1998 Toyota SIENNA: complaints, problems and recalls

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 40MPH BOTH TIRE RODS BROKE CAUSING LOST OF STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004275 at NHTSA ↗

THE LATCH DESIGNED TO HOLD THE SIDE SLIDING DOOR IN AN OPEN POSITION FAILED, SO THAT THE DOOR WOULD NOT STAY OPEN, ALLOWING IT TO SLIDE SHUT ON A HAND, BODY ETC. THE PART WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PART ALSO FAILED(SEE SECOND COMPLAINT)

Owner-reported narrative. 2,639 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004884 at NHTSA ↗

THE LATCH HOLDING THE SIDE SLIDING DOOR FAILED, DEALER REPLACED IT. THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS ALSO FAILED, ALLOWING THE DOOR TO SLIDE CLOSED ON A HAND, BODY, OR CHILD.

Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004886 at NHTSA ↗

ALL 4 TIRES DEVELOPED "KNOTS". ONE TIRE WORE ODDLY TO THE BELTS. CAR WAS BALANCED AND ALIGNED. TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED REGULARLY PRESSURE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT. THEY BECAME UNUSABLE. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734317

Owner-reported narrative. 34,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007025 at NHTSA ↗

TOYOTA SIENNA 1998 PURCHASED IN LATE 1997.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008323 at NHTSA ↗

OIL SEALS AROUND SPARK PLUGS FAILED IN BOTH FWD AND AFT BANK OF VALVE COVERS.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008425 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING FRONT DRIVERS SIDE LEFT TIRE BLEWOUT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM THERE WAS SEVERE VIBRATION AND CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. AFTER TRAVELING ANOTHER 65 MILES THERE WAS SEVERE VIBRATION AND THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012315 at NHTSA ↗

HAD A RIGHT REAR TIRE (FIRESTONE F 680) DELAMINATE WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE WHILE DRIVING A 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA LE. TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, HAD 35,000 MILES, AND WAS PROPERLY INFLATED (CHECKED NIGHT BEFORE INCIDENT). RESULT OF TREAD DELAMINATION WAS LOSS OF REAR WHEEL WELL COVER AND DAMAGE TO REAR BUMPER. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014125 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2010-04-20 (April 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: 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.

Reported: 1998-10-19 (October 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: 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.