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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.

About this comparison →
120Owner complaints

Model-year median: 96.5

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
125
199589
1996122
1997120
1998110
1999104
200031
2001
Compare all 4 Runner years →

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

What owners reported most

Tires
29Suspension
17Engine And Engine Cooling
15Service Brakes, Hydraulic
9Electrical System
7
All reported categories
Power Train
7Seat Belts
7Steering
6Structure
6Air Bags
5Exterior Lighting
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Equipment
3Wheels
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Child Seat
1Parking Brake
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1

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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

15 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringCrash

ENGINE FAILED TWICE WITHIN TWO MONTHS FOR NO REASON. BOTH TIMES SLOWING DOWN WHEN GOING TO TURN. NO ONE WAS HURT./// LOST CONTROL OF 4 RUNNER WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR EXIT RAMP AT 35 MPH AND WET ROAD. SPEED WAS NOT EXCESSIVE FOR CONDITIONS. CAR SPUN HIT GUARD RAIL AND THEN HIT AND DID A 360. 4 DAYS LATER, DRY FREEWAY AT 70 MPH CAR…

Read full complaint

ENGINE FAILED TWICE WITHIN TWO MONTHS FOR NO REASON. BOTH TIMES SLOWING DOWN WHEN GOING TO TURN. NO ONE WAS HURT./// LOST CONTROL OF 4 RUNNER WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR EXIT RAMP AT 35 MPH AND WET ROAD. SPEED WAS NOT EXCESSIVE FOR CONDITIONS. CAR SPUN HIT GUARD RAIL AND THEN HIT AND DID A 360. 4 DAYS LATER, DRY FREEWAY AT 70 MPH CAR SUDDENLY VEERED TO LEFT, SPUN 360 THEN INTO GRASS MEDIAN 360 , THEN 360 BACK ONTO FREEWAY AND CAME TO STOP, ONLY GOD COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS FROM BEING A DISASTER. TWO PASSENGERS, NO ONE WAS HURT. CAR COVERED WITH GRASS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

NHTSA ODI #720858

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER, ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, AND THE INSTRUCTMENT PANEL LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #843349

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ENGINE KNOCKING AND STALLING. YH

NHTSA ODI #609026

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING ,LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #831318

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingFireInjury

VEHICLE IN HEAD ON COLLISION, FIRE ERRUPTED IMMEDIATELY. (QCAW)

NHTSA ODI #538192

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.