IllustrationWHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 4 Runner years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 reportsVEHICLE HAD A FLAT TIRE WHILE DRIVING. WHEN CHANGING TIRE, CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT SPARE TIRE HAD A STEEL WHEEL WHILE VEHICLE'S WHEELS WERE ALLOY. WHILE PURCHASING REPLACEMENT TIRES DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT SPARE TIRE WAS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE THE LOCKING LUG WAS ONLY GRIPPING WHEEL BY A FEW THREADS. LUG WAS 1/2 INCH AWAY…
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VEHICLE HAD A FLAT TIRE WHILE DRIVING. WHEN CHANGING TIRE, CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT SPARE TIRE HAD A STEEL WHEEL WHILE VEHICLE'S WHEELS WERE ALLOY. WHILE PURCHASING REPLACEMENT TIRES DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT SPARE TIRE WAS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE THE LOCKING LUG WAS ONLY GRIPPING WHEEL BY A FEW THREADS. LUG WAS 1/2 INCH AWAY FROM WHEEL.*AKJLG
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE. *YH
WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN/COMING DOWN AND EXITING, VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN, THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT VEHICLE WAS FINE. IT JUST NEEDS TO GET USED TO MOUNTAIN DRIVINGB (NOTE: THE VEHICLE HAS A SUPERCHARGER THAT THE DEALER ADDED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW, ITS A TRD SUPERCHARGER). *…
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WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN/COMING DOWN AND EXITING, VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN, THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT VEHICLE WAS FINE. IT JUST NEEDS TO GET USED TO MOUNTAIN DRIVINGB (NOTE: THE VEHICLE HAS A SUPERCHARGER THAT THE DEALER ADDED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW, ITS A TRD SUPERCHARGER). *AK *YH
WHILE COMING DOWN A HILL, STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE TO THE POINT WHERE IT FELT LIKE THERE COULD BE AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER THINKS THIS MIGHT BE A PROBLEM ALSO WITH OTHER AUTOMOBILES. *AK CONSUMER BELIVED THE FRONT ROTORS ARE THE PROBLEM.*YH
RECALL 02 V 021 000/REAR SUSPENSION: DEALER: JOHNSON TOYOTA IN MONTICELLO, NY. PHONE# 854/794-0660 REFUSED TO PERFORM REPAIRS BECAUSE VEHICLE HAD A SALVAGE TITLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE ACCELERATING 55 MPH ENGINE SEIZED UP, LOSING COMPLETE POWER. OWNER DRIFTED TRUCK OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT ENGINE THREW A ROD. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
RECALL 02 V 020 000/REAR SUSPENSION: DEALER: JOHNSON TOYOTA IN MONTICELLO, NY; PHONE# 854/794-0660. REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL NOTICE BECAUSE TITLE WAS BRANDED AS A SALVAGE VEHICLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE LOST DIRECTIONAL STABILITY IN WHICH IT EXPERIENCED A ROLLOVER AND WAS TOTALED, CONSUMER LATER RECEIVED RECALL 02V021. *SLC
RECALL 02 V 021 000/REAR SUSPENSION: RECALL REPAIRS CAUSED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS; WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL AT 15 MPH OR MORE IT CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL, AND AT SUDDEN STOPS FRONT END WOULD BOTTOM OUT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMTION. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.