IllustrationBUMPER FRACTURED AND BRACKETS BROKE AWAY, DEALER SAID BUMPERS ARE NOT FOR BICK RACKS, THE MANUAL DOES NOT SAY THIS. IT DOES SAY A BALL HITCH CAN BE CONNECTED TO TOW A LOAD 350LBS, TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE BIKE RACK WITH BIKE IS 200LBS.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tacoma 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
20–25K
425–50K
1350–75K
1375–100K
35100–150K
52150K+
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
Structure complaints
98 reportsTHE SUPPORT ARMS THAT HOLD MY FRONT BUMPER ON KEEP BREAKING WITHOUT ME HITTING ANYTHING. THE BUMPER JUST HANGS ON BY WIRES SOMETIMES. FAIRWAY TOYOTA SAYS IT IS MY FAULT BECAUSE I USE IT ON A MAIL ROUTE
BODY SQUEAKS FROM VARIOUS LOCATIONS WHEN RIDING WITH A PASSENGER. *AK
BRAKES FAILED, BUMPER WAS SMASHED FROM IMPACT AT 5-10 MPH.
FRONT BUMPER IS SIMPLY A PLASTIC SHROUD. IT PROVIDES NO PROTECTION AGAINST ANY TYPE OF INCIDENTAL CONTACT. EXCESSIVE BODY DAMAGE COULD OCCUR AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 5 MPH.
I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT INFORMATION ON THE FRONT BUMPER OF MY TRUCK. IT IS A PLASIC MOULDING ATTACHED WITH PLASTIC RIVETS TO SHEET METAL. THERE IS NO METAL WHAT SO EVER BEHIND THIS PLASTIC MOULDING. YOU CAN PUSH IT IN WITH YOUR HAND. THIS CAN'T BE SAFE! I REALLY NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS, TOYOTA WILL NOT GIVE ME ANY ANSWERS A…
Read full complaint
I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT INFORMATION ON THE FRONT BUMPER OF MY TRUCK. IT IS A PLASIC MOULDING ATTACHED WITH PLASTIC RIVETS TO SHEET METAL. THERE IS NO METAL WHAT SO EVER BEHIND THIS PLASTIC MOULDING. YOU CAN PUSH IT IN WITH YOUR HAND. THIS CAN'T BE SAFE! I REALLY NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS, TOYOTA WILL NOT GIVE ME ANY ANSWERS AS TO WHY THIS WAS DONE.
FRONT BUMPER ASSEMBLY FAILED DURING ACCIDENT CAUSING FRONT END DAMAGE.
VEHICLE WAS INVOVED IN A LOW IMPACT ACCIDENT, APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. NO DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED APPROXIMATELY $4000 IN DAMAGES. BELEIVED BUMPER WAS NOT CONSTRUCTED PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Official recalls
198V188000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.