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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

Service Brakes complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2021
EngineService BrakesUnknown Or Other

BOUGHT A VEHICLE FROM A WOMAN OFF OF CRAIGSLIST. MET HER IN AN UNFAMILIAR AREA. WOMAN STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND RUNS PERFECT. WOMAN WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE. MY HUSBAND INSISTED ON CHECKING THE VIN ON CARFAX AND SHE QUICKLY PULLED OUT AN OUTDATED TITLE. THE VEHICLE'S ODOMETER READING STATED…

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BOUGHT A VEHICLE FROM A WOMAN OFF OF CRAIGSLIST. MET HER IN AN UNFAMILIAR AREA. WOMAN STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND RUNS PERFECT. WOMAN WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE. MY HUSBAND INSISTED ON CHECKING THE VIN ON CARFAX AND SHE QUICKLY PULLED OUT AN OUTDATED TITLE. THE VEHICLE'S ODOMETER READING STATED APPROXIMATELY 166,000 MILES. AFTER THE TRANSACTION OF $5000.00 WAS COMPLETED IN CASH. SHE QUICKLY LEFT WITH A HEAVYSET HISPANIC MALE THAT WAS WITH HER. MY HUSBAND LOOKED AT CARFAX AND THE LAST REPORTED MILEAGE ON CARFAX FOR THE VIN NUMBER WAS APPROXIMATELY 278,000 MILES FOR THAT VEHICLE. THE WOMAN QUICKLY BLOCKED OUT PHONE NUMBERS. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER SHE HAD HER NUMBER UNBLOCKED. WE CALLED HER FROM A DIFFERENT NUMBER AND ACTED AS THOUGH I WAS READY TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE FROM HER AND SHE STATED SHE HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND COULD MEET ME AT THE SAME LOCATION (NOT KNOWING IT WAS ME) NOT ONLY WAS THE ODOMETER READING FALSE, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEABLE AND COMPLETELY UNSAFE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKEN.

NHTSA ODI #11399558

205,000 miles · Dec 20, 2018
Electrical SystemSeat BeltsService Brakes

THE WIRING HARNESS CABLE FROM THE SENSORS TO THE COMPUTER BURNOUT AND THE SEATBELTS DOESN'T RESPOND RIGHT ESPECIALLY WITH HIS UNRAVELING AND DOESN'T LOCK GOOD OR POOL AND THE MASTER CYLINDER IT'S NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY EITHER IT'S LIKE IT'S NOT STOPPING THE BRAKES ARE NOT STOPPING I KNOW THE VEHICLE IS OLD BUT STILL THIS IS A DE…

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THE WIRING HARNESS CABLE FROM THE SENSORS TO THE COMPUTER BURNOUT AND THE SEATBELTS DOESN'T RESPOND RIGHT ESPECIALLY WITH HIS UNRAVELING AND DOESN'T LOCK GOOD OR POOL AND THE MASTER CYLINDER IT'S NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY EITHER IT'S LIKE IT'S NOT STOPPING THE BRAKES ARE NOT STOPPING I KNOW THE VEHICLE IS OLD BUT STILL THIS IS A DEFECT AND VERY HAS FOR THE DRIVERS OF ALL THE VEHICLES MY 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5 2.4 LITER 2 WHEEL DRIVE

NHTSA ODI #11162647

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.