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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

View investigation details →

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

Seat Belts complaints

7 reports
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124,312 miles · May 10, 2005
Seat Belts

MY 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT WITH THE SHOULDER BELT ON. WE PARKED AND SOME HOW SHE GOT TANGLED UP IN THE BELT. WHEN I PUSHED THE SEATBELT RELEASE BUTTON IT LOCKED UP AROUND HER WAIST AND WOULD NOT LOOSEN TO GET HER OUT. EVERY TIME I MOVED HER TO GET HER OUT IT WOULD LOCK UP MORE UNTIL SHE WAS …

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MY 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT WITH THE SHOULDER BELT ON. WE PARKED AND SOME HOW SHE GOT TANGLED UP IN THE BELT. WHEN I PUSHED THE SEATBELT RELEASE BUTTON IT LOCKED UP AROUND HER WAIST AND WOULD NOT LOOSEN TO GET HER OUT. EVERY TIME I MOVED HER TO GET HER OUT IT WOULD LOCK UP MORE UNTIL SHE WAS STANDING IN THE BACK SEAT WITH THE BELT SO TIGHT AROUND HER WAIST THAT IT WAS LEAVING MARKS AND I HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT TO GET HER OUT. THIS CONCERNS ME AS A PARENT THAT THE BELT LOCKS WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND IN PARK. I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY ARE GOING TO ORDER ME THE SEAT BELT WE WILL BE NEGOTIATING WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THIS.

NHTSA ODI #10120541

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2004
Seat Belts

REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT MADE A LOUD NOISE AND COMPLETELY UNRAVELED FROM ITS RETRACTION COMPONENT (MOUNTED ON THE PILLAR) WHILE IN USE. SEAT BELT NOW REMAINS EXTENDED, AND WILL NOT RETRACT, EVEN WITH ASSISTANCE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10062703

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2003
Seat Belts

CONSUMER STATES THAT REAR LEFT SEAT BELT DOES NOT UNLOCK. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10029394

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

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1999
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED CAUSING, SEAT BELT TO STUCK.

NHTSA ODI #607701

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT.

NHTSA ODI #609168

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 1998
Seat BeltsInjury

WHILE DRIVING THE CHILD BECAME TWISTED IN SEAT BELT, IT WORKED LIKE A RATCHET TIGHTENING AROUND HER WAIST, CONSUMER DROVE TO A NEARBY POLICE STATION WHERE THEY HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT TO RELEASE THE CHILD. CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE SEAT BELT. *AK *TT

NHTSA ODI #825769

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.