IllustrationTHE THREAD ON THE TIRES SEEMS TO BE SEPARATING. THE VERY FAR EDGES OF THE TIRES SEEM TO BE PEELING OFF. WHERE CAN I TAKE MY VEHICLE TO HAVE IT INSPECTED?*AK (TIRESIZE: 215-65R15)
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 reportsWHEN TURNING LEFT AND ACCELERATING, THE STEERING WHEEL "STICKS" AND MUST BE MANUALLY PULLED BACK TO CENTER
CONSUMER STATED THE SLIDING DOOR BUTTON GETS JAMMED INSIDE, AS A RESULT THE DOOR CANNOT BE LOCKED, OR THE DOOR BECOMES LOCKED WHEN BUTTON GETS STUCK, AND THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT SLIDING DOOR WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE.*AK. *JB
LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE AFFINITY TIRES SIZE: P215/65R15, EXPERIENCED BLOWOUTS WITH APPROXIMATELY 24,000 MILES ON THEM ON A 1998, TOYOTA, SIENNA. *AK FIRST BLOWOUT OCCURRED IN THE TREAD OF THE TIRE, THE SECOND BLOWOUT OCCURRED IN THE SIDEWALL, CONSUMER STATES THEY EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PUNCTURES IN THE TIRES PRIOR T…
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LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE AFFINITY TIRES SIZE: P215/65R15, EXPERIENCED BLOWOUTS WITH APPROXIMATELY 24,000 MILES ON THEM ON A 1998, TOYOTA, SIENNA. *AK FIRST BLOWOUT OCCURRED IN THE TREAD OF THE TIRE, THE SECOND BLOWOUT OCCURRED IN THE SIDEWALL, CONSUMER STATES THEY EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PUNCTURES IN THE TIRES PRIOR TO THE BLOWOUTS, DOT NUMBER W2VFA1A160. *SLC
ENGINE IS FULL OF SLUDGE, THERE WAS NEVER ANY WARNING LIGHT OR SYSTEM CHECK THAT INDICATED THE ENGINE HAD ANY PROBLEMS. *AK
AT ALL TIMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY WOULD MAKE A HIGH PITCH/GRINDING NOISE. DID NOT AFFECT STOPPING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT ENTIRE BRAKING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BACKING PLATE IS TOO THIN AND DEF…
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AT ALL TIMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY WOULD MAKE A HIGH PITCH/GRINDING NOISE. DID NOT AFFECT STOPPING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT ENTIRE BRAKING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BACKING PLATE IS TOO THIN AND DEFECTIVE. LEFT FRONT REAR WHEEL LUG NUT WAS CROSS THREADED. KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, DEALER REPLACED STRUT MOUNTS. *SLC
CATASTROPHIC TIRE FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. TIRES NOT UNDER-INFLATED. TIRE EXPLOSIVELY SEPARATED (BELT AND CARCASS) CAUSING VIOLENT FEEDBACK TO STEERING.. NO WRECK DUE TO LUCK; NO TURNOVER SOLELY DUE TO LOW PROFILE OF VEHICLE. TIRE NOW LOOKS THE SAME AS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED FIRESTONE TIRES. REPLACED ALL FO…
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CATASTROPHIC TIRE FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. TIRES NOT UNDER-INFLATED. TIRE EXPLOSIVELY SEPARATED (BELT AND CARCASS) CAUSING VIOLENT FEEDBACK TO STEERING.. NO WRECK DUE TO LUCK; NO TURNOVER SOLELY DUE TO LOW PROFILE OF VEHICLE. TIRE NOW LOOKS THE SAME AS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED FIRESTONE TIRES. REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH OTHER BRAND. RECOMMEND A LOOK AT BASIC FIRESTONE RADIAL TIRE DESIGN.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2VFAIT TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)
REAR AXLE WILL NOT BALANCE. WAS TOLD THAT IT CANNOT BET ALIGNED. ALSO, TOLD THAT IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED DURING TRANSPORT. CONSUMER HAS TO KEEP BUYING TIRES.*AK
WHEN BOTH SLIDING DOOR ARE UNLOCKED AND CONSUMER PUSHES BUTTON IN TO OPEN DOOR, BUTTON GETS JAMMED AND DOORS DO NOT UNLOCK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER DID SOME CABLE ADJUSTMENT. BUT REMEDY DID NOT WORK.*AK DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX PROBLEM 3 TIMES. *SLC
BRAKES SQUEAL AND GRIND, DEALER STATES THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS. *SLC
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