Illustration1998 TOYOTA SIENNA ENGINE FAILED DUE TO "SLUDGE." UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR FAILURE. THE INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM WERE NEVER COMMUNICATED TO THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. *TR
1988 Toyota Van
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Van years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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: 1 of 2 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reportsDRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO HOLD DRIVER SECURE DURING ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURY. *SKD
Official recalls
189V089000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
May 30, 1989
THE STEERING BEVEL GEAR ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE WATER CONTAMINATION WHICH COULD LEAD TO RUST/CORROSION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE ERRATIC STEERING, WHICH COULD RESULT INAN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE STEERING BEVEL GEAR ASSEMBLY; COVER LIQUID GASKET MATERIAL WITH IMPROVED MATERIAL.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.