IllustrationLIGHT COVER CAME OFF AND UNABLE TO REATTACHED PROPERLY. IT WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE AND WILL FALL EASILY WHICH CAN DISTRACT DRIVER.
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
What owners actually said
300 reportsENTIRE TRUCK VIBRATES STARTING AT 55 MPH AND THE TIRES ARE UNABLE TO BE BALANCED PROPERLY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND RECALL THESE TIRES BECAUSE THEY ARE A HAZARD TO DRIVE. I ALWAYS INFLATE THE TIRES TO THE MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATION. TOYOTA REFERRED ME TO FIRESTONE AND THEY SAID MY TIRES ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL, EVEN T…
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ENTIRE TRUCK VIBRATES STARTING AT 55 MPH AND THE TIRES ARE UNABLE TO BE BALANCED PROPERLY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND RECALL THESE TIRES BECAUSE THEY ARE A HAZARD TO DRIVE. I ALWAYS INFLATE THE TIRES TO THE MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATION. TOYOTA REFERRED ME TO FIRESTONE AND THEY SAID MY TIRES ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH TIRES CAN'T BE BALANCED PROPERLY.( DOT NUMBER: W2HYAMA487 TIRE SIZE: P215/70R14 )
RIGHT-FRONT TIRE: ONE BLOCK OF TREAD IS ABOUT 1/4 INCH HIGHER THAN REST. PRODUCES 'WHOMP - WHOMP' NOISE WHEN DRIVEN. TWO REAR TIRES ARE WORN OUT IN CENTER PART OF TREADS AS THOUGH DRIVEN OVER-INFLATED. NOT TRUE. STRAIGHT EDGE LAID ACROSS SHOWS HEAVY WEAR IN CENTER. TREAD EXPANSION AT SPEED?? THIS SIZE AND TOYOTA NOT MENTION…
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RIGHT-FRONT TIRE: ONE BLOCK OF TREAD IS ABOUT 1/4 INCH HIGHER THAN REST. PRODUCES 'WHOMP - WHOMP' NOISE WHEN DRIVEN. TWO REAR TIRES ARE WORN OUT IN CENTER PART OF TREADS AS THOUGH DRIVEN OVER-INFLATED. NOT TRUE. STRAIGHT EDGE LAID ACROSS SHOWS HEAVY WEAR IN CENTER. TREAD EXPANSION AT SPEED?? THIS SIZE AND TOYOTA NOT MENTIONED IN RECALL. ARE YOU CHECKING?( DOT NUMBER: W2HHAWA417 TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )
WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND VEHICLSLID AWAY AND GOT AWAY , LOST CONTROL. AFTER 11000 MILES HAD NO BRAKES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT VEHICLE NEEDED BRAKES. 25000 MILES AND NEEDS BRAKES AGAIN.*AK
PE-00-020; TIRE SIZE 215/70R14, DOT # 21570R14AWA WITH 8052 MILES, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25MPH WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE , NOTICED THAT LEFT REAR TIRE HAD EXPLODED. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO CHANGE TIRE. TOOK TIRE TO TIRE SHOP, AND WAS TOLD TIRE JUST EXPLODED, AND CAUSE W…
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PE-00-020; TIRE SIZE 215/70R14, DOT # 21570R14AWA WITH 8052 MILES, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25MPH WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE , NOTICED THAT LEFT REAR TIRE HAD EXPLODED. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO CHANGE TIRE. TOOK TIRE TO TIRE SHOP, AND WAS TOLD TIRE JUST EXPLODED, AND CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN.*AK THE CUSTOMER PAID AND REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES. FIRESTONE WAS WILLING TO PAY 60% ONLY FOR ONE TIRE. *YH
I HAVE HAD TWO BLOWOUT WITH MY TIRES ON MY PICK UP TRUCK. ONE TIRE THE TREAD CAME OFF AND THE OTHER TIRE WAS WARN FROM THE INSIDE OUT. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT MY QUESTIONAIRE PLEASE CALL ME AT MY HOME NUMBER. THANK YOU JANA BURNS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HY TIRE SIZE: P215/70R14 )
THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE ON THE INSIDE TIRE WALL HAD A SEPARATION ON IT CAUSING IT TO DEFLATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN AND THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF FOUL PLAY. I HAVE PUT ON THE SPARE WHICH IS THE SAME BRAND AND TYPE AS THE OTHERS ON THE VEHICLE.( DOT NUMBER: 102S TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )
TIRE BLEW-OUT ON INTERSTATE LA 165. WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 65 MPH. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION THAT SOMETHING MAYBE GOING WRONG WITH TIRE. TIRE HAD APPROX 40 PSI AIR PRESSURE. TRUCK WAS NOT CARRYING ANY LOAD.( DOT NUMBER: W29V AWI TIRE SIZE: P265/75/15 )
PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: TIRE ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. THERE IS A SMALL CRACK ABOUT A QUARTER OF AN INCH BELOW THE TOP OF THE TREAD. TIRE SIZE P26575R15, PURCHASED ON A USED1998, TOYOTA, TACOMA. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P265/75/R15 * MW
I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 35 IN FORT WORTH WHEN MY FRONT LEFT TIRE SUDDENLY BLEW OUT. AFTER PUTTING ON THE SPARE, I EXAMINED THE FAULTY TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE SIDE WALL HAD BLOWN OUT, 360 DEGREES AROUND. THE TIRE STILL HAD SUFFICIENT TREAD. I TOOK IT TO THREE TIRE DEALERS, AND THEY ALL AGREED IT WAS NOT A STAND…
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I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 35 IN FORT WORTH WHEN MY FRONT LEFT TIRE SUDDENLY BLEW OUT. AFTER PUTTING ON THE SPARE, I EXAMINED THE FAULTY TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE SIDE WALL HAD BLOWN OUT, 360 DEGREES AROUND. THE TIRE STILL HAD SUFFICIENT TREAD. I TOOK IT TO THREE TIRE DEALERS, AND THEY ALL AGREED IT WAS NOT A STANDARD BLOW OUT AND WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE TIRE. THERE WERE NO ROAD HAZARDS AND I WAS TRAVELING IN FAIRLY HEAVY TRAFFIC, BUT I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP AND MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER HEARING OF THE PROBLEMS AND INJURIES/FATALATIES THAT HAD BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF TIRE, I DECIDED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR RATHER THAN TAKE ANY CHANCES WITH MY SAFETY. THE TOTAL COST TO REPLACE THE FOUR TIRES TOTALED JUST UNDER $600. FURTHERMORE, I'VE INQUIRED ABOUT REPLACING THE WHEEL AS IT TOO WAS DAMAGED. THE COST ON THAT IS $368 FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 265 75R 15 )
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.