FaultScore

1998 Toyota Sienna electrical problems

14 of the 352 complaints about the 1998 Toyota Sienna are about the electrical system — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 140,000 miles.

A

14

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 8 57.1%
Horn 4 28.6%
Front Underhood 1 7.1%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 1 7.1%

Electrical System across every Toyota Sienna year

1998 14 2.1%
1999 11 1.6%
2000 17 2.5%
2001 21 3.1%
2002 25 3.7%
2004 132 19.4%
2005 65 9.6%
2006 85 12.5%
2007 19 2.8%
2008 45 6.6%
2009 28 4.1%
2010 20 2.9%
2011 67 9.9%
2012 27 4.0%
2013 22 3.2%
2014 16 2.4%
2015 45 6.6%
2017 20 2.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

FT Lauderdale, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V278000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA complaint #10927607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 170,000 miles Carlsbad, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HORN WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW NOT AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #10731891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles Signal Mountain, TN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I CAME HOME AND TURNED MY IGNITION SWITCH OFF BUT MY 1998 TOYOTA VAN KEPT RUNNING.TURNING THE KEY ON AND OFF DID NOT TURN IT OFF. I TRIED SHUTTING IT DOWN WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. I TRIED TURNING IT OFF AGAIN WHILE MOVING THE GEAR SELECTOR LEVER BUT TO NO AVAIL. I BEGIN TO SMELL BURNING RUBBER. I LIFTED THE HOOD AND REALIZED THE ENGINE WAS BEING TURNED OVER BY THE STARTER WHICH WAS NOT DISENGAGING AND STARTING TO SMOKE. THEN TONS OF SMOKE BEGAN BOILING OFF THE STARTER. I DISCONNECTED THE POSITIVE BATTERY CONNECTION AND THE ENGAGED STARTER STOPPED CRANKING THE ENGINE. HEAVY SMOKE CONTINUED BOILING FROM THE STARTER FOR ABOUT A MINUTE LONGER. I WAS VERY GLAD I WAS NOT INSIDE THE GARAGE BECAUSE I THINK THE STARTER COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE OR THE SMOKE WOULD HAVE SMOTHERED ME.

NHTSA complaint #10515398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 220,000 miles Edmonton, 00

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

I HAVE A 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA RECENTLY THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL ARE NOT WORKING I WONDER IF THIS CAN BE A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE OR DO I JUST HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10381713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 131,000 miles EAU Claire, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WIRING PROBLEM--ELECTRIC GOING ON UNUSUAL PATHS--PUSHING THE BRAKE TURNS ON THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH--I WONDER IF PUSHING THE BRAKE COULD CAUSE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS?

NHTSA complaint #10336630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Wesley Chapel, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, THE ENGINE WOULD REV HIGH EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR WAS IN PARK. THE CONSUMER STATED HE THEN REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE RUNNING. UPDATED 06/22/10.

NHTSA complaint #10331991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PROBLEM WITH THE HORN ON MY 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE HORN STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AT LEAST 5 TIMES, AND TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AT LEAST 3 TIMES. SPENT OVER $1400 AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. THEY HAVE CHANGED THE RELAY, CHANGED CONTACTS, SANDED CONTACTS, AND STILL, THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. FOR THE MOST PART THE HORN WORKS WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AND COOL. AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 1/2 HOUR TO 1 HOUR, THE HORN STOPS WORKING COMPLETELY. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET IT TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY BY "JIGGLING" THE STEERING WHEEL AND PUSHING THE HORN AT THE SAME TIME WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. IN A NUTSHELL, IT IS VERY ERRATIC AND VIRTUALLY ALWAYS STOPS WORKING WHEN WE ARE ON A ROAD TRIP. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE HORN TYPICALLY DOES NOT WORK AT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SOMEONE ON THE HIGHWAY CUTS ME OFF AND IT'S NECESSARY TO USE THE HORN. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND OTHERWISE RUNS FINE DESPITE HAVING 150,000 MILES ON IT. I'VE BEEN VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE DEALERS AND THEIR OBVIOUS LACK OF EXPERTISE OR PERSISTENCE IN TROUBLESHOOTING THIS UNUSUAL ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10135722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hopewell Junction, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

SINCE JUNE 2003 THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE HORN WOULD NOT OPERATE ALL THE TIME. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 8/5/2003. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10032200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Folsom, LA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMOBLE, IN THAT WHEN SHE TURNS IT OFF, IT STARTS, AND WHEN SHE PUTS IT IN PARK, IT STARTS UP. SHE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, WHO DISCONNECTED THE ALARM SYSTEM, AND THE AUTOMOBILE STOPPED DOING THE ABOVE. SHE STATED THAT THE MECHANIC FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THESE CARS, AND THAT WAS THE EXACT PROBLEM SHE WAS HAVING WITH VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10027334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Katy, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

SUMMARY OF VEHICLE (TOYOTA SIENNA), GARAGE, AND HOUSE FIRE ON AUGUST 13, 2001.

NHTSA complaint #755296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gaithersburg, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE THE HORN WILL SUDDENLY BECOME INOPPERATIVE CAUSING AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SITUATION OF OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE HORN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON 08/28/2001 WHERE I WAS TOLD THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT WAS DISTORTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($470.00) NOT 3 WEEKS LATER THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED, THE HORN SUDDENLY BECOMES INOPPERATIVE. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH WE PAID ALMOST $900.00 DOLLARS FOR. THE IS OBVIOULSY A VERY SERIOUS SAFTEY CONCERN AND ARE THERE ANY AVENUES TO PERSUE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM PAID FOR BY TOYOTA? I AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH TOYOTA AND THERE EXTENDED WARRANTY POLICY.

NHTSA complaint #753090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Seattle, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATES, THIS OCCURS AFTER A TIRE HAS BEEN CHANGED OR ROTATED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #785180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Angeles, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

NO SUMMARY,

NHTSA complaint #712351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Needles, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

TIRES. HORN.

NHTSA complaint #609560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Toyota Sienna problems

← Full 1998 Toyota Sienna report