1998 Toyota Sienna Transmission Problems

Your van accelerates unexpectedly and aggressively when you lightly press the gas pedal, especially going uphill, making it difficult to control. You've had to shift into neutral to slow down, and you nearly crashed due to this sudden acceleration. This issue has made you hesitant to drive the van safely. The problem likely involves the fuel delivery system, throttle control, or transmission response and will need diagnostic testing to identify the root cause.

When you shift from Park to Drive, your car accelerates on its own without you pressing the gas pedal. Your brakes don't stop the car—the only way to stop it is by shifting into Park or Neutral. This is a dangerous unintended acceleration problem that requires immediate attention to your transmission and throttle control systems.

Your engine continued running even after you turned off the ignition switch, and turning the key on and off repeatedly didn't shut it down. When you opened the hood, you discovered the starter motor was stuck in the engaged position and wouldn't disengage from the engine, causing it to overheat and produce heavy smoke. You had to disconnect the battery to stop the starter from cranking. The starter motor likely needs to be replaced or the electrical connection that controls it needs to be repaired.

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. *JB

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: *NM 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. *TT

DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE. THE TRANSMISSION HAD NO OTHER NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS AT THIS POINT. THE MECHANIC, WHO LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE, STATED THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED SOON. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS MAKING NOISE DUE TO DEFECTIVE DIFFERENTIAL AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT TOYOTA WOULD PROVIDE THE PART, AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LABOR. *AK UPDATE 1/4/2006 - *NM

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.

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING.*AK

WHILE CLEANING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER'S SON INADVERTENTLY MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER. VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS UNTIL THE GEAR SHIFTED WAS PLACED BACK IN PARK. THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER CAN BE MOVED, EVEN WHEN THE KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION.*MR THERE IS A NOISE WHEN DRIVING CHANGES PITCH WITH SPEEDS. BEARING NOISE FROM INSIDE TRANSMISSION.*TS

1998 TOYOTA SIENNA - COMPLETE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON HIGHWAY AT 67,800 MILES. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE ACCELERATION DECREASE AND VEHICLE STALLED. MR

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. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

REAR AXLE WILL NOT BALANCE. WAS TOLD THAT IT CANNOT BET ALIGNED. ALSO, TOLD THAT IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED DURING TRANSPORT. CONSUMER HAS TO KEEP BUYING TIRES.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN OUR DRIVEWAY, WHEN WE CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE, IT HAD POPPED INTO REVERSE AND BACKED INTO OUR GARAGE. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE SHIFT LEVER TO STOP IN-BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE AND THEN POP INTO REVERSE IN A FEW MINUTES BY ITSELF. IS THIS A TYPICAL PROBLEM AND NOT CONSIDERED A DEFECT?*AK

THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE MEDIUM DIVIDER AND LANDED ON TOP OF IT AFTER THE RIGHT REAR-AXLE SNAPPED AND THE WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH ON I-10 IN POMONA , CA ON 9/22/2000.

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A VIOLENT STOP. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILED.

IGNITION LOCK WOULD NOT UNLOCK. NLM

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH