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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

Visibility complaints

17 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 10, 2007
Visibility

REAR WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON AN OPEN COUNTRY ROAD , NO OVERHANGING TREES OR OVERPASSES), WITH OTHER TRAFFIC PRESENT. NO SIGN OF ANY IMPACT. SOUNDED LIKE A THUMP", THEN LOOKED BACK TO SEE THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. PULLED OVER AS MY DAUGHTER AND SON WHO WAS IN THE BACK ROW OF SEATS BEGAN SCRERAMING.…

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REAR WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON AN OPEN COUNTRY ROAD , NO OVERHANGING TREES OR OVERPASSES), WITH OTHER TRAFFIC PRESENT. NO SIGN OF ANY IMPACT. SOUNDED LIKE A THUMP", THEN LOOKED BACK TO SEE THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. PULLED OVER AS MY DAUGHTER AND SON WHO WAS IN THE BACK ROW OF SEATS BEGAN SCRERAMING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10190442

95,000 miles · Jun 12, 2006
Visibility

SECOND FAILURE OF WINDOW ELECTRIC MOTORS. FIRST OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO--DRIVER'S SIDE MOTOR REPLACED. SECOND IS CURRENT. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT MOTOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON PASSENGER SIDE. WAS TOLD NO RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED BY TOYOTA EVEN THOUGH DEALERS SERVICE PEOPLE SAID WINDOW MOTOR FAILURE…

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SECOND FAILURE OF WINDOW ELECTRIC MOTORS. FIRST OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO--DRIVER'S SIDE MOTOR REPLACED. SECOND IS CURRENT. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT MOTOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON PASSENGER SIDE. WAS TOLD NO RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED BY TOYOTA EVEN THOUGH DEALERS SERVICE PEOPLE SAID WINDOW MOTOR FAILURES WERE COMMON IN TOYOTAS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10159598

103,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
StructureVisibility

SLIDING DOORS - BOTH WERE STICKING AND DIFFICULT TO OPEN. THEN PASSENGER SIDE DOOR COULD ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE AND NOW IT CAN'T BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. POWER WINDOW - DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW WON'T WORK AT ALL

NHTSA ODI #10071339

43,000 miles · Jul 24, 2003
Visibility

REAR WINDOW SHATTERED SPONTANEOUSLY WITHOUT BEING STRUCK BY ANYTHING AND WITHOUT STRIKING ANYTHING. THIS HAPPENED ON A HOT DAY, WITH WINDOWS CLOSED AND AIR CONDITIONING ON FULL. NO APPARENT CAUSE FOR WINDOW DISINTEGRATING IDENTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10029058

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2001
Visibility

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM BOTTOM WHERE HEATER BLEWOUT WHICH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS PROBLEM. *AK ONE DAY PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THERE WAS A SNOW STORM AND ICE BUILD-UP ON FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED LATER ON. *YH

NHTSA ODI #877519

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS.

NHTSA ODI #609548

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Visibility

BLOWER SWITCH.

NHTSA ODI #609192

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 1999
Visibility

SON HAD POKED HEAD THROUGH SUN ROOF & IT BECAME STUCK. BELIEVES SON HAD HIT BUTTON TOO CLOSE TO SUN ROOF AS HE WAS TURNING HIS HEAD AROUND. MOTOR CAN BE HEARD RUNNING WHILE TRYING TO CLOSE. PUSHED/PULLED FROM BOTTOM TO RELEASE HEAD. SUN ROOF LOCKED IN POSITION AFTER SON'S HEAD WAS RELEASED. WENT TO START VEHICLE & SUN ROOF WEN…

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SON HAD POKED HEAD THROUGH SUN ROOF & IT BECAME STUCK. BELIEVES SON HAD HIT BUTTON TOO CLOSE TO SUN ROOF AS HE WAS TURNING HIS HEAD AROUND. MOTOR CAN BE HEARD RUNNING WHILE TRYING TO CLOSE. PUSHED/PULLED FROM BOTTOM TO RELEASE HEAD. SUN ROOF LOCKED IN POSITION AFTER SON'S HEAD WAS RELEASED. WENT TO START VEHICLE & SUN ROOF WENT BACK/FORTH, 4 INCHES EACH WAY. TAKING TO DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #845500

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 1999
Visibility

VEHICLE WAS RUNNING & SUN ROOF OPENED WHEN SON, 3- YEAR OLD GOT HIS HEAD STUCK. AS HE WAS TURNING AROUND, HIT THE BUTTON & SUNROOF STARTED TO CLOSE. CHILD'S HEAD GOT CAUGHT JUST ABOVE THE EARS. WAS HARD TO RELEASE. COULD HEAR SUN ROOF MOTOR RUNNING, TRIED TO CLOSE. 5 PEOPLE PUSHED & PULLED TO RELEASE CHILD'S HEAD. FINALLY CHILD…

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VEHICLE WAS RUNNING & SUN ROOF OPENED WHEN SON, 3- YEAR OLD GOT HIS HEAD STUCK. AS HE WAS TURNING AROUND, HIT THE BUTTON & SUNROOF STARTED TO CLOSE. CHILD'S HEAD GOT CAUGHT JUST ABOVE THE EARS. WAS HARD TO RELEASE. COULD HEAR SUN ROOF MOTOR RUNNING, TRIED TO CLOSE. 5 PEOPLE PUSHED & PULLED TO RELEASE CHILD'S HEAD. FINALLY CHILD'S HEAD CAME OUT. STARTED VEHICLE & SUN ROOF TRIED TO CLOSE, BUT WOULD ONLY GO BACKWARDS OR FORWARDS 4 INCHES. VEHICLE AT DEALER'S. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842420

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 1999
Visibility

THIS 98 SIENNA XLE HAS HAD THE WINDSHIELD DISTORATION SINCE DAY ONE, AND THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE SAID THE COMPANY HAS NO INTENTION OF FIXING IT SINCE NO ONE HAS DIED. BUT IT CASUSES EXCESSIVE EYE STRAIN AND WILL ONE DAY KILL SOMEONE. ALSO THE CHIPPING THEY BLAME ON LEAD FREE PAINT SOMETHING THEY SAID IS ALL RALPH NADERS FAULT…

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THIS 98 SIENNA XLE HAS HAD THE WINDSHIELD DISTORATION SINCE DAY ONE, AND THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE SAID THE COMPANY HAS NO INTENTION OF FIXING IT SINCE NO ONE HAS DIED. BUT IT CASUSES EXCESSIVE EYE STRAIN AND WILL ONE DAY KILL SOMEONE. ALSO THE CHIPPING THEY BLAME ON LEAD FREE PAINT SOMETHING THEY SAID IS ALL RALPH NADERS FAULT. YET THE DESIGN ALLOWS FOR THIS CHIPPING CAUSED BY ROCKS TO BE GREATER BUT IT WAS NOT POINTED OUT WHEN I BOUGHT THE VAN. THEY TOYOTA ABSOLVES ITSELF OF ALL PROBLEMS. IT IS JUST A CONSUMER RIP OFF-THEY WANT ME TO PAY TO REPAINT AND IF I WANT A NEW WINDSHEILA I HAVE TO BUY ONE THOUGH THE DISTORION IS CLEAR ON THE 98 WHEN YOU DRIVE AND LOOK FROM RIGHT TO LEFT. SO CLEAR IT WEARS ON YOUR EYES. THE 99'S SEEM TO HAVE DISTORATION BUT IT IS NOT AS PERCEPTABLE WHEN DRIVING AS THE 98 WINDSHIELD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707280

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