TOYOTA SIENNA · model year

1998 TOYOTA SIENNA

352 NHTSA complaints, 23 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998TOYOTASIENNA carries 352 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 23 crashes, 4 fires, 22 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 SIENNA is latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch with 28 filings, followed by tires (24) and structure:body:door (20). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 51 investigation files overlapping the 1998 SIENNA, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

352
Complaints
23
Crashes
4
Fires
22
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

352 filings

Crashes Reported

23 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH28
TIRES24
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR20
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE17
TIRES:TREAD/BELT17
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION13
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE12
STEERING10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
AIR BAGS6
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH6

Recent Complaints

20240303STEERING

steering component that breaks, causing a driver to lose control.

20240303SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

steering component that breaks, causing a driver to lose control.

20190615STEERING

GEAR SHIFTER MOUNT UNIT ON THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE APART, STRANDING THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

20171102CrashAIR BAGS

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONT END COLLISION. WE WERE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 65MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, WRECKED, AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN OUR LANE AND FACING US. MY HUSBAND BRAKED HARD BUT WE COULD NOT AVOID THE VEHICLE. WE TRULY HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST WE WERE GOING AT IMPACT BUT I WOULD GUESS 30-40 MPH. IT HAD JUST STARTED RAINING LIGHTLY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. SEAT BELTS AND GOD SAVED US. NO MAJOR INJURIES.

Mileage: 220,000

20161130SERVICE BRAKES

STARTED TO GET CLUNKING/RATTLING NOISES ON HIGHWAY THAT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM FRONT LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE. REDUCED SPEED TO 50 MPH. ABOUT 5 MILES FROM HOME BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OVER AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING AROUND FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE (ABOUT 9PM). SLOWLY DROVE TO MECHANIC ABOUT 2 MILES AWAY AND LEFT CAR OVERNIGHT. RETURNED NEXT MORNING AND EXAMINED BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. FOUND VERY LITTLE FLUID IN RESERVOIR - DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE ENTIRE BOTTOM. MECHANIC REPORTED THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTING FAILED (APPARENTLY A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS). AFTER FAILING THE STRUT PUNCTURED THE BOTTOM OF THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR (ABOUT 3/8" HOLE) AT ONE OF THE CORNERS (SEE PHOTO) ALLOWING THE FLUID TO DRAIN. SHOULD I HAVE LOST ALMOST ALL FLUID WITH A 2 CIRCUIT BRAKING SYSTEM? DOES THE RESERVOIR HAVE AN INTERNAL BAFFLE TO PREVENT ALMOST TOTAL LOSE OF FLUID? I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE ALL MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS.

Mileage: 137,500

20161130SUSPENSION

STARTED TO GET CLUNKING/RATTLING NOISES ON HIGHWAY THAT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM FRONT LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE. REDUCED SPEED TO 50 MPH. ABOUT 5 MILES FROM HOME BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OVER AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING AROUND FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE (ABOUT 9PM). SLOWLY DROVE TO MECHANIC ABOUT 2 MILES AWAY AND LEFT CAR OVERNIGHT. RETURNED NEXT MORNING AND EXAMINED BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. FOUND VERY LITTLE FLUID IN RESERVOIR - DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE ENTIRE BOTTOM. MECHANIC REPORTED THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTING FAILED (APPARENTLY A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS). AFTER FAILING THE STRUT PUNCTURED THE BOTTOM OF THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR (ABOUT 3/8" HOLE) AT ONE OF THE CORNERS (SEE PHOTO) ALLOWING THE FLUID TO DRAIN. SHOULD I HAVE LOST ALMOST ALL FLUID WITH A 2 CIRCUIT BRAKING SYSTEM? DOES THE RESERVOIR HAVE AN INTERNAL BAFFLE TO PREVENT ALMOST TOTAL LOSE OF FLUID? I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE ALL MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS.

Mileage: 137,500

20161123ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DID NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED HIGH TEMPERATURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR FUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V278000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

20150703ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HORN WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW NOT AT ALL.

Mileage: 170,000

20150610STEERING

CAR STARTED MAKING CLUNKING NOISES WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TEST DROVE IT AND EXAMINED THE STEERING. HE VALIDATED THE CLUNKING NOISE AND SAID HE FOUND THE STEERING RACK WAS BROKEN AT THE MOUNT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY.

Mileage: 67,000

20141008POWER TRAIN

SINCE I BOUGHT MY 1998 USED TOYOTA SIENNA WITH 190XXX MILES, WHEN PRESS A LITTE BIT THE GAS PEDAL ON A UPHILL IT START TO ACCELERATE LIKE CRAZY, I CAN BARELY STOP IT, I MUST TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL TO STOP THE VAN, TODAY I WAS ON A VERY PRONUNTIATED UPHILL AND ALMOST CRASH BECAUSE IT ACCELERATES ITSELF WHEN PRESS A LITTLE THE GAS PEDAL. I''M SCARED TO USE THE VAN AGAIN BUT I DON'T HAVE OTHER CHOISE AND AT THE SAME TIME I'M SCARED TO SELL THE VAN TO SOMEONE ELSE. *TR

Mileage: 193,000

20140929POWER TRAIN

THE CAR IS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND IT ACCELERATES SUDDENLY WITHOUT ME PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. PRESSING THE BRAKES DO NOT STOP THE CAR, THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS BY SHIFTING INTO PARK OR NEUTRAL. *TR

Mileage: 167,997

20140812TIRES

IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA HAS CREATED ARTIFICIAL OBSTACLES TO PREVENT MY OBTAINMENT OF AN ELIGIBLE REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL (SAFETY RECALL A9E - TIRE CARRIER CABLE) REPAIRS. IN RESPONSE TO THE RECALL NOTICE I HAD THE CABLE INSPECTED THEN CONTACTED TOYOTA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECALL LETTER BUT I WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT. ON OCTOBER 2, 2013 I WROTE TO TOYOTA FOLLOWING THE INSPECTION AND ATTACHED THE ORIGINAL WORK ORDER FROM A TOYOTA DEALER FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF PART NUMBER "51900-08010" AS REQUIRED. I RECEIVED AN OCTOBER 17TH RESPONSE SAYING I NEEDED TO PROVIDE ANSWERS TO THREE QUESTIONS:REASON THE VEHICLE BROUGHT INTO THE REPAIR FACILITY; THE REPAIR FACILITY DIAGNOSES, AND THE REPAIR PERFORMED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE CONCERN. AFTER SEVERAL TELEPHONE CALLS TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AGAIN HAVING THE CURRENT CABLE REINSPECTED, OBTAINING AND FORWARDING COPIES OF THE REPAIR ORDER, PROOF OF PAYMENT, AND OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR WORK PERFORMED BY A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP USING AN ID

Mileage: 74,500

20140812STRUCTURE

IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA HAS CREATED ARTIFICIAL OBSTACLES TO PREVENT MY OBTAINMENT OF AN ELIGIBLE REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL (SAFETY RECALL A9E - TIRE CARRIER CABLE) REPAIRS. IN RESPONSE TO THE RECALL NOTICE I HAD THE CABLE INSPECTED THEN CONTACTED TOYOTA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECALL LETTER BUT I WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT. ON OCTOBER 2, 2013 I WROTE TO TOYOTA FOLLOWING THE INSPECTION AND ATTACHED THE ORIGINAL WORK ORDER FROM A TOYOTA DEALER FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF PART NUMBER "51900-08010" AS REQUIRED. I RECEIVED AN OCTOBER 17TH RESPONSE SAYING I NEEDED TO PROVIDE ANSWERS TO THREE QUESTIONS:REASON THE VEHICLE BROUGHT INTO THE REPAIR FACILITY; THE REPAIR FACILITY DIAGNOSES, AND THE REPAIR PERFORMED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE CONCERN. AFTER SEVERAL TELEPHONE CALLS TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AGAIN HAVING THE CURRENT CABLE REINSPECTED, OBTAINING AND FORWARDING COPIES OF THE REPAIR ORDER, PROOF OF PAYMENT, AND OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR WORK PERFORMED BY A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP USING AN ID

Mileage: 74,500

20140513STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V160000(STRUCTURE) AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE DEALER INDICATED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.

20130606ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I CAME HOME AND TURNED MY IGNITION SWITCH OFF BUT MY 1998 TOYOTA VAN KEPT RUNNING.TURNING THE KEY ON AND OFF DID NOT TURN IT OFF. I TRIED SHUTTING IT DOWN WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. I TRIED TURNING IT OFF AGAIN WHILE MOVING THE GEAR SELECTOR LEVER BUT TO NO AVAIL. I BEGIN TO SMELL BURNING RUBBER. I LIFTED THE HOOD AND REALIZED THE ENGINE WAS BEING TURNED OVER BY THE STARTER WHICH WAS NOT DISENGAGING AND STARTING TO SMOKE. THEN TONS OF SMOKE BEGAN BOILING OFF THE STARTER. I DISCONNECTED THE POSITIVE BATTERY CONNECTION AND THE ENGAGED STARTER STOPPED CRANKING THE ENGINE. HEAVY SMOKE CONTINUED BOILING FROM THE STARTER FOR ABOUT A MINUTE LONGER. I WAS VERY GLAD I WAS NOT INSIDE THE GARAGE BECAUSE I THINK THE STARTER COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE OR THE SMOKE WOULD HAVE SMOTHERED ME. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20130606ENGINE

I CAME HOME AND TURNED MY IGNITION SWITCH OFF BUT MY 1998 TOYOTA VAN KEPT RUNNING.TURNING THE KEY ON AND OFF DID NOT TURN IT OFF. I TRIED SHUTTING IT DOWN WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. I TRIED TURNING IT OFF AGAIN WHILE MOVING THE GEAR SELECTOR LEVER BUT TO NO AVAIL. I BEGIN TO SMELL BURNING RUBBER. I LIFTED THE HOOD AND REALIZED THE ENGINE WAS BEING TURNED OVER BY THE STARTER WHICH WAS NOT DISENGAGING AND STARTING TO SMOKE. THEN TONS OF SMOKE BEGAN BOILING OFF THE STARTER. I DISCONNECTED THE POSITIVE BATTERY CONNECTION AND THE ENGAGED STARTER STOPPED CRANKING THE ENGINE. HEAVY SMOKE CONTINUED BOILING FROM THE STARTER FOR ABOUT A MINUTE LONGER. I WAS VERY GLAD I WAS NOT INSIDE THE GARAGE BECAUSE I THINK THE STARTER COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE OR THE SMOKE WOULD HAVE SMOTHERED ME. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20130606POWER TRAIN

I CAME HOME AND TURNED MY IGNITION SWITCH OFF BUT MY 1998 TOYOTA VAN KEPT RUNNING.TURNING THE KEY ON AND OFF DID NOT TURN IT OFF. I TRIED SHUTTING IT DOWN WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. I TRIED TURNING IT OFF AGAIN WHILE MOVING THE GEAR SELECTOR LEVER BUT TO NO AVAIL. I BEGIN TO SMELL BURNING RUBBER. I LIFTED THE HOOD AND REALIZED THE ENGINE WAS BEING TURNED OVER BY THE STARTER WHICH WAS NOT DISENGAGING AND STARTING TO SMOKE. THEN TONS OF SMOKE BEGAN BOILING OFF THE STARTER. I DISCONNECTED THE POSITIVE BATTERY CONNECTION AND THE ENGAGED STARTER STOPPED CRANKING THE ENGINE. HEAVY SMOKE CONTINUED BOILING FROM THE STARTER FOR ABOUT A MINUTE LONGER. I WAS VERY GLAD I WAS NOT INSIDE THE GARAGE BECAUSE I THINK THE STARTER COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE OR THE SMOKE WOULD HAVE SMOTHERED ME. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20120328TIRES

TIRE SEEMED OUT OF BALANCE AT NARROW RANGE OF SPEEDS (60-65MPH), BUT SMOOTH AT 68MPH FOR MONTHS; RECENTLY NOTICED VEHICLE ROCKING WHEN COLD AND AT LOW SPEEDS; TODAY SAW AN OUTWARD BULGE IN REAR TIRE TREAD (DIRECTIONALLY OUTWARD FROM AXLE). AM SEEKING A REPLACEMENT TIRE BEFORE TREAD SEPARATION. *TR

Mileage: 296,000

20120120CrashSEAT BELTS

DRIVER IN WRONG LANE HIT MY VAN, WITH MOST OF IMPACT ON RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF VAN. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALLED IN COLLISION. RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT INITIALLY HELD, BUT RELEASED DURING COLLISION AND PASSENGER ENDED UP ON DRIVER'S ARMREST. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *TT

20120120CrashAIR BAGS

DRIVER IN WRONG LANE HIT MY VAN, WITH MOST OF IMPACT ON RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF VAN. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALLED IN COLLISION. RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT INITIALLY HELD, BUT RELEASED DURING COLLISION AND PASSENGER ENDED UP ON DRIVER'S ARMREST. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *TT

Compare 1998TOYOTASIENNA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA have?
The 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA has 352 NHTSA complaints, 23 crashes, 4 fires, 22 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA?
The most-complained component for the 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA is LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH with 28 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR.
Is the 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.