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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

15 reports
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50,000 miles · May 25, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT: UNDER 50,000 MILES EXHAUST PIPE BROKE, THIS WAS WELDED AND REPAIRED. UNDER 70,000 A HAIRLINE CRACK THAT ENCIRCLES THE PIPE WAS BEHIND A WELDED BRACKET BROKE AGAIN FOR A SECOND TIME, THIS WAS WELDED AGAIN FOR REPAIR. THE 3RD TIME 170,000 BROKE AGAIN AND THIS PIPE WAS REPLACED ENTIRELY . NOW THE 4TH TIME, AT 178,000 MILES …

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DT: UNDER 50,000 MILES EXHAUST PIPE BROKE, THIS WAS WELDED AND REPAIRED. UNDER 70,000 A HAIRLINE CRACK THAT ENCIRCLES THE PIPE WAS BEHIND A WELDED BRACKET BROKE AGAIN FOR A SECOND TIME, THIS WAS WELDED AGAIN FOR REPAIR. THE 3RD TIME 170,000 BROKE AGAIN AND THIS PIPE WAS REPLACED ENTIRELY . NOW THE 4TH TIME, AT 178,000 MILES THIS HAS BROKEN AGAIN. THIS IS AWAITING A REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10122103

67,000 miles · Apr 6, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

V6 ENGINE FAILURE ON A TOYOTA PICKUP. THE PISTON DETACHED FROM THE ROD CAUSING INTERNAL DAMAGE. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10065604

27,869 miles · Aug 22, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS CONSUMER HAD BEEN COMPLAINING OF FUEL LEAKING INTO THE OIL OF THE ENGINE. THIS LEAKAGE CAUSED ENGINE DAMAGE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10034410

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHY DID THE THE ELECTRIC SENSORS IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SYSTEM FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751392

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

DASHBOARD WAS RATTLING AND ENGINE HAD BLOWNOUT AT 25 THOUSAND MILES. DEALER HAD REPLACED PARTS .PROBLEM RETURNED. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE IT WITHOUT CHARGE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #890112

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM IS LEAKING, CAUSE UNKNOW. ALSO, WHEN ENGINE IS COLD GAS LEAKS FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #882708

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE SURGES WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR CAUSING THE RPM OF THE ENGINE TO RISE HIGH. YH

NHTSA ODI #553091

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

RADIATOR FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #609957

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE VIBRATES WHOLE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING, DEALER NOTIFIED, DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI #707703

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

AFTER DRIVING THE TRUCK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SLOW INTO TRAFFIC OR LIGHTS, RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDDLE AND START TO PRESS THE GAS PEDDLE AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN. THIS WAS REPRODUCED MANY TIMES AFTER DRIVING OVER 2 HOURS, THEN UNABLE TO REPRODUCE, SEVERAL DAYS LATER AFTER DRIVING 20 MINUTES ON HIGHWAY AND INTO TRAFFIC, PULLED UP TO …

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AFTER DRIVING THE TRUCK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SLOW INTO TRAFFIC OR LIGHTS, RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDDLE AND START TO PRESS THE GAS PEDDLE AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN. THIS WAS REPRODUCED MANY TIMES AFTER DRIVING OVER 2 HOURS, THEN UNABLE TO REPRODUCE, SEVERAL DAYS LATER AFTER DRIVING 20 MINUTES ON HIGHWAY AND INTO TRAFFIC, PULLED UP TO AN INTERSECTION, ATTEMPTED TO CROSS AND THE TRUCK STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE TOYOTA DEALER AND TOYOTA OF USA, HAVE STATED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER TRUCK AND 4RUNNER OWNERS. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE NOR RELIABLE TO DRIVE AT SLOW NOR HIGH SPEEDS DUE TO TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURES.

NHTSA ODI #703212

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.