1998 Toyota Sienna Problems and Recalls (270 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 1998 Toyota Sienna is Brakes (14% of 270 owner reports). There are 3 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Brakes — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 270 complaints · 3 recalls
What problems show up on the 1998 Toyota Sienna?
38 of 270 filings named Brakes (14% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Engine (31 reports).
There are 3 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Electrical. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The previous year is not published here. Use the year list to jump around.
What owners reported
System named most often: Brakes 38 complaints · 14.1% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 17
- Fires 2
- Injuries 17
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 38 | 14.1% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 31 | 11.5% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | 30 | 11.1% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 21 | 7.8% | 1 crashes · 1 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 21 | 7.8% | 3 crashes · 1 fires |
| Tires (TIRES) | 15 | 5.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) | 14 | 5.2% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 12 | 4.4% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) | 10 | 3.7% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 204 | 75.6% | 10 crashes · 2 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 1998-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 1998-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 1998-Q3 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 1998-Q4 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 1999-Q1 | Owner reports | 33 | |
| 1999-Q2 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 1999-Q3 | Owner reports | 23 | |
| 1999-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2000-Q1 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2000-Q2 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2000-Q3 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2000-Q4 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2001-Q1 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2001-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2001-Q3 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2001-Q4 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2002-Q1 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2002-Q2 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2002-Q3 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2002-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2003-Q1 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2003-Q2 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2003-Q3 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2003-Q4 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2004-Q1 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2004-Q2 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2004-Q3 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2004-Q4 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2005-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2005-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2005-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2005-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2006-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2006-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2006-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2006-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2007-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2007-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2008-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2008-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2009-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2010-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2010-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2010-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2010-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2011-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2012-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2013-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2014-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2014-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2014-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2015-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2015-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 98E035000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 98V278000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 10V160000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE99070 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP02004 |
Safety Recalls (3)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Electrical.
-
Recall campaign 10V160000
Safety recall 10V160000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 98E035000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 98V278000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- 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.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Showing 10 of 270 complaints · page 1 of 11
CrashFireInjuryDeath
steering component that breaks, causing a driver to lose control.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
GEAR SHIFTER MOUNT UNIT ON THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE APART, STRANDING THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
HORN WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW NOT AT ALL.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 IDENTICAL PART NUMBER FOR REIMBURSEMENT ELIGIBILITY, I WAS DIRECTED TO CONTACT THE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP AND OBTAIN WRITTEN INFORMATION ON THE CAUSE OF THE BREAKAGE THAT OCCURRED NEARLY TEN YEARS EARLIER AND THAT I NEEDED TO CONTACT HIM BECAUSE HE WAS NOT RESPONDING TO THE CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICE. I SENT A LETTER, DATED JANUARY 20, 2014, TO HIM BUT NEVER EVEN RECEIVED AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. ALTHOUGH I'VE DONE EVERYTHING REQUIRED, SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONCE, HAD REPAIRS COMPLETED USING THE PROPER PART NUMBER, AS SHOWN ON THE REPAIR WORKSHEET ISSUED BY A TOYOTA DEALER, I'VE BEEN DENIED REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO TOYOTA'S OWN DEALERSHIP REPAIR MANAGER'S LACK OF COOPERATION. IF THE REPAIRS WERE NOT DUE TO THE CABLE BREAKAGE AND IF THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS NOT NEEDED, WHY DID THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DO THE REPAIR AND CHARGE ME FOR IT? COPIES - LETTERS AND RECEIPTS WILL BE PROVIDED, IF NEEDED. *TR
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 1998 Toyota Sienna?
Owners named Brakes most often — 38 of 270 reports (14%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 1998 Toyota Sienna?
NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Electrical. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 1998 Toyota Sienna?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.