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1998 Toyota 4RUNNER

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 4RUNNER years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER are substantially higher than the model-year median of 58.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

105 reports with mileage · 25 unknown

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.

  • Structure. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Suspension complaints

43 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2007
Suspension

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED RECALL 02V021000 ON JAN. 2 2007 FOR THE 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. HE WENT TO BERKELEY TOYOTA IN BERKELEY CALIFORNIA AND HAS YET TO HAVE REAR SUSPENSION FIXED.THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT WAS TAKING TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS DONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68550 MILES…

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TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED RECALL 02V021000 ON JAN. 2 2007 FOR THE 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. HE WENT TO BERKELEY TOYOTA IN BERKELEY CALIFORNIA AND HAS YET TO HAVE REAR SUSPENSION FIXED.THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT WAS TAKING TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS DONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68550 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT HAD A FAILURE TO DATE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10182806

125,000 miles · Jan 24, 2007
Suspension

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #02V021000. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO TWO DEALERS, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CALL WHEN THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAS ATTEMPTED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER SINCE 2003. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER…

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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #02V021000. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO TWO DEALERS, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CALL WHEN THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAS ATTEMPTED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER SINCE 2003. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE PARTS AND WOULD CALL THE CONTACT WHEN THEY ARRIVED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10180646

88,000 miles · Jan 23, 2007
Suspension

TL *- THE VEHICLE IS 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 02V021000 IN DECEMBER. THE CONTACT STATED HAD APPROXIMATELY 4 APPOINTMENTS, AND EACH TIME THE PART DID NOT COME IN. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALER TOLD HIM THEY WILL CALL HIM WHEN THE PART ARRIVED. THE CONTACT STATED HE HEARD A NOISE WHEN HE TURNE…

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TL *- THE VEHICLE IS 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 02V021000 IN DECEMBER. THE CONTACT STATED HAD APPROXIMATELY 4 APPOINTMENTS, AND EACH TIME THE PART DID NOT COME IN. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALER TOLD HIM THEY WILL CALL HIM WHEN THE PART ARRIVED. THE CONTACT STATED HE HEARD A NOISE WHEN HE TURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10179495

Official recalls

1

02V021000 · Suspension

Jan 18, 2002

ON CERTAIN 2-WHEEL-DRIVE (2WD) AND 4-WHEEL-DRIVE (4WD) 4RUNNER SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF HEAVY LOADING (SIMULTANEOUS LOADING TO REAR GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING AND GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING) AND SEVERE STEERING MANEUVERS COULD CAUSE THE 2WD 4RUNNER TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE REAR SUSPENSION PARTS. ALTHOUGH THE 4WD 4RUNNERS DO NOT EXHIBIT THE HANDLING CONDITION, TOYOTA WILL RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO AVOID ANY PUBLIC CONFUSION AS TO WHICH VEHICLES SHOULD RECEIVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

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.