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1998 Toyota 4 Runner

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Toyota 4 Runner do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 96.5.

About this comparison →
120Owner complaints

Model-year median: 96.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
125
199589
1996122
1997120
1998110
1999104
200031
2001
Compare all 4 Runner years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tires
29Suspension
17Engine And Engine Cooling
15Service Brakes, Hydraulic
9Electrical System
7
All reported categories
Power Train
7Seat Belts
7Steering
6Structure
6Air Bags
5Exterior Lighting
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Equipment
3Wheels
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Child Seat
1Parking Brake
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 17 of 120 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Tires. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports3 fire reports10 injury reports

What owners actually said

120 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #717208

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 1999
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY JUMPS OUT OF GEAR.DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850110

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1999
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED CAUSING, SEAT BELT TO STUCK.

NHTSA ODI #607701

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Equipment

CIGARETTE LIGHTER.

NHTSA ODI #609748

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT.

NHTSA ODI #609168

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER, ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, AND THE INSTRUCTMENT PANEL LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #843349

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Steering

ALARM SYSTEM OUT OF ORDER. YH

NHTSA ODI #609917

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Power Train

TRANSMISSION CLUTCH FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #609315

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Steering

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #609311

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Wheels

MUD FLAP FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #609266

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.