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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

What owners actually said

294 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 1999
Structure

TWO DOOR PROBLEMS: (1) DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HINGED DOORS PERIODICALLY WILL NOT OPEN, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER REMOTE, MANUAL, OR ELECTRICAL PUSH BUTTON IS USED. THEY JUST FREEZE SHUT. (2) SLIDING DOOR ON DRIVERS' SIDE WILL NOT OPEN, SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL AND SOMETIMES NOT MORE THAN AN INCH OR TWO. THE INABILITY TO OPEN IS …

Read full complaint

TWO DOOR PROBLEMS: (1) DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HINGED DOORS PERIODICALLY WILL NOT OPEN, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER REMOTE, MANUAL, OR ELECTRICAL PUSH BUTTON IS USED. THEY JUST FREEZE SHUT. (2) SLIDING DOOR ON DRIVERS' SIDE WILL NOT OPEN, SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL AND SOMETIMES NOT MORE THAN AN INCH OR TWO. THE INABILITY TO OPEN IS AN INABILITY TO OPEN FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT OCCURS MOSTLY IN HOT WEATHER. DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM, SO TOYOTA NOT MUCH HELP. SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS TO US - NOT BEING ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #714019

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1999
Electrical System

NO SUMMARY,

NHTSA ODI #712351

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages

THE SLIDING DOOR SHUTS AND WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE NOR OUTSIDE. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES AND DLR CAN'T FIX IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #848723

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS ADJUSTED THE BRAKES THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. ALSO, REAR BRAKES ARE NOT SELF ADJUSTING.OWNER SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF POSSIBLE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842332

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 1999
Suspension

TIRES ON VEHICLE WERE WORN OUT DUE TO VEHICLE PULLING TO RIGHT & NEEDING ALIGNMENT. HAD TIRES (4) ROTATED & ALIGNED. VEHICLE STILL PULLS TO RIGHT. MECHANIC CHECKING FOR CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #847543

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Suspension

SHOCK ABSORBERS.

NHTSA ODI #609773

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages

DOOR LOCKING INCONSISTENT--SLIDING DOOR.

NHTSA ODI #609617

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

NOISY BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI #609612

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Tires

SIDE WALL CRACK IN TIRE. TIRE IDENT. NUMBER: WEHY AWA MANUFACTURER: FIRESTONE SIZE: P215/70R14

NHTSA ODI #609591

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Electrical SystemTires

TIRES. HORN.

NHTSA ODI #609560

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