IllustrationVEHICLE VIRBRATES WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, AND THE DEALER STATES THE MOTOR SUPPORTS AREN'T LARGE ENOUGH FOR THE MOTOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE.*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 reportsFRONT RESTRAINT BELTS ARE NOT LONG ENOUGH FOR THE VEHICLE, AND THE DEALER TELLS CONSUMER TO PAY FOR EXTENTIONS IF THEY DON'T FIT. *AK
WHEN CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A INTERSECTIONAL CRASH, TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. THE TRUCK IS BEING REPAIRED. RIGHT FRONT END DAMAGES TOTALLING $5,000.00 + DOLLARS.
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATE. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL BE VIBRATING. CONTACTED DEALER, CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 40MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT 40MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. THE DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING VEHICLE COLLISION RESULTING IN INJURY TO FACE WHEN CONSUMER HIT STEERING WHEEL.
I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT INFORMATION ON THE FRONT BUMPER OF MY TRUCK. IT IS A PLASIC MOULDING ATTACHED WITH PLASTIC RIVETS TO SHEET METAL. THERE IS NO METAL WHAT SO EVER BEHIND THIS PLASTIC MOULDING. YOU CAN PUSH IT IN WITH YOUR HAND. THIS CAN'T BE SAFE! I REALLY NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS, TOYOTA WILL NOT GIVE ME ANY ANSWERS A…
Read full complaint
I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT INFORMATION ON THE FRONT BUMPER OF MY TRUCK. IT IS A PLASIC MOULDING ATTACHED WITH PLASTIC RIVETS TO SHEET METAL. THERE IS NO METAL WHAT SO EVER BEHIND THIS PLASTIC MOULDING. YOU CAN PUSH IT IN WITH YOUR HAND. THIS CAN'T BE SAFE! I REALLY NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS, TOYOTA WILL NOT GIVE ME ANY ANSWERS AS TO WHY THIS WAS DONE.
ENGINE VIBRATION EXPERIENCED WHILE DRIVING.
FRONT BUMPER ASSEMBLY FAILED DURING ACCIDENT CAUSING FRONT END DAMAGE.
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.