IllustrationRECALL 02V021000 DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIRS RECALL BECAUSE VEHICLE HAS A SALVAGE TITLE . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MARK MILLER TOYOTA SALT LAKE CITY, UT 801-328-2400.*AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 4 Runner years →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
Suspension complaints
17 reportsRECALL ON REAR SUSPENSION WAS DONE , NOW FRONT END OF VEHICLE IS UNSTABLE. AT 10-15 MPH WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL QUICKLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE VEHICLE ROCKS.*AK THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE RIDES HARDER AND ROUGHER OVER BUMPS, THE FRONT END FEELS AS THOUGH IT BOTTOMS OUT WHEN MAKING FAST HARD STOPS, THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE ROCKS WH…
Read full complaint
RECALL ON REAR SUSPENSION WAS DONE , NOW FRONT END OF VEHICLE IS UNSTABLE. AT 10-15 MPH WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL QUICKLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE VEHICLE ROCKS.*AK THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE RIDES HARDER AND ROUGHER OVER BUMPS, THE FRONT END FEELS AS THOUGH IT BOTTOMS OUT WHEN MAKING FAST HARD STOPS, THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE ROCKS WHILE DRIVING, THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT 1 1/2 INCHES HIGHER IN THE REAR NOW PRIOR TO REPAIR. *MJ
DEALER: JOHNSON TOYOTA; MONTICELLO, NY; PHONE# 845/794-0660 REFUSED TO HONOR MANUFACTURER'S RECALL BECAUSE TITLE WAS BRANDED AS A SALVAGE VEHICLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER WENT INTO A DIRT GORE POINT AND LOST CONTROL, VEHICLE OVERTURNED DOWN A DIRT EMBANKMENT, INVESTIGATOR FEELS THIS WAS CAUSED BY A BROKEN LEFT REAR AXLE, HE STATES THERE WERE SCRAPE MARKS ON THE SPARE TIRE, REAR LEFT FRAME, LEFT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY BACKING PLATE, LEFT REAR WHEEL, AND BROKE PORTIONS OF THE R…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER WENT INTO A DIRT GORE POINT AND LOST CONTROL, VEHICLE OVERTURNED DOWN A DIRT EMBANKMENT, INVESTIGATOR FEELS THIS WAS CAUSED BY A BROKEN LEFT REAR AXLE, HE STATES THERE WERE SCRAPE MARKS ON THE SPARE TIRE, REAR LEFT FRAME, LEFT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY BACKING PLATE, LEFT REAR WHEEL, AND BROKE PORTIONS OF THE REAR BRAKE DRUM, HE ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SLIDE REARWARD UNTIL IT LEFT THE ROADWAY AND OVERTURNED, MERCURY INSURANCE COMPANY SENT THIS INFORMATION IN, THERE FILE NUMBER FOR THIS IS 990629C. *SLC
FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED, CAUSING A-ARM TO COLLAPSE. FRONT END IS SITTING DOWN ON TIRES. DEALR HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THE BALL JOINT CONNECTING A-ARM TO BOTTOM BACKING PLATE FAILED. *YH
SHOCK ABSORBERS FAILED. YH
REAR SPRING LOOSE,REPLACEMENT NECESSARY. YH
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.