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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.

About this comparison →
300Owner complaints

Model-year median: 228.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
177
1995253
1996131
1997300
1998249
1999210
2000396
2001
Compare all Tacoma years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Structure
98Air Bags
46Tires
29Suspension
28Seat Belts
23
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
17Unknown Or Other
16Vehicle Speed Control
16Engine And Engine Cooling
15Steering
12Power Train
10Exterior Lighting
6Electrical System
5Visibility
5Wheels
5Equipment
4Fuel System, Gasoline
2Parking Brake
2Service Brakes
2Engine
1Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1Fuel System, Other
1Latches/locks/linkages
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Visibility complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
111,400 miles · Aug 21, 2008
StructureVisibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODING ON HER VEHICLE. HER HUSBAND NOTICED THAT SEVERAL TACOMA OWNERS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AND DECIDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER PERFORMED A FRAME INSPECTION AND STATED THAT IT WAS OKAY AT THAT TIME. …

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODING ON HER VEHICLE. HER HUSBAND NOTICED THAT SEVERAL TACOMA OWNERS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AND DECIDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER PERFORMED A FRAME INSPECTION AND STATED THAT IT WAS OKAY AT THAT TIME. THE WEST INSPECTION STATION INFORMED THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND THAT HIS FRAME WAS IN BAD SHAPE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WAS SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONSULTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,467 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,400. UPDATED 09/23/08 *BF THE ALSO STATED THE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP. UPDATED 10/01/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10239175

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2000
Visibility

FRONT WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE CENTER/BOTTOM THAT EXTENDED UP APP. 4 INCHES AND THE TURNED TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS TOLD BY A FLEET MANAGER THAT TOYOTA TRUCKS ARE KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #719374

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Visibility

WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #606748

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 1999
EquipmentVisibility

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #702795

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 1998
Visibility

WINDSHIELD CRACKS TOO EASILY, CRACKED WHEN STRUCK BY A PEBBLE.

NHTSA ODI #538648

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.