IllustrationPOWER SLIDING DOOR ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE JAMMING, CAN'T OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, EVEN WHEN TRYING MANUALLY IT WILL NOT OPEN. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *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
What owners actually said
294 reportsWHILE EXITING INTERSATE AT 15-20 MPH TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. WHEELS INSTANTLY LOCKED UP WITH MOTOR RUNNING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND WILL HAVE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK
THE SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT OPEN UNLESS SOMEONE KICKS THE BOTTOM OR IT IS OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE LOCKING MECHANISM IS OFF ALSO. TOOK TO DEALER. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED AS OF YET. NLM
OUTSIDE LATCH RELEASE ON REAR LIFTGATE BROKE WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN LIFTGATE. THIS CAUSED US TO NOTE (AS WE HAD NEVER BEFORE) THAT THERE IS NO INSIDE RELEASE FOR THE LIFTGATE, WHICH COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD IN CASE OF A CRASH WHERE THE REAR LIFTGATE MIGHT BE THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE VAN. WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT TOYOTA SHO…
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OUTSIDE LATCH RELEASE ON REAR LIFTGATE BROKE WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN LIFTGATE. THIS CAUSED US TO NOTE (AS WE HAD NEVER BEFORE) THAT THERE IS NO INSIDE RELEASE FOR THE LIFTGATE, WHICH COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD IN CASE OF A CRASH WHERE THE REAR LIFTGATE MIGHT BE THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE VAN. WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE TO CORRECT THIS SAFETY DESIGN FLAW IN ALL 1998 SIENNA VANS, AND THAT IT SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR OUR REPAIRS IN THIS CASE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING SOMETHING IN STEERING WHEEL BROKE AND LOST CONTROL OF STEERING. STEERING WHEEL WOULD NO LONGER TURN WHEELS ON VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
ENGINE LOCKED UP. DEALER TELLS US NO OIL WAS PRESENT IN THE ENGINE AT THE TIME OF THEIR INSPECTION. *AK
IN FEBRUARY OF 2001 MY 1998 SIENNA ENGINE FROZE UP. NO ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORT MYERS TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY FAULT AND I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. MR MYERS THE SEVICE MANAGER TOLD MR CARPENTER THE NEW CAR SALEMAN THAT A NEW ENGINE WOULD COST $5,000 MINUS A $1,000 DOLLAR REBATE OR A TOTA…
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IN FEBRUARY OF 2001 MY 1998 SIENNA ENGINE FROZE UP. NO ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORT MYERS TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY FAULT AND I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. MR MYERS THE SEVICE MANAGER TOLD MR CARPENTER THE NEW CAR SALEMAN THAT A NEW ENGINE WOULD COST $5,000 MINUS A $1,000 DOLLAR REBATE OR A TOTAL OF $4,000. I TOLD HIM TO GO AHEAD AND CHANGE THE MOTOR. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE VAN THE COST WAS $6800.00 NOT $4,000.00. I PUT THE CHARGE ON MY CREDIT CARD. LATER THAT MONTH I TRADED THE VAN IN FOR A 2001 HIGHLANDER. I HAD TROUBLE WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN 1999 IN OHIO AND DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE ADDITIONAL PROBLEM IN FLA. THIS SIENNA WAS A LEASED VAN AND MR CARPENTER ALLOWED ME TO DROP THE LEASED VAN IN FORT MYERS. I HEARD THE OTHER DAY THAT TOYOTA WAS RECALLING 1998 SIENNA BECAUSE OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE OIL WAS CLOGGING THE ENGINE. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF THE RECALL. THANKS. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY HEARD A NOISE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER TOLD HIM THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE MODEL AND THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE, BUT NOT ON HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF VIN. # AND THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS ONLY FOR CARS/VANS WITH A SPECIAL WH…
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WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY HEARD A NOISE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER TOLD HIM THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE MODEL AND THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE, BUT NOT ON HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF VIN. # AND THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS ONLY FOR CARS/VANS WITH A SPECIAL WHEEL. *YH
ENGINE DEVELOPED SLUDGE DESPITE MAINTENANCE; WARRANTY COVERAGE DENIED. DEALER AND DISTIRCT REPRESENTATIVE FOR TOYOTA REFUSED TO LOOK AT OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS OR DISCUSS THE MATTER. AUTOMATION REVOCATION OF WARRANTY WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS. *AK
BEGAN ISSUING BLUE SMOKE AT STARTUP AT ABOUT 52000 MILES. DEALER FINDS SLUDGE IN ENGINE, REFUSES TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY, CITING LACK OF MAINTENANCE. VEHICLE HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES, AND AN OLDER VEHICLE (FORD ESCORT) IN IDENTICAL SERVICE WITH SAME MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE HAS NO PROBLEMS. BELIEVE THAT THE FAILURE IS DUE TO …
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BEGAN ISSUING BLUE SMOKE AT STARTUP AT ABOUT 52000 MILES. DEALER FINDS SLUDGE IN ENGINE, REFUSES TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY, CITING LACK OF MAINTENANCE. VEHICLE HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES, AND AN OLDER VEHICLE (FORD ESCORT) IN IDENTICAL SERVICE WITH SAME MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE HAS NO PROBLEMS. BELIEVE THAT THE FAILURE IS DUE TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE CRANKCASE VENTILATION SYSTEM DESIGN, AND THAT FAILURE IS LEADING TO EMISSIONS IN EXCESS OF LEGAL LIMITS.*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