Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Toyota Sienna, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Latches/locks/linkages40
- Service brakes, hydraulic39
- Tires38
- Structure35
- Engine and engine cooling33
- Steering25
- Power train23
- Visibility17
- Electrical system14
- Seat belts12
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 17 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 16 1998 Sienna vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 7 people died inside them, and 6 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Toyota Sienna failed the safety check 2.48% of the time — 45% more often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 189,040 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 12.6 L/100 km (about 19 mpg US), CO₂ 290 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sienna · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 14.5 | 10.4 | 12.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1998 Toyota Sienna.
| 2010123 19 Apr 2010 | Other On certain vehicles operated where road salts are frequently used, excessive corrosion of the spare tire carrier assembly cable may cause the separation of the … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Toyota told its dealers about the 1998 Toyota Sienna: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 628696 | SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT REGARDING VEHICLES EXPERIENCING ENGINE OIL GELLING OR SLUDGE. *TT |
| 628684 | INFORMATION ON STEERING RACK END NOISE. *TT |
| 627195 | SUBJECT REGARDING SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR TAPE SET. *YD |
| 625630 | SUBJECT REGARDING REAR SEAT ADJUSTER BINDING. *JG |
| 621990 | SUBJECT REGARDING REPAIR MANUAL CORRECTIONS. *TT |
| 621319 | ELECTRONIC MESSAGE REGARDING COMPLAINTS OF POWER WINDOWS RATTLING, ESPECIALLY IN THE DOWN POSITION. *TT |
| 618306 | INFORMATION ON SPEED SENSOR COVER REPLACEMENT WITH NEW TRANSAXLE. *JB |
| 618299 | SUBJECT REGARDING SLIDING DOOR HANDLE PUSH BUTTON OPERATION. *JB |
| 616097 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY LOWERING OR RAISING THE SPARE TIRE USING THE LIFT. THE LIFT MAY BECOME DAMAGED IF AN IMPACT WRENCH IS USED TO LOWER OR RAISE THE SPARE TIRE. A LABEL HAS BEEN ADDED TO WARN AGAINST THE USAGE OF IMPACT TOOLS. *TT |
| 616095 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN INTRODUCING A FIELD FIX FOR INCIDENTS OF MOISTURE AND ODORS PERMEATING INTO THE VEHICLE. THE QUARTER PANEL AIR DUCT FLAPS MAY HAVE BECOME LOOSE OR MISSING. REPLACING THE QUARTER PANEL AIR DUCT WILL REMEDY THE CONDITION. *TT |
| 616056 | SPARE TIRE LIFT INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 616052 | SUBJECT REGARDING PRODUCTION CHANGES MADE TO IMPROVE THE SMOOTHNESS OF OPERATION OF THE SLIDING DOOR HANDLE PUSH BUTTON. *TT |
| 614978 | BRIEF INFORMATION REGARDING A FIELD FIX AVAILABLE FOR INCIDENTS OF WASHER FLUID LEAKAGE FROM THE REAR WASHER NOZZLE ONTO THE REAR GLASS. *TT |
| 613511 | CONCERNS WITH FALSE ACTIVATION OF THE FACTORY SECURITY SYSTEM ON VEHICLES STARTING WITH VIN 4T3*F1*C*YU210521. *TT |
| 612538 | INFORMATION REGARDING FALSE ACTIVATION OF THE SECURITY ALARM SYSTEM. *MJS |
| 610960 | SOME CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF THE POWER WINDOWS RATTLING, ESPECIALLY IN THE DOWN POSITION ON VEHICLES STARTING WITH VIN 4T3ZF13C*YU229450. IN SOME CASES, THE LOWER WINDOW FRAME MAY BE DEFORMED. IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE LOWER WINDOW FRAME MOUNTING BRACKET TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. *TT |
| 610082 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY FIND THAT THE FRONT DOOR RATTLES UPON CLOSING; FRONT DOOR CUSIONS MAY HAVE COME LOOSE AND / OR FALLEN OFF THE DOOR. *TT |
| 610071 | SUBJECT REGARDING STEERING RACK GUIDE INSTALLATION PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 610056 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE AN INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WHEN USING THE PASSENGER DOOR SWITCH. *TT |
| 6088653 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE AN INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WHEN USING THE PASSENGER DOOR SWITCH. *TT |
| 608123 | VEHICLES STARTING WITH 4T3#F1#C-XU116991. *TT |
| 605167 | SUBJECT REGARDING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SLIDING DOOR HANDLE. *TT |
| 605080 | INFORMATION ON THE SCANTOOL IMMOBILIZER KEY CODE UTILITY. *TT |
| 605029 | SERVICE TIP REGARDING SQUEAK & RATTLE NOISE FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AREA ON VEHICLES WITH VINS BEFORE 4T3ZF13COWU080714. *TT |
| 605028 | SUBJECT ON HEADLIGHT ALIGNMENT. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE SEIZURE
STEERING WHEEL TO RETURN TO CENTER
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation