IllustrationTRANSMISSION FAILED. YH
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 reportsIGNITION LOCK WOULD NOT UNLOCK. NLM
BRAKES MAKING NOISE. NLM
DOOR LOCKS ON SLIDING DOORS FAILED. MJS
REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER LEAKING. NLM
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.
EXTREMELY LOUD GROANING AND GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKING IN REVERSE EVERYTIME
WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY MAKE A LOT OF LOUD NOISES. AT DEALERSHIP, THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM HAD TO BE CHANGED. PROBLEM OCCURRED AFTER AN ACCIDENT (REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE). *AK
SHAPE AND DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE CREATES SEVERE BLIND SPOTS.
LOUD FRONT BRAKE 'GRINDING' NOISE WHEN BRAKING HARD OR MODERATELY HARD FROM 15-20 MPH DOWN TO A FULL STOP. BEGAN AT 5,000 MILES OR SO AND DOES NOT SEEM TO EFFECT THE ABILITY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER WHO INDICATES THERE IS A FIX IN THE FORM OF NEW BRAKE PAD MATERIAL BUT THAT IT'S NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE …
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LOUD FRONT BRAKE 'GRINDING' NOISE WHEN BRAKING HARD OR MODERATELY HARD FROM 15-20 MPH DOWN TO A FULL STOP. BEGAN AT 5,000 MILES OR SO AND DOES NOT SEEM TO EFFECT THE ABILITY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER WHO INDICATES THERE IS A FIX IN THE FORM OF NEW BRAKE PAD MATERIAL BUT THAT IT'S NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE VISUAL INSPECTION DID NOT REVELA ANYTHING UNUSUAL. I'VE CONTACED THE MANUFACTURER AND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB# BR006-98) THAT I COULDN'T FIND ON THIS WEB SITE. I DON;T THINK THIS IS A SAFTEY ISSUE BUT I IMPATIENTLY AWAIT THE NEW PARTS.
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