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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Air Bags complaints

5 reports
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78,000 miles · Feb 25, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH DOWN A CITY ROAD IN VA. BEACH A CAR ON OUR RIGHT HAND SIDE ENTERED THE INTERSECTION MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. THE CAR ENTERED THE INTERSECTION APPROX. 20-25 FEET AHEAD OF US. I IMMEDIATLEY HIT THE BRAKES AND TURNED THE CAR TO THE LEFT AS TO TRY AND AVOID A COLLISION. WE ENDED UP T-BONING THE ONCOMING VEHICLE.…

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WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH DOWN A CITY ROAD IN VA. BEACH A CAR ON OUR RIGHT HAND SIDE ENTERED THE INTERSECTION MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. THE CAR ENTERED THE INTERSECTION APPROX. 20-25 FEET AHEAD OF US. I IMMEDIATLEY HIT THE BRAKES AND TURNED THE CAR TO THE LEFT AS TO TRY AND AVOID A COLLISION. WE ENDED UP T-BONING THE ONCOMING VEHICLE. OUR 4-RUNNER WAS CLAIMED A TOTAL LOSE DUE TO A BEND FRAME. THE FRONT END DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED AT 4-6 THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE FULL FRONT END AND PASSENGER FENDER WERE DESTROYED. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I ESTIMATE THE MPH OF IMPACT TO BE BETWEEN 35-40 MPH.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10058959

60,000 miles · May 16, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. *NLM *TT

NHTSA ODI #10019973

60,000 miles · Mar 26, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT JULY 6, 2002. I DROVE A 98' TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THERE WERE FOUR PERSONS WHO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRBAG SEEMED TO PERFORM AS INTENDED, HOWEVER, TO THIS DATE I HAVE HORRIFYING PLASTIC MATERIAL COMING FROM THE INSIDE... AND OUTSIDE OF MY CHEEKS. IT HAS CAUSED VERY VISIBLE PATTERNS TO PROTRUDE FROM T…

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I WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT JULY 6, 2002. I DROVE A 98' TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THERE WERE FOUR PERSONS WHO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRBAG SEEMED TO PERFORM AS INTENDED, HOWEVER, TO THIS DATE I HAVE HORRIFYING PLASTIC MATERIAL COMING FROM THE INSIDE... AND OUTSIDE OF MY CHEEKS. IT HAS CAUSED VERY VISIBLE PATTERNS TO PROTRUDE FROM THE SKIN, CONSTANT PAIN, AND DESPERATE EFFORTS TO GET ANSWERS. THOUGH I HAVE BEEN TO MANY DOCTORS, I HAVE FAILED TO ESCAPE THE RESEARCH EVASIVE REALITIES OF MY PROVIDERS. LABS SIMPLY FAIL TO IDENTIFY, AND DOCTORS AGREE THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM... THEN SEND ME TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO SAYS THE SAME. I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH KEEPING MY HOPE ALIVE. I AM NOW PAYING LABS I FOUND TO CONDUCT STUDIES OF THE SAMPLES. I HAVE ALSO FOUND SOME VERY CONCERNING MEDICAL ARTICLES THAT MIRROR MY SYMPTOMS POST AUTO ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, THESE ARE FROM NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING DOCTORS IN GERMANY, AND JAPAN. I WROTE TOYOTA VIA-EMAIL SOME TIME AGO... NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAVE SEEN NO INTEREST ON THEIR SIDE. I FEAR THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM, AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO IT VERY SERIOUSLY! PLEASE HELP ME. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10011092

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2002
Air BagsElectrical SystemStructureCrashInjury

ON 03'04/02 I WAS SITTING AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WITIN ON THE LIGHT TO CHANGE TO GREEN. THE LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN , THEN I PROCEEDED INTO THE INTERSECTION WHERE I WAS T-BONED ON THE DRIVER SIDED. AT THIS TIME I HEAR A LOUD BANG THEN THE LOWER AREA BY THE BRAKES CAVED IN ON MY LEFT LEG, THE THE DOORS LOCKED ,THEN MY CAR ALARM …

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ON 03'04/02 I WAS SITTING AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WITIN ON THE LIGHT TO CHANGE TO GREEN. THE LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN , THEN I PROCEEDED INTO THE INTERSECTION WHERE I WAS T-BONED ON THE DRIVER SIDED. AT THIS TIME I HEAR A LOUD BANG THEN THE LOWER AREA BY THE BRAKES CAVED IN ON MY LEFT LEG, THE THE DOORS LOCKED ,THEN MY CAR ALARM SOUNDS OFF. DURING THIS TIME I CAN SEE SMOKE TO MY LEFTT IN THE DOOR AREA. SO IMMDIATELY I TRY TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE BUT I HAD TO UNLOCK DOORS FIRST. I RECALL TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE SEAT BUT IWAS RESTRAINT BY THE SEAT BELT DURING THIS TIME FROM THE IMPACT MY VEHICLE IS STILL MOVING. I REACHED OVER TO REMOVE MY SEAT BELT WHILE ALSO RAISING MYSELF OUT OF THE SEAT WHEN THE DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MY ARM TO THE FULL FORCE OF THE PRESSURE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING. I MANAGED TO GET BETWEEN THE FRONT SEAT TO CROSS OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE AIR BAG STARTED TO DEPLOYED I REACHED FOR MY PURSE ON FRONT FLOOR OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CONTINUE TO GET TO THE BACK SEAT OF 4 RUNNER. I TRIED TO GET OUT ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR BUT IT WOULD NOT OPEN THEN I WENT TO THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR AND GOT OUT BUT WHEN I STOOD UP OUT OF THE VEHICLE MY LEFT LEG COLLASPE AND I FOUND MY SELF IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION UNPROTECTIVE. I LAID IN THE INTERSECTION FOR ABOUT 5-7 MINUTES BEFORE OTHER CITIZEN CAMED ON THE SCENE. YOU COULD NOT BEGAN TO IMAGE YOURSELF TRAPPED IN THIS UTILITY VEHICLE LIKE A CAGED MOUSE WITH NO WAY OUT. ALL HEAR IS THE BANG, ELECTRIC DOORS LOCKING, ALARM SOUNDING OFF, AND SMOKE TO THE LEFT OF YOU AND NO VISIBLE PERSON TO HELP YOU GET OUT OF THIS CAGE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #759894

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2000
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

WHEN DRIVING 35-40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WHICH CAUSED OVER $5,300 WORTH OF DAMAGE, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, RESULTING IN INJURIES TO DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT. ALSO, SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE, FORCING DRIVER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUR…

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WHEN DRIVING 35-40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WHICH CAUSED OVER $5,300 WORTH OF DAMAGE, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, RESULTING IN INJURIES TO DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT. ALSO, SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE, FORCING DRIVER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #868659

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.