10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
105,754 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Toyota Sienna transmission problems

transmission problem

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1998 Toyota Sienna Owner Comments

problem #13

Feb 102007

Sienna 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

At interstate speed I had a few second drag and then complete transmission disengagement. Managed to get it off the interstate by letting it set a few minutes and being able to drive a 1/4 mile or so at a time. I have always taken very good care of the van including fluid changes. It only has 77,000 miles but Toyota refuses to do anything about it even though they are aware of the defect( because there warranty extension is only for 8 years 100,000 and I am over the 8 years.

- Prophetstown, IL, USA

problem #12

Jun 172006

Sienna 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,000 miles
We have a 1998 Toyota Sienna le with about 88,000 miles on it. We do not drive the car too much and most of the time it sits in our garage. On the way up to nh from NJ at June 17 2006, the transmission started to have problems, which the transmission was sometimes unable to engage. We finally made it home and sent the car to the Toyota dealer. The dealer told us "this is a known issue." That are known for transmission failures. We understand that the extended warranty covered up to 100,000 miles and 8 years. But our car just passed it by 5-6 weeks and is well under 100,000 miles. Dealer told us to contact Toyota as it just past the deadline and has low mileage. Toyota has given us a very hard time. They insisted that it is our problem now because we didn't discover it before the 8 years deadline. Here is what is listed about in the NHTSA.gov website that lists technical service bulletins: Make: Toyota model: Sienna year: 1998 type: Passenger car service bulletin number: TC03014 NHTSA item number: 10003372 summary description: Extended warranty coverage regarding a no movement or a slipping condition of the automatic transaxle.

- Rockaway, NJ, USA

problem #11

Jun 222005

Sienna

  • Automatic transmission
  • 910,000 miles
My 98 Toyota Sienna failed to respond to the acelerator while I was making a left turn twice on 6/22/05. On the second time, the engine failed. I was able to restart the engine, and go back home three blocks away where this happened. I parked my car inside my garage, went inside my house and luckily I had to go back to the garage immediately, because my car was on fire. I am still waiting for my nsurance company to do their investigation and I opened a claim with Toyota, since I did all the necessary maintenance and the car was fine until that day. How can I be sure I am going to find out the truth why the car got on fire and if there is any problem related to the year and model of my car that may expalin what happened" sometime ago I received a letter from Toyota saying that they were extending the warranty on transaxle case and internal part, torque converter and parts related to the transaxle because certain models of Sienna had a "no movemen" or "slipping condition" related to that parts. My car was fine until the morning of 6/22/05 and then did not respond to the accelerator twice (is this what they call no movement or slipping condition") and then got on fire. Does the fire could happen because O anything related to the transaxle case and internal parts any other parts related to it" I am afraid, since I am the only one who has anything to loose, that Toyota won't take resposibility for this and my insurance company already advised me that they do not cover the cause of fire only damages caused by the fire, they do not cover rental care while my car is incvestigated and I don't feel that they are in any hurry to do solve my problem. I would like to know if there is any way to get an investigation of the cause of the fire from someone who has no interest in the case, who is not the one to take responsibility or not, or who is not the one in charge to cover the expenses related to what happened to my car" thank you very much.

- Chapel Hill, NC, USA

problem #10

Jan 122003

Sienna 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission started slipping.

- Wethersfield, CT, USA

problem #9

Nov 012002

Sienna

  • Automatic transmission
  • 134,000 miles
Problems with vehicle's transmission. There is a noise when driving changes pitch with speeds. Bearing noise from inside transmission.

- Asbury, NJ, USA

problem #8

May 052003

Sienna 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 67,800 miles
1998 Toyota Sienna - complete automatic transmission failure on highway at 67,800 miles.

- Richmond , VA, USA

problem #7

May 042002

Sienna

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While exiting intersate at 15-20 mph transmission locked up. Wheels instantly locked up with motor running. Dealer was notified, and will have to replace transmission.

- Palbott, TN, USA

problem #6

Nov 011998

Sienna

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission failed.

- Rancho San, CA, USA

problem #5

Jun 201998

Sienna

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission failed.

- Rossmoor, CA, USA

problem #4

Dec 241999

Sienna

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving at highway speeds transmission locked up, causing the vehicle to come to a violent stop. Dealer and manufacturer have been notified.

- Franklin, TN, USA

problem #3

Sep 081999

(reported on)

Sienna

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission and alignment problems.

- Culver City, CA, USA

problem #2

May 011998

Sienna

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission failed.

- Laguna Nig, CA, USA

problem #1

Aug 061998

Sienna

  • miles
Accepted for arbitration by wa state atty general

- Redmond, WA, USA

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