IllustrationWHILE 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
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tacoma 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
20–25K
425–50K
1350–75K
1375–100K
35100–150K
52150K+
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
6 reportsLIGHT COVER CAME OFF AND UNABLE TO REATTACHED PROPERLY. IT WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE AND WILL FALL EASILY WHICH CAN DISTRACT DRIVER.
CAB LIGHT BULB FAILED. YH
EVAPORATIVE CANISTER FAILED. YH
BOTH TAIL LIGHT BULBS FAILED TWICE. *YC
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS NOT AS BRIGHT AS ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. VISABILITY ON DRIVER'S SIDE SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED ON LOW BEAM. ILLUMINATION VERY POOR ON DARK ROADS OR IN FOG. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED WAS WRONG. IT CAME FROM MANUFACTURER MADE LIKE THAT.*AK
Official recalls
198V188000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.