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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

View recall details →

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

Power Train complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
70,000 miles · Dec 21, 2004
Power Train

DRIVING ON FREEWAY 5 AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA FROM THE SURFACE STREET AT 35 MPH, I HEARD A THUMP AND THE 4 RUNNER SLOWED TO A STOP. THE TRAFFIC WAS HELD TO A SCREETCHING HALT AS THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. I MANAGE TO PUSH IT TO THE EMERGENCY SIDE PARKING. IT WAS TOWED TO FRANK TOYOTA OF NATIONAL CITY SAN DIEGO, CA. THERE IT WAS DIAG…

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DRIVING ON FREEWAY 5 AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA FROM THE SURFACE STREET AT 35 MPH, I HEARD A THUMP AND THE 4 RUNNER SLOWED TO A STOP. THE TRAFFIC WAS HELD TO A SCREETCHING HALT AS THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. I MANAGE TO PUSH IT TO THE EMERGENCY SIDE PARKING. IT WAS TOWED TO FRANK TOYOTA OF NATIONAL CITY SAN DIEGO, CA. THERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR END AXLE GEAR HAS BEEN STRIPPED. I JUST ARRIVED TODAY SURVIVE A THIRD TOUR OF IRAQ AND THIS HAPPENED. THIS NEARLY COST ME MY LIFE AND POSSIBLY A LOT MORE PEOPLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10104202

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2000
Power Train

GEAR SHIFTER LOCKS UP WHEN PLACED IN "PARK" (P) POSITION RESULTING IN KEY NOT BEING ABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION. THIS CAUSED THE PUSH-BUTTON CONTROL HANDLE TO BECOME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE GEAR SHIFTER ARM AND SERVERED THE WIRE FOR THE PUSH-BUTTON OVERDRIVE CONTROL. THE SCREWS BECAME STIPPED AND THE HOUSING INSIDE THE…

Read full complaint

GEAR SHIFTER LOCKS UP WHEN PLACED IN "PARK" (P) POSITION RESULTING IN KEY NOT BEING ABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION. THIS CAUSED THE PUSH-BUTTON CONTROL HANDLE TO BECOME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE GEAR SHIFTER ARM AND SERVERED THE WIRE FOR THE PUSH-BUTTON OVERDRIVE CONTROL. THE SCREWS BECAME STIPPED AND THE HOUSING INSIDE THE RUBBER COVER WERE CRACKED. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE DUE TO PAST PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WHEN REPORTING DEFECTS TO THEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #734982

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 1999
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY JUMPS OUT OF GEAR.DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850110

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Power Train

TRANSMISSION CLUTCH FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #609315

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSED GRINDING AND STICKING BETWEEN SHIFTS. YH

NHTSA ODI #607364

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 1998
Power Train

WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ON AND GOING UP A HILL, TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS.

NHTSA ODI #533414

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1997
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO KICK INTO HIGH GEAR, COMING OUT OF THE OVERDRIVE AND REVS UP TO 3500 MPH WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #828267

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.