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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.

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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

16 reports
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190,000 miles · Dec 7, 2015
Unknown Or Other

I TOOK MY 1998 TACOMA IN FOR AN INSPECTION AT MY LOCAL DEALER IN NOVEMBER OF 2011. I WAS TOLD IT PASSED AND HAD ONLY NORMAL SURFACE RUST. NO COMPENSATION IN ANY FORM WAS MADE, NOT EVEN AN UNDERCOATING. MY VIN NUMBER FELL INTO THE CATEGORY OF BEING SUSPECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THIS AT THE TIME. NOW AT…

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I TOOK MY 1998 TACOMA IN FOR AN INSPECTION AT MY LOCAL DEALER IN NOVEMBER OF 2011. I WAS TOLD IT PASSED AND HAD ONLY NORMAL SURFACE RUST. NO COMPENSATION IN ANY FORM WAS MADE, NOT EVEN AN UNDERCOATING. MY VIN NUMBER FELL INTO THE CATEGORY OF BEING SUSPECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THIS AT THE TIME. NOW AT 190K MILES AND THE 15 YR DEADLINE GONE, I HAVE A USELESS TRUCK THAT IS BASICALLY WORTH NOTHING AS FAR AS I CAN TELL. THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH IN 2011 WHEN THEY WERE GIVEN THE CHANCE. THE DEALER JUST SENDS YOU ON YOUR MERRY WAY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. THE FRAME RUSTS FROM THE INSIDE OUT. NOTHING WILL FIX IT. TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RUSTY FRAMES.

NHTSA ODI #10808760

Mileage unknown · May 13, 2015
Unknown Or Other

FRAME RUSTED THROUGH . TOYOTA SAYS RECALL EXPIRED . GOW CAN SAFETY ISSUE OF THIS MAGNATUDE EXPIRE?

NHTSA ODI #10716130

140,000 miles · May 13, 2015
SuspensionUnknown Or Other

MY VEHICLE'S FRAME IS DANGEROUSLY RUSTING OUT. I HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL AND WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO THE SAID I HAD JUST MISSED THE CUT OFF. SINCE THEN IT HAD GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE BODY MOUNTS HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME AND WHERE THE LEAF SPRING IS ATTACHED IS GETTING READY TO SEPARATE. THESE A…

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MY VEHICLE'S FRAME IS DANGEROUSLY RUSTING OUT. I HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL AND WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO THE SAID I HAD JUST MISSED THE CUT OFF. SINCE THEN IT HAD GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE BODY MOUNTS HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME AND WHERE THE LEAF SPRING IS ATTACHED IS GETTING READY TO SEPARATE. THESE ARE ALSO HOLES IN THE FRAME. IF ANYBODY HAS ANY ADVISE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT THAT THEY COULD HAVE A RECALL AND I WAS NEVER CONTACTED AND WHEN I CONTACTED THEM THAT THEY TOLD ME I MISSED IT BY ONLY MONTHS?

NHTSA ODI #10716109

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 1999
Unknown Or OtherCrash

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #715061

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999
Unknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #714068

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Unknown Or Other

AIR BAG INDICATOR AND EMERGENCY BRAKE INDUCATOR FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #608718

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.