RoadVitals

1998 Toyota Sienna Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Nov 30, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 294 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Toyota Sienna submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesSuspension
Filed Nov 30, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10928925
Incident
Nov 24, 2016
Mileage
137,500 mi
Suspension
Filed May 1, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A LOUD CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10018012
Incident
May 1, 2003
Body & structureBrakesSuspension
Filed Sep 29, 2002

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH BOTH SLIDING DOORS ON MY MINIVAN. I HAD RATTLES FIXED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASSIONS AND RECENTLY TOOK THE VAN IN BECAUSE THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WITHOUT PUTTING THE WEIGHT OF MY BODY BEHIND IT. THE DEALER SHRUGGED IT OFF BY SAYING THERE WAS A COKE SPILLED IN THE DOOR. THE DEALER CLEANED "THE COKE" AND THE DOOR IS STILL STICKING SHUT. NOW THE TAILHATCH HANDLE HAS BROKEN OFF AND I CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE TAILGATE. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION. THE VAN FEELS LIKE THE FRONT WHEELS ARE PULLING TO ONE SIDE. I HAVE HAD IT ALIGNED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THE OTHER DAY IT FELT LIKE THE FRONT WHEEL WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE BRAKES WORKED ON (AT MY EXPENSE) BECAUSE THE DEALER SAID I LEFT THE PARKING BRAKE ON ALL THE TIME. I NO LONGER LEAVE THE PARKING BRAKE ON AND THE BRAKES ARE BEGINNING TO SQEEK AND SQUEAL AGAIN. MR

NHTSA ID
767883
Incident
Sep 25, 2002
Suspension
Filed Sep 17, 2002

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD NOISE. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED,. WAS INFORMED THAT TRANSMISSION HAD BUSTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
8018860
Incident
Sep 10, 2002
BrakesOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Jun 14, 2001

AT ALL TIMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY WOULD MAKE A HIGH PITCH/GRINDING NOISE. DID NOT AFFECT STOPPING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT ENTIRE BRAKING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BACKING PLATE IS TOO THIN AND DEFECTIVE. LEFT FRONT REAR WHEEL LUG NUT WAS CROSS THREADED. KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, DEALER REPLACED STRUT MOUNTS. *SLC

NHTSA ID
890427
Incident
Mar 24, 2000
Suspension
Filed Sep 13, 1999

TIRES ON VEHICLE WERE WORN OUT DUE TO VEHICLE PULLING TO RIGHT & NEEDING ALIGNMENT. HAD TIRES (4) ROTATED & ALIGNED. VEHICLE STILL PULLS TO RIGHT. MECHANIC CHECKING FOR CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
847543
Incident
Jan 28, 1999
Suspension
Filed Sep 8, 1999

SHOCK ABSORBERS.

NHTSA ID
609773
Incident
Apr 1, 1998
Suspension
Filed May 18, 1999

SERIOUS TORQUING AND PULLING PROBLEMS. THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST VEHICLES TO COME OFF THE NEW GEORGETOWN, KY ASSEMBLY LINE. *AK

NHTSA ID
706616
Incident
Apr 8, 1998
Suspension
Filed Feb 4, 1999

MANY SIENNA OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF UNKNOWN "PULLING" PROBLEMS. THIS IS BELIEVED TO BE A SERIOUS NATIONWIDE PROBLEM, AND DETAILED RECORDS CAN BE RETRIEVED FROM TOYOTA DEALER REPAIR LOGS. TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO ISSUE RECALL TO CORRECT THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE IMMEDIATELY AND THOROUGHLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
702920
Incident
Jan 22, 1998
Interior & seatsSeat beltsSuspension
Filed Oct 17, 1998

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT.ALSO, HEADRESTS ARE VERY LOOSE AND WIGGLE AROUND WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN/THIRD RAW BACKSEATS ARE LOOSE AND VIBRATE.

NHTSA ID
781322
Suspension
Filed Sep 29, 1998
1 injury reported

CAR MADE LOUD POP SOUND, THEN LOST CONTROL.

NHTSA ID
541386
Incident
Aug 2, 1998

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .