IllustrationWHILE PASSING A TRUCK BRAKES LOCKED UP. DEALER WAS CONTACTED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAV4 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
00–25K
125–50K
150–75K
475–100K
12100–150K
2150K+
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
What owners actually said
77 reportsNO SUMMARY
SQUEAKY BRAKES WHICH GRADUALLY BECOMES WORSE WITH GRINDING NOISE, PROBLEM WITH ALL ROTOR AND NEED NEW BRAKES, ONE MONTH LATER WITH BRAKES STILL SQUEAKY
VEHICLE WENT DOWN INTO AN EMBANKMENT, HIT SEVERAL LARGE WOODEN POLES, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THE ENGINE IDLEING SPEED SOMETIMES GOES UP TO OVER 2000 RPM. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN CONCORD, NH WHO SAID I NEEDED A NEW COMPUTER COSTING $1300 BUT IT WOULD BE WEEKS BEFORE IT WAS AVAILBLE. NEXT DAY THE IDLING RETURNED TO NORMAL. SO I TOLD TOYOTA THAT IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO GET THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLE…
Read full complaint
THE ENGINE IDLEING SPEED SOMETIMES GOES UP TO OVER 2000 RPM. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN CONCORD, NH WHO SAID I NEEDED A NEW COMPUTER COSTING $1300 BUT IT WOULD BE WEEKS BEFORE IT WAS AVAILBLE. NEXT DAY THE IDLING RETURNED TO NORMAL. SO I TOLD TOYOTA THAT IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO GET THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM REOCCURS AND SEEMS TO RIGHT ITSELF. HAVING THE REVS SO HIGH CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. PERSONALLY, I THINK THE PROBLEM IS IN THE FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM BUT I'D HAVE TO SPEND THE $1300 ON THE NEW COMPUTER FIRST TO PROVE THIS.
CONSUMER WAS TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN AND HIT A TREE ON DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND BROKE CONSUMER'S FOREARM. CONSUMER FELT THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED AT THAT SPEED.*AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR WAS SCRATCHED. DISTRICT MANAGER KEPT MAKING UNSCHEDULED VISITS. *AK
THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE JUST FELL OFF AS I WAS PARKING MY CAR. THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE ANCHOR HAD COME LOOSE AND FELL IN MY LAP. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR CAUSE INJURY TO ME DO TO THE SEAT BELT SAFETY SYSTEM FAILING TO RESTRAIN ME.*AK
AFTER VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ABOUT 1-2 HOURS, NON STOP, IGNITION AREA BECOMES VERY HOT. DEALER WAS CALLED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. OWNER WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT PROBLEM WAS NORMAL. *AK.ET.
TOYOTA STATES THEY CANNOT INSTALL AN ACHOR FOR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *AK
Official recalls
420V033000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.