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1998 Toyota Sienna problems

The most common problem on the 1998 Toyota Sienna is brakes. It has 1.6 times the complaints of a typical Sienna model year.

Typical year1.6x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
294
Recalls
2
Service bulletins
92
Worst area
Brakes
Fuel economy
19mpg

The worst 1998 Toyota Sienna problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 Toyota Sienna

Door locks 33Tire blowout 16Grinding brakes 10Engine failure 10ABS 7Check engine light 6Pulling 5Transmission failure 5

Recalls 2

StructureReported April 20, 2010 · 600,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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 number 10V160000 · Recall details

Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control moduleReported October 19, 1998 · 1,960 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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 number 98V278000 · Recall details

See all 2 recalls for the 1998 Toyota Sienna

Defect investigations

Engine seizureOpened April 30, 2002, closed June 20, 2002

DP02004

Steering wheel to return to centerOpened November 17, 1999, closed April 12, 2000

There is no summary currently available

PE99070

Technical service bulletins for the 1998 Toyota Sienna 92

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 92 bulletins for the 1998 Toyota Sienna

1998 Toyota Sienna fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
3.0L 6‑cylFWD162319

What 1998 Toyota Sienna owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Mar 3, 2024 · Brakes, Steering · FL

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

Filed Jun 15, 2019 · Steering · FL

Gear shifter mount unit on the steering column broke apart, stranding the vehicle in the middle of the road.

Filed Nov 2, 2017 · Airbags · 220,000 miles · NE · crash · 1 injury

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.

Filed Nov 30, 2016 · Brakes, Suspension · 137,500 miles · NJ

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.

Filed Nov 23, 2016 · Electrical · FL

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 the federal safety agency campaign number: 98v278000 (electrical system); however, the VIN was not completed. The failure mileage was not provided.

Filed Jul 3, 2015 · Electrical · 170,000 miles · CA

Horn worked intermittently and now not at all.

Filed Jun 10, 2015 · Steering · 67,000 miles · OR

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.

Filed Oct 8, 2014 · Transmission · 193,000 miles · CA

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.

Filed Sep 29, 2014 · Transmission · 167,997 miles · NJ

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.

Filed Aug 12, 2014 · Body, Tires · 74,500 miles · WI

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.

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Compare the 1998 Toyota Sienna

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Other model years

1996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020

Questions about the 1998 Toyota Sienna

Is the 1998 Toyota Sienna reliable?

Owners have filed 294 complaints about the 1998 Toyota Sienna, 1.6 times a typical Sienna model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1998 Toyota Sienna?

Brakes, with 44 complaints. Next is locks (40).

How many recalls does the 1998 Toyota Sienna have?

2 recalls, covering structure and electrical system.

What year does the Toyota Sienna have bad brakes?

The Toyota Sienna model years with the most brakes complaints are 2004 (88 complaints), 2006 (73 complaints) and 2005 (68 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 1998 Toyota Sienna get?

Official estimates for the 1998 Toyota Sienna range from 19 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.0L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 16 city and 23 highway.

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