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1998 Toyota Tacoma

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Toyota Tacoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 228.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

119 reports with mileage · 181 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 98 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

49 crash reports0 fire reports25 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

46 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2003
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 30 MPH YET NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10015343

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2003
Air BagsCrash

THE CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WENT DOWN A 15 FEET. EMBANKMENT AND LANDED ON THE NOSE OF THE VEHICLE, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10015071

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2002
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A DEFECTIVE SPIRAL CABLE AND WAS FIXED. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THE DEALER TO REFUND THE COST OF REPAIR. *YH

NHTSA ODI #566410

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

DURING A CAR CRASH, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE HIT A RAMP AND FLIPPED SIX TIMES. THE DRIVER SUFFERED MAJOR CUTS AND CRACKED SHOULDER DURING THE ACCIDENT. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8008398

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2002
Air BagsCrash

WHILE TRAVELING 50-55 MPH AND AS A RESULT OF REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8005852

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 55MPH, CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, DRIVER WAS INJURED.*AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #8004578

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2002
Air BagsCrash

WHILE TRAVELING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING LOST CONTROL, AND VEHICLE HIT A BRICK. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8004148

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2001
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A DIRECT FRONTAL COLLISION AT 45MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #894841

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2001
Air Bags

AIRBAG MALFUNTION LIGHT CAME ON, SWITCH REPLACED, ABOUT 14 MONTHS LATER, SAME ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #750773

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2001
Air BagsExterior LightingCrash

WHILE TRAVELING 30-35 MPH CONSUMER WAS BLINDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE'S FOG LIGHT,AND VEHICLE RAN INTO A TELPHONE HEAD-ON , AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #891107

Official recalls

1

98V188000 · Air BAGS:ON-OFF Switch Assembly

Aug 6, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STATEMENT REQUIRED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL THAT "...THE ON-OFF SWITCH SHOULD ONLY BEN USED WHEN A MEMBER OF A PASSENGER RISK GROUP IDENTIFIED IN THE REQUEST FORM IN APPENDIX B......IS OCCUPYING THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEATING POSITION..." IS MIS-STATED. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE AIR BAG SWITCH IS "OFF," THE SEAT OCCUPANT WHO IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE PASSENGER RISK GROUP WOULD BE SUBJECT TO INCREASED INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL.

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.