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 26 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.
Structure. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
26 reports
212,000 miles · Mar 24, 2010
Structure
1998 TOYOTA T100 RUSTED FRAME ISSUES. FILED A COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA, HAD FRAME INSPECTED BY GENE REED AND FAILED. BUT CORPORATE REFUSED TO ADDRESS ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THEY DID FOR THE SISTER TRUCKS WITH SIMILAR PARTS THE TACOMA AND TUNDRA. DEALER SAID VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE, TOLD THE CORPORATE OFFICE IT WAS NOT SAFE AND TOYOTA EVEN REF…
Read full complaint
1998 TOYOTA T100 RUSTED FRAME ISSUES. FILED A COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA, HAD FRAME INSPECTED BY GENE REED AND FAILED. BUT CORPORATE REFUSED TO ADDRESS ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THEY DID FOR THE SISTER TRUCKS WITH SIMILAR PARTS THE TACOMA AND TUNDRA. DEALER SAID VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE, TOLD THE CORPORATE OFFICE IT WAS NOT SAFE AND TOYOTA EVEN REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE SAYING THEY WERE NOT ADDRESSING ANY ISSUES ON THE SISTER TRUCK.
NHTSA ODI #10321786
140,000 miles · Feb 2, 2010
Power Train
CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET ON TOYOTA T 100 WENT THROUGH FIRE WALL WHILE DRIVING. COULD NOT GET TRUCK IN OUR OUT OF GEAR. LOOKED ON NET AND FOUND MANY HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER NO RECALL AND NO HELP WITH PRICING TO REPAIR TRUCK. SAFETY CONCERN ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO GET VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10303980
100,000 miles · Jun 30, 2009
Electrical System
WIRES TO FAN CONNECTOR MELTED THE INSULATION JUST SHORT OF THE CONNECTOR AND SHORTED OUT. PICTURES OF FAILED WIRING ARE AVAILABLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10275308
100,000 miles · Jun 25, 2007
Seat Belts
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA T100. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT LOCKS, BUT BECOMES LOOSE WHEN DRIVING. THE SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, BUT THE SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 105,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #10194124
86,700 miles · Feb 15, 2007
Power Train
TWICE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR AXEL SEALS DUE TO THEM LEAKING. WHEN I HAD THE REAR AXEL SEALS REPLACED I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES DUE TO THE OIL GETTING ON THE BRAKES. I DISCOVERED WHERE THE SEALS WERE ALL BUT GONE WHEN I HAD MY TIRES REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT I DID NOT HAVE ANY REAR BRAKES DUE TO SO MUCH …
Read full complaint
TWICE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR AXEL SEALS DUE TO THEM LEAKING. WHEN I HAD THE REAR AXEL SEALS REPLACED I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES DUE TO THE OIL GETTING ON THE BRAKES. I DISCOVERED WHERE THE SEALS WERE ALL BUT GONE WHEN I HAD MY TIRES REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT I DID NOT HAVE ANY REAR BRAKES DUE TO SO MUCH OIL LEAKING ON THE BRAKES. I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NC AND I WOULD HAVE LOST MY BRAKES IF I WAS HAULING ANYTHING DOWN THE MOUNTAINS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10182649
68,802 miles · Mar 7, 2006
Steering
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE DRAG LINK BROKE ON THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR STEERING REPAIRS. UPDATED 04/06/06.
NHTSA ODI #10152079
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2005
Electrical System
I HAVE A 1998 TOYOTA T100 4X4 PICK UP TRUCK. THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO THE BLOWER MOTOR SHORTED OUT ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. I HAD TO GO TO THE JUNKYARD AND TAKE ONE OUT OF ANOTHER MODEL TOYOTA CAR TO FIX IT. SINCE THEN THE WIRE HAS SHORTED OUT TWICE MORE. BASICALLY I BELIEVE THAT THE BLOWER IS CREATING TOO MANY VOLTS …
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 1998 TOYOTA T100 4X4 PICK UP TRUCK. THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO THE BLOWER MOTOR SHORTED OUT ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. I HAD TO GO TO THE JUNKYARD AND TAKE ONE OUT OF ANOTHER MODEL TOYOTA CAR TO FIX IT. SINCE THEN THE WIRE HAS SHORTED OUT TWICE MORE. BASICALLY I BELIEVE THAT THE BLOWER IS CREATING TOO MANY VOLTS THAT CAUSES THE WIRES TO OVERHEAT AND MELT TOGETHER. THERE WAS NO FIRE BUT IT DOES SMOKE WHEN IT SHORTS OUT. I NOTICED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10135926
100,000 miles · May 23, 2005
Seat Belts
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS A STATE LAW THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE TO BE WORN WHILE DRIVING. *AK THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10103741
13,101 miles · Apr 11, 2005
Power Train
THE LEFT REAR AXLE WAS SPRAYING OIL ONTO THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO RESEALED THE AXLE. WITHIN 100 MILES THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10117703
118,000 miles · Feb 14, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CALIPERS ON THE BRAKES OF TOYOTA T100 PICKUP TRUCKS LOCKUP CAUSING IRREPAIRABLE DAMAGE TO BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THIS NECESSITATES REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY AND ROTOR-HUB PARTS AND SIGNIFICANT LABOR COST ($931). THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN LESS THAN 18 MONTHS ON MY 1998 T100. WHEN I PROMPTED THE DEALERSHIP TO PAY FOR M…
Read full complaint
CALIPERS ON THE BRAKES OF TOYOTA T100 PICKUP TRUCKS LOCKUP CAUSING IRREPAIRABLE DAMAGE TO BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THIS NECESSITATES REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY AND ROTOR-HUB PARTS AND SIGNIFICANT LABOR COST ($931). THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN LESS THAN 18 MONTHS ON MY 1998 T100. WHEN I PROMPTED THE DEALERSHIP TO PAY FOR MATERIALS THE SECOND TIME, THEY TOLD ME IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH T100, TUNDRA AND TACOMAS. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO PREVENT OR AVIOD THE SITUATION AND THEY WILL NOT ABSORB THE MATERIAL COSTS (APPROX $450) FOR THE SECOND REPAIR BECAUSE IT WAS A "MECHANICAL FAILURE" OF THE CALIPERS. WHEN I SUGGESTED TO THEM THE FACT ITS A KNOWN ISSUE AMONG TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOPS SHOULD MAKE IT A RECALL ISSUE. IT WAS THEIR EQUIPEMNT, INSTALLED BY THEM THAT WAS FAILING. MY REQUEST FOR DISCOUNT IN THE SECOND REPAIR WAS DISMISSED. I SUSPECT THE PROBLEM IS CONTINUING, BASED ON AN INTERMITTEN NOISE AND HESITATION IN THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE TRUCK NOW AND AGAIN AND EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD SOOT ON THE WHEEL RIMS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS SITUATION AND OWNERS SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO FORK OUT $931 EVERY YEAR TO MAINTAIN BRAKES. I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO A THIRD REPAIR OF THIS TYPE.*AK
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS REPEATEDLY TURNED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WHERE HIGH STEERING EFFORT AND POWER ASSIST ARE REQUIRED, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN FULLY TURNING THE WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, A FATIGUE CRACK MAY DEVELOP IN THE STEERING RELAY ROD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUED TO BE OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE RELAY ROD MAY FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY 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
1
PE02039 · Clutch Pedal Bracket/firewall
Opened Apr 1, 2002 · Closed Jul 30, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
No summary supplied.
1998 Toyota T100 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration