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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Air Bags complaints

46 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2022
Air BagsCrash

I had an accident over a year ago and the airbags did not deploy then I ask the guy that fixed it told me that it didn't have the sensor on the front of my truck, and I wonder why. Now I realized the never saw that sensor on my truck, and want to know what is happening with my truck if other vehicles are involved in the same sit…

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I had an accident over a year ago and the airbags did not deploy then I ask the guy that fixed it told me that it didn't have the sensor on the front of my truck, and I wonder why. Now I realized the never saw that sensor on my truck, and want to know what is happening with my truck if other vehicles are involved in the same situation. Sincerely: [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11474087

200,000 miles · Aug 15, 2017
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN. VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY A DRIVER NOT PAYING ATTENTION, SENT AIRBORNE, FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES FORWARD AND SIDEWAYS, THEN HIT A PARKED CAR. AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED, RESULTING IN MAJOR INJURIES TO DRIVER OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11015435

287,000 miles · Nov 7, 2012
Air BagsCrash

MY TRUCK WAS TRAVELING IN MIDDLE LANE OF INTERSTATE WHEN TRAFFIC ON THE RIGHT WAS SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT AND ANOTHER TRUCK IN THE LANE NEXT TO ME ON THE RIGHT DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND SWERVED INTO THE MIDDLE LANE FAILING TO YIELD CAUSING MY TRUCK TO STRIKE HIS TRUCK CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND TOTALING MY TRUCK. DURING THIS ACCIDENT THA…

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MY TRUCK WAS TRAVELING IN MIDDLE LANE OF INTERSTATE WHEN TRAFFIC ON THE RIGHT WAS SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT AND ANOTHER TRUCK IN THE LANE NEXT TO ME ON THE RIGHT DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND SWERVED INTO THE MIDDLE LANE FAILING TO YIELD CAUSING MY TRUCK TO STRIKE HIS TRUCK CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND TOTALING MY TRUCK. DURING THIS ACCIDENT THAT CRUSHED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10483591

133,788 miles · Sep 12, 2011
Air BagsPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

MY WIFE STOPPED AT THE EDGE OF OUR DRIVEWAY TO LET A PEDESTRIAN PASS AND THEN PROCEED TO ENTER THE DRIVEWAY BY MAKING A RIGHT TURN. AS SHE ACCELERATED TO ENTERED THE DRIVEWAY, THE TACOMA TOOK OFF WITH THE ENGINE SCREAMING AT A VERY HIGH RPM AND, DESPITE HER EFFORTS TO STOP THE TRUCK BY PRESSING HARD ON THE BRAKE, SHE CRASHED INT…

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MY WIFE STOPPED AT THE EDGE OF OUR DRIVEWAY TO LET A PEDESTRIAN PASS AND THEN PROCEED TO ENTER THE DRIVEWAY BY MAKING A RIGHT TURN. AS SHE ACCELERATED TO ENTERED THE DRIVEWAY, THE TACOMA TOOK OFF WITH THE ENGINE SCREAMING AT A VERY HIGH RPM AND, DESPITE HER EFFORTS TO STOP THE TRUCK BY PRESSING HARD ON THE BRAKE, SHE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE AND EAST WALL OF THE HOUSE. DESPITE THE ENORMOUS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, IT IS A TOTAL, I THINK, THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.OBVIOUSLY THE TACOMA SUFFERED FROM THE SAME ACCELERATOR PROBLEM THAT HAS PLAGUED TOYOTA UNITS. MY WIFE, THE DRIVER, SUFFERED BRUISED RIBS AND A HEADACHE. FIRE AND POLICE RESPONDED TO EMERGENCY CALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10425071

200,000 miles · Oct 2, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury

MY SON WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. AN SUV RAN A RED LIGHT WHEN HE HAD A GREEN LIGHT. HIS TRUCK WAS SMASHED IN THE FRONT AND WAS TOTALED. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA PRE-RUNNER. I'VE HEARD THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AT 35 MPH. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10358832

71,000 miles · Oct 11, 2004
Air BagsCrash

I COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE THAT FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. MY 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA COLLIDED WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OF A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. IN SPITE OF EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE TACOMA, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10093943

74,000 miles · Apr 1, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS A RESULT, DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE UPPER BODY INJURIES, AND WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR TWO DAYS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10065435

Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 2003
Air BagsCrash

UPON FRONTAL COLLISION AT 40-45 MPH IN THE FRONT MIDDLE TO LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. OWNERS INFORMATION STATES THE AIR BAG SHOULD GO OFF AT 14 MPH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10050599

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2003
Air BagsCrash

MY HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10030357

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2003
Air BagsCrash

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10015353

Official recalls

1

98V188000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.