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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

Suspension complaints

17 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2006
Suspension

RE: CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V021000 COMPONENT: SUSPENSION I WAS TOLD BY JAY AT TOYOTA (800 3314331 EXT 5)THAT THIS RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO MY 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5. PLEASE RESEARCH & REPORT. I WAS GIVEN THIS CAMPAIGN NUMBER BY EFI AUTO SERVICE. MECHANIC STATED THAT HIS WIFE TOOK HER 1998 4 RUNNER SR5 INTO THE DEALER & REPAIRS WER…

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RE: CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V021000 COMPONENT: SUSPENSION I WAS TOLD BY JAY AT TOYOTA (800 3314331 EXT 5)THAT THIS RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO MY 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5. PLEASE RESEARCH & REPORT. I WAS GIVEN THIS CAMPAIGN NUMBER BY EFI AUTO SERVICE. MECHANIC STATED THAT HIS WIFE TOOK HER 1998 4 RUNNER SR5 INTO THE DEALER & REPAIRS WERE MADE. WHAT DETERMINES WHICH AUTO WILL BE SERVICED BY THIS RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10159171

92,742 miles · Aug 2, 2005
Suspension

1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LEFT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT FAILED CAUSING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO BECOME DISENGAGED, BREAKING THE TIE RODS AND THE FRONT HALF AXLE. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR *JB THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10132361

59,000 miles · Sep 8, 2004
SuspensionCrashInjury

MY 1998 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER WENT TO THE LEFT SIDE OF A HIGHWAY THAT HAD RUMBLE STRIPS. THE DRIVER SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO GET OFF THE STRIPS AND THE CAR TIPPED AND THEN FLIPPED OVER 3 TIMES. IT WAS THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY SO THE SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. I READ AN ARTICLE IN USA TODAY RECENTLY THAT WITHOUT THE ANTI-STAB…

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MY 1998 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER WENT TO THE LEFT SIDE OF A HIGHWAY THAT HAD RUMBLE STRIPS. THE DRIVER SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO GET OFF THE STRIPS AND THE CAR TIPPED AND THEN FLIPPED OVER 3 TIMES. IT WAS THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY SO THE SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. I READ AN ARTICLE IN USA TODAY RECENTLY THAT WITHOUT THE ANTI-STABILITY SYSTEM THE TOYOTA 4-RUNNER COULD ACUTALLY FLIP AT SPEEDS OF 35 PMH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10090634

38,311 miles · Feb 18, 2003
SuspensionCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE REAR AXLE BORKE

NHTSA ODI #10007750

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2003
Suspension

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DRIVING 10 MPH AND THE REAR AXLE BROKE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10006880

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

WHILE COMING DOWN A HILL, STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE TO THE POINT WHERE IT FELT LIKE THERE COULD BE AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER THINKS THIS MIGHT BE A PROBLEM ALSO WITH OTHER AUTOMOBILES. *AK CONSUMER BELIVED THE FRONT ROTORS ARE THE PROBLEM.*YH

NHTSA ODI #8016774

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2002
Suspension

RECALL 02 V 021 000/REAR SUSPENSION: DEALER: JOHNSON TOYOTA IN MONTICELLO, NY. PHONE# 854/794-0660 REFUSED TO PERFORM REPAIRS BECAUSE VEHICLE HAD A SALVAGE TITLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8016115

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2002
Suspension

RECALL 02 V 020 000/REAR SUSPENSION: DEALER: JOHNSON TOYOTA IN MONTICELLO, NY; PHONE# 854/794-0660. REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL NOTICE BECAUSE TITLE WAS BRANDED AS A SALVAGE VEHICLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8012796

Mileage unknown · May 29, 2002
Suspension

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE LOST DIRECTIONAL STABILITY IN WHICH IT EXPERIENCED A ROLLOVER AND WAS TOTALED, CONSUMER LATER RECEIVED RECALL 02V021. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #565885

Mileage unknown · May 21, 2002
Suspension

RECALL 02 V 021 000/REAR SUSPENSION: RECALL REPAIRS CAUSED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS; WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL AT 15 MPH OR MORE IT CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL, AND AT SUDDEN STOPS FRONT END WOULD BOTTOM OUT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8010204

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.