← New search

1998 Toyota RAV4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Toyota RAV4 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 258.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

20 reports with mileage · 57 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports0 fire reports7 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

12 reports
Clear category filter
71,300 miles · Sep 18, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 MY WIFE WAS APPROACHING A PARKING SPOT IN A WALGREENS DRUG STORE LOT IN OUR 1998 TOYOTA RAV 4. SHE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF MORE THAN 5 TO 10 MPH. SHE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ABOUT A FEW FEET BEFORE THE PARKING SPOT WHICH CAUSED HER TO JUMP A CURB AND CRASH INTO A COL…

Read full complaint

ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 MY WIFE WAS APPROACHING A PARKING SPOT IN A WALGREENS DRUG STORE LOT IN OUR 1998 TOYOTA RAV 4. SHE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF MORE THAN 5 TO 10 MPH. SHE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ABOUT A FEW FEET BEFORE THE PARKING SPOT WHICH CAUSED HER TO JUMP A CURB AND CRASH INTO A COLUMN OUTSIDE OF THE STORE. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS. MY WIFE HAD EXTENSIVE BRUISING AND GREAT PAIN IN THE CHEST AREA WHICH NECESSITATED A TRIP TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. LUCKILY THE DAMAGE WAS ONLY BRUISES. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE STORE COLUMN. IT IS ESTIMATED THE CAR MUST HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT 30 MPH OR MORE WHEN IT HIT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10356256

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

1998 TOYOTA RAV4. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST 7 OF THE 11 YEARS SHE HAS OWNED IT. WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS AT A FULL STOP, AND PROCEEDED TO STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGAN TO MOVE WHEN THE ACCEL…

Read full complaint

1998 TOYOTA RAV4. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST 7 OF THE 11 YEARS SHE HAS OWNED IT. WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS AT A FULL STOP, AND PROCEEDED TO STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGAN TO MOVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED WITH EXTREME FORCE, SO THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD OR WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED UP AND DOWN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD. THE SERVICE CENTER LUBRICATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10334835

400,000 miles · Aug 8, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

THE GAS PEDAL BROKE OFF THE FIRE WALL , WITH BOLTS STILL IN TACT TO THE GAS PEDAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10237472

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL WILL DEPRESS THROTTLE PEDAL, RESULTING IN VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD. CONSUMER FEELS PEDALS WERE DESIGNED INCORRECTLY BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER AND ARE OF SAME HEIGHT. *NLM....*AK

NHTSA ODI #10002458

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed ControlCrash

ENGINE LIGHT CAME 0N. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE WENT FORWARD AND JUMPED CURB. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND LIGHT WENT OFF. NEXT DAY, DEALER CHECKED SYSTEM'S COMPUTER AND A SENSOR KICKED UP THE IDLER. SENSOR WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE OF THE CAUSE, AND IF IT WAS AN INTERMITTE…

Read full complaint

ENGINE LIGHT CAME 0N. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE WENT FORWARD AND JUMPED CURB. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND LIGHT WENT OFF. NEXT DAY, DEALER CHECKED SYSTEM'S COMPUTER AND A SENSOR KICKED UP THE IDLER. SENSOR WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE OF THE CAUSE, AND IF IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #897021

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

ACCELERATION PEDAL STICKS, MOSTLY ON TAKE OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #882681

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR ,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE AFTER BRAKES ARE APPLIED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #880767

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2001
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE PARKING FORCED VEHICLE INTO A REAR END ACCIDENT. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #878473

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2001
StructureVehicle Speed Control

FIREWALL IS CRACKED CAUSING GAS PEDAL TO MOVE SIDE TO SIDE AND LITERALLY PUSHING THROUGH THE FLOOR WITH NO SUPPORT STRUCTURE TO HOLD IT IN POSITION. A DEFINITE SAFTEY HAZARD!*AK

NHTSA ODI #738839

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #730266

Official recalls

4

20V033000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 22, 2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 1998-2000 RAV4, 1998-1999 RAV4 EV and Celica and 1997-1998 Supra vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant, and increases the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and owners will have the option to self-inspect, or have a dealer inspect the steering wheel on their vehicle to determine if their vehicle may be equipped with an affected inflator. Potentially affected steering wheel serial numbers will be inspected by a dealer. Based on the inspection, dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate one, as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 28, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall is 20TB01 and 20TA01.

00V211000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch

Aug 9, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. IF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE REPEATEDLY PARKED BY PLACING THE SHIFT LEVER INTO THE "P" POSITION WITHOUT APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE, THE PARKING LOCK ROD, A COMPONENT OF THE TRANSMISSION PARKING LOCK SYSTEM, COULD BREAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RENDER THE SYSTEM INOPERATIVE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING LOCK ROD.

00V212000 · Service Brakes, Air:disc:rotor

Aug 9, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTOR, WHEN EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, CAN DEVELOP STRESS FRACTURES IF THE LUG NUTS ARE TIGHTENED WITH EXCESSIVE TORQUE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DISC ROTOR COULD BREAK (WHERE IT MOUNTS TO THE WHEEL), RESULTING IN A LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION ON THAT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DISC BRAKE ROTORS. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND STEEL WHEELS WITH NEW DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND NEW ALUMINUM WHEELS. IN ADDITION A CAUTION LABEL THAT READS, "USE NEW GENUINE TOYOTA ALUMINUM WHEELS." WILL BE AFFIXED. VEHICLES ALREADY EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS WILL ONLY REQUIRE CAUTION LABEL INSTALLATION.

98V278000 · Electrical SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL Module

Oct 19, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS (TDS) SUPPLIED BY AUDIOVOX CORPORATION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN 'OPEN CIRCUIT' CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS AND/OR HVAC FAN SPEED CONTROLS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RUN SMOOTHLY AND COULD STALL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.

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.

Go deeper into Toyota RAV4 problems