IllustrationBOTH TAIL LIGHT BULBS FAILED TWICE. *YC
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 reportsSUSPENSION SYSTEM MUSHY, REPLACED ALL SHOCK ABSORBERS AND SPRINGS TO CORRECT PROBLEM. YH
RADIO / CASSETTE FAILED. *YC
WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. *YC
BRAKE PADS AND SHOES FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. NLM
NO SUMMARY
WAS DRIVING 55MPH ON A DRY PAVEMENT. FELL ASLEEP AT WHEEL. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HIT A TREE. AT TIME OF IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HIT HEAD ON SIDE DOOR WINDOW. VEHICLE HAD FLIPPED OVER. THE WINDOWS ALL CAME OUT. THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINED THE DRIVER. *AK
BRAKES/PADS ON NEW 1998 TRUCK WERE AT 30% AT FIRST 12 MONTHS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND ROTORS TURNED. UPON REPAIRING, THERE IS MAJOR VIBRATION AND SLIGHT GRAWL WITH CLICKING NOISE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL TO HAVE VIBRATION/PULLING TO LARGE VEHICLES. I HAVE A GREAT CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMIL…
Read full complaint
BRAKES/PADS ON NEW 1998 TRUCK WERE AT 30% AT FIRST 12 MONTHS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND ROTORS TURNED. UPON REPAIRING, THERE IS MAJOR VIBRATION AND SLIGHT GRAWL WITH CLICKING NOISE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL TO HAVE VIBRATION/PULLING TO LARGE VEHICLES. I HAVE A GREAT CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WHILE DRIVING MY 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA 4WD EXTRA CAB. DEALER STATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL BRAKE REPLACEMENTS ON SIMILAR VEHICLES FROM 7000-16000 MILES ON VEHICLE; HOWEVER, DUE TO NO FORMAL COMPLAINTS, NOTHING CAN BE DONE. DUE TO THIS FACT, IT WILL COST FROM $300-400 TO REPAIR, BECUASE WARRANTY ENDS 12MONTH/12,000 MILES.
THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND A PATHFINDER CROSSED IN FRONT OF HIM, WENT INTO HIS LANE. CONSUMER HIT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE TIRES ARE LOCATED ON THE BACK OF THE PATHFINDER . DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY.
FRONT BUMPER IS SIMPLY A PLASTIC SHROUD. IT PROVIDES NO PROTECTION AGAINST ANY TYPE OF INCIDENTAL CONTACT. EXCESSIVE BODY DAMAGE COULD OCCUR AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 5 MPH.
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.