1998 Toyota Sienna Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 25about this part
- Share
- 9%of 294 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 67,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 25 complaints about the steering of the 1998 Toyota Sienna, 9% of the 294 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 67,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I bought a Toyota Sienna my '98 brand new in may 1998 and still own it. This car also has demonstrated a similar problem ever since I bought the car ' veering to right. The driver has to constantly correct the steering in order to keep the car moving straight. Even after three attempts in '98, '99, and 2000, respectively, were made to address this problem by a Toyota dealer (copy of the paperwork can be furnished upon request), the problem has yet been corrected successfully as of today. …”
NHTSA complaint #10312558, filed 2010-02, 13,483 miles“On oct 14th 2006 at about 4:45 pm I was driving in a parking lot at slow speed. I came to a stop and then tried to make a right turn. As I turned the wheel and applied the gas the steering column made a noise like breaking plastic and the car moved in a straight line despite the wheel beeing turned. I increased the turning motion until it was clear steering had failed. Since the lot was empty I brought the car to a stop without incident. I had the car towed to sandy springs Toyota and was told that the steering shaft had broken at the knuckle where the column connects to the shaft. …”
NHTSA complaint #10174880, filed 2006-12, 108,884 miles“My wife was driving a 98 Toyota Sienna with kids on the freeway in a comuter lane. All of a sudden the steering wheel started vibrating and locked in left position. As a result they ended up crashing in the middle divider head on. The van took a 180 degree spin and hit from the back. We have done 99000 miles on this van in last 5 years. This is totally a malfunction or mechanical failure of steering wheel. We have done long trips with our van in the past 5 years and never had problem. Also the air bags did not open up even though the impact was so severe.”
NHTSA complaint #10056363, filed 2004-02, 99,080 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10724653, filed 2015-06, 67,000 miles“The steering wheel was turned in the right position and the driver was in the process of straightening it when it locked up. This caused lost of control of the vehicle. The vehicle had gone into the highway divider and was totaled. The cause of the failure was undetermined.”
NHTSA complaint #10034334, filed 2003-09, 3,800 milesSteering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 1% |
| 2021 | 3 | 2% |
| 2020 | 3 | 8% |
| 2017 | 7 | 4% |
| 2016 | 4 | 5% |
| 2015 | 11 | 5% |
| 2014 | 8 | 5% |
| 2013 | 11 | 6% |
| 2012 | 15 | 6% |
| 2011 | 24 | 4% |
| 2010 | 11 | 6% |
| 2009 | 12 | 6% |
| 2008 | 33 | 8% |
| 2007 | 12 | 3% |
| 2006 | 61 | 6% |
| 2005 | 79 | 7% |
| 2004 | 159 | 8% |
| 2003 | 4 | 4% |
| 2002 | 10 | 6% |
| 2001 | 8 | 4% |
| 2000 | 6 | 2% |
| 1999 | 21 | 10% |
| 1998 | 25 | 9% |
Other parts of the 1998 Toyota Sienna
44 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
40 complaintsTires
38 complaintsBody and structure
35 complaintsEngine cooling
33 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
23 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaintsElectrical system
14 complaintsAir bags
12 complaintsSeat belts
12 complaintsSuspension
11 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Toyota Sienna
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology