SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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 →
300Owner complaints

Model-year median: 228.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
177
1995253
1996131
1997300
1998249
1999210
2000396
2001
Compare all Tacoma years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Structure
98Air Bags
46Tires
29Suspension
28Seat Belts
23
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
17Unknown Or Other
16Vehicle Speed Control
16Engine And Engine Cooling
15Steering
12Power Train
10Exterior Lighting
6Electrical System
5Visibility
5Wheels
5Equipment
4Fuel System, Gasoline
2Parking Brake
2Service Brakes
2Engine
1Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1Fuel System, Other
1Latches/locks/linkages
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Fuel System, Other complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
138,727 miles · Oct 14, 2010
Fuel System, OtherVehicle Speed Control

I HAVE A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP. TODAY OCTOBER 14, 2010 I WAS DRIVING ON A SURFACE STREET AND MY GAS PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AS I WAS DRIVING. THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO EXTREMELY HIGH RPM'S. I TRIED TO STOP, BUT MY NEW BRAKES WERE BARELY ABLE TO SLOW ME DOWN. I HAD TO PUT THE ENGINE INTO NEUTRAL AND PARK THE TRUCK. A FRIEND …

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP. TODAY OCTOBER 14, 2010 I WAS DRIVING ON A SURFACE STREET AND MY GAS PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AS I WAS DRIVING. THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO EXTREMELY HIGH RPM'S. I TRIED TO STOP, BUT MY NEW BRAKES WERE BARELY ABLE TO SLOW ME DOWN. I HAD TO PUT THE ENGINE INTO NEUTRAL AND PARK THE TRUCK. A FRIEND AND I LOOKED THE ENGINE OVER AND WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS ABOUT TWO INCHES OF PLAY IN THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WERE THE CABLE MEETS THE ENGINE. WHICH WOULD EXPLAIN WHY I WAS HAVING SUCH POOR PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. IS THIS COVERED BY ANY RECALLS? THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360525

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.