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1998 Toyota Tacoma

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Toyota Tacoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 228.5.

About this comparison →
300Owner complaints

Model-year median: 228.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
177
1995253
1996131
1997300
1998249
1999210
2000396
2001
Compare all Tacoma years →

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

What owners reported most

Structure
98Air Bags
46Tires
29Suspension
28Seat Belts
23
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
17Unknown Or Other
16Vehicle Speed Control
16Engine And Engine Cooling
15Steering
12Power Train
10Exterior Lighting
6Electrical System
5Visibility
5Wheels
5Equipment
4Fuel System, Gasoline
2Parking Brake
2Service Brakes
2Engine
1Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1Fuel System, Other
1Latches/locks/linkages
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

119 reports with mileage · 181 unknown

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.

  • Structure. Review the 98 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

49 crash reports0 fire reports25 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

23 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 1999
Seat Belts

DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT IS TOO SHORT. THIS IS MY THIRD TOYOTA TRUCK. THE FIRST TWO HAD AMPLE AND EQUAL SEATBELT LINKS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE TRUCK. THE 1998 TACOMA DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT IS MUCH SHORTER THAN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING FLAW AS ANOTHER 1998 TACOMA TRUCK MEASURED …

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DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT IS TOO SHORT. THIS IS MY THIRD TOYOTA TRUCK. THE FIRST TWO HAD AMPLE AND EQUAL SEATBELT LINKS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE TRUCK. THE 1998 TACOMA DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT IS MUCH SHORTER THAN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING FLAW AS ANOTHER 1998 TACOMA TRUCK MEASURED BY THE DEALER HAS THE SAME IRREGULARITY, BUT THE 1999 TRUCK DOES NOT. REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE FROM TOYOTA SOFAR SAID THAT ONLY OPTION IS TO ADD AN EXTENDER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BOTH FOR SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE REASONS. SINCE NEITHER THE 1987/994 OR 1999 TRUCKS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, I WOULD LIKE IT REPAIRED AND PREFEREABLY BEFORE I FREEZE TO DEATH IN BUFFALO BECAUSE I CAN'T GET THE SEATBELT AROUND ME WHEN I HAVE MY WINTER COAT ON. PLEASE HELP QUICKLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #703096

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 1998
Seat Belts

FRONT RESTRAINT BELTS ARE NOT LONG ENOUGH FOR THE VEHICLE, AND THE DEALER TELLS CONSUMER TO PAY FOR EXTENTIONS IF THEY DON'T FIT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #831185

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1997
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 20 MPH HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON.SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD, LOCKED UP. DUE TO THIS DEFECT, IT CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HIT WINDSHIELD ,SHATTERED GLASS. ALSO CAUSED NECK INJURIES. TOYOTA CLAIMS CANNOT FIND PROBLEM, AND CLAIMS AIR BAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #816774

Official recalls

1

98V188000 · Air BAGS:ON-OFF Switch Assembly

Aug 6, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STATEMENT REQUIRED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL THAT "...THE ON-OFF SWITCH SHOULD ONLY BEN USED WHEN A MEMBER OF A PASSENGER RISK GROUP IDENTIFIED IN THE REQUEST FORM IN APPENDIX B......IS OCCUPYING THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEATING POSITION..." IS MIS-STATED. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE AIR BAG SWITCH IS "OFF," THE SEAT OCCUPANT WHO IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE PASSENGER RISK GROUP WOULD BE SUBJECT TO INCREASED INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL.

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.