IllustrationBODY SQUEAKS FROM VARIOUS LOCATIONS WHEN RIDING WITH A PASSENGER. *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
What owners actually said
300 reportsTIRES SHOW CRACKS WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. TIRES ARE NOW MAKING A SLAPPING NOISE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HY TIRE SIZE: P215/70R14 )
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE, THE SIDEWALL ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE RIPPED APART SEPERATING THE TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/75/R15 )
THIS TIRE SEPARATED AND BLEW OUT, EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED FOR THE P235 TIRE WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED. PLEASE LOOK INTO WHETHER THESE TIRES SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED. FIRESTONE HAS CONTENDED THAT THEY ARE NOT DEFECTIVE AND WILL NOT REPLACE THEM.( DOT NUMBER: 42HH AWA TIRE SIZE: P225 75R15 )
DEALER ADVISED THAT TRUCK HAD SAT IN WATER FOR A LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR GREASE TO ESCAPE RACK END BOOTS. TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN DEEP WATER, ONLY DIRT ROADS. RACK ENDS ARE RUSTED AND NEED REPLACEMENT. TRUCK HAS BEEN THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES BOTH BEING THE TYPE SUPPLIED BY TOYOTA WITH THE VEHICLE. WE GET ABOUT 12000 MILES …
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DEALER ADVISED THAT TRUCK HAD SAT IN WATER FOR A LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR GREASE TO ESCAPE RACK END BOOTS. TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN DEEP WATER, ONLY DIRT ROADS. RACK ENDS ARE RUSTED AND NEED REPLACEMENT. TRUCK HAS BEEN THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES BOTH BEING THE TYPE SUPPLIED BY TOYOTA WITH THE VEHICLE. WE GET ABOUT 12000 MILES ON 50000 MILE TIRES, TRUCK WEARS TIRES AS IF FAULTY FRONT END PARTS. TIE ROD END ON DRIVERS SIDE BAD, PROBABLY CAUSE OF TIRE WEAR, BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO COMPLAIN ABOUT TIRE WEAR. NEVER INSPECTED TIE ROD ENDS OR SHOCKS, DEALER SAID THEY GET MANY COMPLAINTS ON TIRE WEAR ON THESE TRUCKS.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 265/75R/15 )
ON 07-07-00 WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-81 IN VIRGINIA, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY BLEW OUT. AFTER CHANGING THE TIRE, INSPECTION OF THE FLAT TIRE REVEALED THAT THE TIRE TREAD HAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HH4WA TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )
ENGINE SURGES WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR CAUSING THE RPM OF THE ENGINE TO RISE HIGH. YH
WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 35-40 MPH, TRUCK CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A JEEP WRANGLER, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. TRUCK WAS BEING REPAIRED. WHOLE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED, TOTAL AMOUNT OF DAMAGES WAS $9,500.00. *AK *ML
WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE , AND RESULTING IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK SHOULDER HARNESS DID NOT TIGHTEN UP. *…
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WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE , AND RESULTING IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK SHOULDER HARNESS DID NOT TIGHTEN UP. *YH
A PERSON TURNED INTO THE PATH OF MY TRUCK, I HIT HER @ 30MPH, CENTER OF MY TRUCK HIT THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER OF HER CAR, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *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.