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
What owners actually said
120 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2000
Tires
BOTH FAILURES WERE BLOWOUTS WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AT APPROX. 75 MILES PER HOUR. THE FIRST FAILURE IN 1998 WAS IN THE EARLY EVENING ON INTERSTATE 45 IN HOUSTON TEXAS. THE LEFT TIRE BLEW WITH NO WARNING. THE TREAD SEPERATED AND THE TIRE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. A NEW TIRE WAS INSTALLED. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS O…
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BOTH FAILURES WERE BLOWOUTS WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AT APPROX. 75 MILES PER HOUR. THE FIRST FAILURE IN 1998 WAS IN THE EARLY EVENING ON INTERSTATE 45 IN HOUSTON TEXAS. THE LEFT TIRE BLEW WITH NO WARNING. THE TREAD SEPERATED AND THE TIRE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. A NEW TIRE WAS INSTALLED. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS ON INTERSTATE 285 IN ATLANTA GA. AGAIN THE TIRE FAILED INSTANTANEOUSLY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TWO REMAINING TIRES ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT WITH 49000 + MILES. ONE OF THE TWO TIRES THAT WERE INSTALLED ARE STILL ON THE CAR. IT IS ON THE FRONT. EVER SINCE THEY WERE INSTALLED THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A VIBRATION. ONE OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES IS STILL ON THE VEHICLE AND THE SPARE IS IN USE. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL SOON. IF YOU HAVE ANY DESIRE TO SEE IT YOU MUST RESPOND SOON. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265/70R16 )
NHTSA ODI #731532
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2000
Tires
PE00 020; VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEWOUT. WHEN HE CHANGED TIRES THERE WAS ONE AND HALF INCH TEAR LOCATED IN THE INNER SIDE OF TIRE. TIRE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS#AT, P22575R15. FIRESTONE WAS NOTIFIED. *AK ONE OF THE TWO FIRESTONE DEALERS STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO INCORRECT PRESSURE USED AND …
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PE00 020; VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEWOUT. WHEN HE CHANGED TIRES THERE WAS ONE AND HALF INCH TEAR LOCATED IN THE INNER SIDE OF TIRE. TIRE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS#AT, P22575R15. FIRESTONE WAS NOTIFIED. *AK ONE OF THE TWO FIRESTONE DEALERS STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO INCORRECT PRESSURE USED AND THE SECOND DEALER CLAIMED IT TO BE DUE TO ROAD HAZARD. *YH
NHTSA ODI #870528
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2000
Tires
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND TIRE TREAD WAS WEARING OFF ALSO, THERE WERE STRESS MARKS AND BUMPS AROUND THE TIRES. CONSUMER CONTACTED FIRESTONE. *AK THE VEHICLE SKIDS WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. TIRES ARE UNEVENLY WEARING AND RIDES PUMPY. *YH
NHTSA ODI #870494
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2000
Tires
WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE'S TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. TIRE HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH SAME TYPE.*AK
ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH WILDERNESS AT III 31X10.50R-15 TIRES WHICH HAVE THE SAME ROUGH RIDE AS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT 265/75R-15 WILDERNESS TIRES. THE FIRESTONE DEALER REP SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THOSE TIRES TO RIDE THAT ROUGH. THEY RIDE AS IF THE TIRES HAVE BULGES ON THEM YET THEY DO NOT. I HAVE OWNED OTHER BRANDS…
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ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH WILDERNESS AT III 31X10.50R-15 TIRES WHICH HAVE THE SAME ROUGH RIDE AS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT 265/75R-15 WILDERNESS TIRES. THE FIRESTONE DEALER REP SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THOSE TIRES TO RIDE THAT ROUGH. THEY RIDE AS IF THE TIRES HAVE BULGES ON THEM YET THEY DO NOT. I HAVE OWNED OTHER BRANDS OF OFF ROAD TIRES WITH SIMULAR DESIGNED TREAD AND THEY DID NOT RIDE NEAR AS ROUGH AS THESE DO.I AM CONCERNED AS TO WHETHER THESE TIRES MAY ALSO BE DEFECTIVE AS ARE THE OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWS LATELY. THE DOT NUMBERS ARE AS FOLLOWS VD60 AW4. THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION.( DOT NUMBER: NOT AVAIL. TIRE SIZE: 265/75-15 )
NHTSA ODI #730048
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Tires
BAD RIDE. BOUNCY SINCE ABOUT THE 1ST YEAR. I ROTATE & CHECK TIRE PRESSURE BUT NO CHANGE. NERVOUS THIS IS ALSO A BAD TIRE. IS THERE ANY CONCLUSIVE PROOF THAT THIS IS A GOOD/SAFE TIRE?( DOT NUMBER: W2HH TIRE SIZE: P22575R15 )
NHTSA ODI #729886
Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2000
Tires
THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT (P225/75/R15) TIRE BLEW OUT WITH HOLES IN THREE PLACES BETWEEN THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #554204
Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2000
Structure
SUPPORT STRUTS ON LIFTGATE UNABLE TO FULLY SUPPORT LIFTGATE WHEN REAR WINDOW RETRACTED DOWN INTO DOOR - APPARENTLY DUE TO ADDITIONAL WEIGHT TOWARDS BOTTOM OF THE DOOR.
NHTSA ODI #729246
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
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.
1998 Toyota 4 Runner Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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