS NO SAFETY ISSUE. THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS OR SO THEY SAY.

NHTSA ODI #701219

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 1998
SteeringInjury

VEHICLE SKIDDED @40-45 MPH ON WET SURFACE, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #780401

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 1998
Steering

STEERING HAS A MODERATE PULL AND DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT AT ALL SPEEDS. AFTER TWO ALIGNMENTS, DEALER STATED THAT FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES PULL BECAUSE OF DIFFERENTIAL TORQUE.

NHTSA ODI #536402

Official recalls

2

10V160000 · 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

2

DP02004 · 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