IllustrationVEHICLE WAS AT COMPLETE STOP WITH AIR CONDTIONER ON, IDLE KICKED IN & LURCHED THE VEHICLE FORWARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TWICE. THE TROTTLE SENSOR WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME. THE SECOND TIME CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC IT WAS THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. *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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
16 reportsCONSUMER STATED THAT IN EARLY MORNING WHEN HE WARMED UP VEHICLE, AND SWITCHED TRANSMISSION FROM PARK TO DRIVE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 15 MPH WITHOUT STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL. ALSO, THIS PROBLEM HAD HAPPENED WHEN HE WAS BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE. HE HAD TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK
THROTEL POSITION SENSOR FAILED. YH
THROTTLE SENSOR FAILED. YH
THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED. *YC
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT 40MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. THE DEALER NOTIFIED. *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.