IllustrationI AM GETTING RAT INSIDE MY CAR FROM SOME OPEN SPACE COMMUNICATING FROM OUTSIDE.IT COULD BE FATAL WHEN YOU FIND MICE INSIDE YOUR CAR WHILE DRIVING AS YOU MAY GET PANIC.I THINK THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT SHOULD BE FIX BY MANUFACTURER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE ANY FATALITY.
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 reportsALL 4 TIRE DEVELOPED "KNOTS". ONE TIRE WORE ODDLY TO THE BELTS. CAR WAS BALANCED AND ALIGNED. TIRES HAS BEEN ROTATED REGULARLY. PRESSURES HAD BEEN MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES. EVEN THOUGH THERE WAPLENTY OF TREAD LEFT, THEY BECAME UNUSABLE. (DOT NUMBER: W2M0 TIRESIZE: P205/70R15)
ALL 4 TIRES DEVELOPED "KNOTS". ONE TIRE WORE ODDLY TO THE BELTS. CAR WAS BALANCED AND ALIGNED. TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED REGULARLY PRESSURE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT. THEY BECAME UNUSABLE. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734317
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…
Read full complaint
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
THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE MEDIUM DIVIDER AND LANDED ON TOP OF IT AFTER THE RIGHT REAR-AXLE SNAPPED AND THE WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH ON I-10 IN POMONA , CA ON 9/22/2000.
THE MOTOR ACUTATOR FOR THE ABS SYSTEM WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AS INDICATED BY A ABS WARNING LIGHT. THE DEALER SAID THE ITEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND THE COST TO REPAIR WAS $1300.00 FOR PART AND $300.00 FOR LABOR. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT I WOULD HAVE NO ABS ON THE VEHICLE BUT THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. I SPOK…
Read full complaint
THE MOTOR ACUTATOR FOR THE ABS SYSTEM WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AS INDICATED BY A ABS WARNING LIGHT. THE DEALER SAID THE ITEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND THE COST TO REPAIR WAS $1300.00 FOR PART AND $300.00 FOR LABOR. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT I WOULD HAVE NO ABS ON THE VEHICLE BUT THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. I SPOKE WITH A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE NAMED MARK. I THINK THAT THE ABS SYSTEM IS A SAFETY DEVICE AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED THAT IF THIS SYSTEM DECIDES TO MALUFUNDTION BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE PART THAT THE VEHICLES BRAKES COULD BE AFFECTED CAUSING A SERIOUS WRECK AND PUTTING MY FAMILY IN HARMS WAY. *AK
ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE TREAD SEPERATION. *AK (TIRESIZE: P205/70R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )
PE00020, AFTER MARKET BRIDGESTONE, BT70S WITH ABOUT 400 MILES, TIRE SIZE 20570R15. WHILE DRIVING TIRE TREAD CAME OFF WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. *AK
I REPLACED THE FIRESTONE TIRES WHICH OUR SIENNA CAME EQUIPPED WITH WHEN NEW BECAUSE THE VEHICLE BEGAN STEERING VERY POORLY, TO THE POINT OF MY BECOMING FEARFUL OF DRIVING ON THEM. I ROTATED THE TIRES MYSELF (FRONTS TO REARS) AND FOUND THAT THE STEERING PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. OF COURSE I THEN KNEW THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE REAR TIR…
Read full complaint
I REPLACED THE FIRESTONE TIRES WHICH OUR SIENNA CAME EQUIPPED WITH WHEN NEW BECAUSE THE VEHICLE BEGAN STEERING VERY POORLY, TO THE POINT OF MY BECOMING FEARFUL OF DRIVING ON THEM. I ROTATED THE TIRES MYSELF (FRONTS TO REARS) AND FOUND THAT THE STEERING PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. OF COURSE I THEN KNEW THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE REAR TIRES WAS NO GOOD. WHEN I PURCHASED THE FOUR NEW TIRES, I ASKED TO EXAMINE THE OLD FIRESTONES JUST REMOVED. TWO EMPLOYEES OF THE DISCOUNT TIRE AND MYSELF FOUND BUBBLES INDICATING THAT SEPARATION WAS OCCURRING. I KEPT THE TIRES. THEY MAY BE EXAMINED AT MY HOME. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )
I PREVIOUSLY CONTACTED YOU ABOUT THE RIGHT DOOR, I AM CURRENTLY UNDER LEGAL ADVICE FOR THE AMPUTATION TO MY DAUGHTERS FINGER. WHILE GOING THROUGH LEGAL PROCESS LEFT DOOR FAILED, STARTED OUT WHERE EVERY NOW AND THEN IT WOULDNT STAY OPEN THEN IT WONT STAY OPEN ALL THE TIME ,THEN THE DOOR KNOB BROKE OFF NOW THE DOOR IS LOCKED COMP…
Read full complaint
I PREVIOUSLY CONTACTED YOU ABOUT THE RIGHT DOOR, I AM CURRENTLY UNDER LEGAL ADVICE FOR THE AMPUTATION TO MY DAUGHTERS FINGER. WHILE GOING THROUGH LEGAL PROCESS LEFT DOOR FAILED, STARTED OUT WHERE EVERY NOW AND THEN IT WOULDNT STAY OPEN THEN IT WONT STAY OPEN ALL THE TIME ,THEN THE DOOR KNOB BROKE OFF NOW THE DOOR IS LOCKED COMPLETLY SHUT AND WE CANT OPEN IT. UNDER OUR ATTORNEYS ADVICE WERE TOLD TO NOT GET IT FIXED WHILE GOING THROUGH THE LAWSUIT, TRIED TO GET ATTORNEY TO LET US GET IF FIXED SEVERAL TIMES, HE SAYS WE CAN NOT EVEN GET A REPLACEMENT, THE DOORS ARENT THE ONLY DEFECTS ON THIS MINI VAN, WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN SWAYING TO ONE SIDE WHILE DRIVING, TIRES GETTING BAD TO FAST, EMERGENCY LIGHTS COMING ON FOR NO APPARENT REASONS, WINDSHIELD WHIPERS NOT WORKING, SEATS NOT STAYING IN CORRECTLY, SEATBELTS STICKING, CAR SHAKING ETC, ETC.....PLEASE HELP US WE NEED IT. *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