1998 Toyota 4 RUNNER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
91 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 91 complaints (17.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 15 | 16.5% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 6.6% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 3.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires | 16 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Suspension | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 4 |
| Suspension:Rear | 4 |
Tires: 16; Tires:Tread/Belt: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Suspension: 5; Electrical System: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 4; Suspension:Rear: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 74 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 28 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 2 |
2000: 28; 2001: 12; 2002: 21; 2003: 9; 2004: 13; 2005: 6; 2006: 2
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003233 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH TAIL LIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE HAVE BURNED OUT. THE "STONE MONTAIN GEORGIA" DEALERSHIP CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM BUT IT SEEMS TO ME TO BE A DEAD SHORT IN THE SYSTEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS CREATED A FIRE IN THE UPPER CENTER REAR BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND HAS MELTED THE HOUSING THAT IN-CASES THE BULB. THE BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY BURNING OUT. I HAVE CEASED USE OF THE REMOTE DOOR LOCK AS THE FLASHING OF THE LIGHTS SEAMED TO ONLY MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE AND BLOW LIGHT BULBS MORE OFTEN. NOT ONLY IS THE PROBLEM A FINACIA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003233 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058959 · 2004-02-25 (February 25, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH DOWN A CITY ROAD IN VA. BEACH A CAR ON OUR RIGHT HAND SIDE ENTERED THE INTERSECTION MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. THE CAR ENTERED THE INTERSECTION APPROX. 20-25 FEET AHEAD OF US. I IMMEDIATLEY HIT THE BRAKES AND TURNED THE CAR TO THE LEFT AS TO TRY AND AVOID A COLLISION. WE ENDED UP T-BONING THE ONCOMING VEHICLE. OUR 4-RUNNER WAS CLAIMED A TOTAL LOSE DUE TO A BEND FRAME. THE FRONT END DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED AT 4-6 THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE FULL FRONT END AND PASSENGER FENDER WERE DESTROYED. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I ESTIMATE THE MPH …
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058959 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8006525 · 2002-03-27 (March 27, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH WITHOUT WARNING POWER STEERING WENT OUT RESULTING LOST OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE CAUSING A MAJOR COLLISION. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8006525 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8009697 · 2002-05-13 (May 13, 2002)
RECALL ON REAR SUSPENSION WAS DONE , NOW FRONT END OF VEHICLE IS UNSTABLE. AT 10-15 MPH WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL QUICKLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE VEHICLE ROCKS.*AK THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE RIDES HARDER AND ROUGHER OVER BUMPS, THE FRONT END FEELS AS THOUGH IT BOTTOMS OUT WHEN MAKING FAST HARD STOPS, THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE ROCKS WHILE DRIVING, THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT 1 1/2 INCHES HIGHER IN THE REAR NOW PRIOR TO REPAIR. *MJ
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8009697 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038120 · 2003-09-03 (September 3, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED A MOUSE HAD CRAWLED INTO THE MASS AIR FLOW . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054679 · 2004-01-22 (January 22, 2004)
THIS TRUCK (AUTO, 6 CYL, 2WD) SOMETIMES STALLS, BUT ONLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP, ALWAYS IN MOTION, NEVER AT IDLE, JUST AS IF THE KEY WERE TURNED OFF. OCCURS VERY INTERMITTENTLY (7 TIMES SINCE SEPT 2003)... MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT NOTHING HAS REGISTERED ON THE COMPUTER. INTERSTATE BATTERY IS 8 MONTHS OLD. EVERY OTHER TIME, I'VE PUT IT IN PARK AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP, BUT THIS MORNING IT WOULDN'T START FOR ALMOST TWO MINUTES IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. A FRIEND ALSO HAS 1998 4RUNNER; SAYS IT'S BEEN HAPPENING TO HER OVER TWO YEARS, BUT LESS OFTEN. THI…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,989 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054679 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081449 · 2004-07-07 (July 7, 2004)
WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE EARLY IN THE MORNING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE PROCEEDED TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE ,BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED RUNNING, IMMEDIATELY HE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, STILL THE ENGINE WAS CONTINUED TO RUN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10081449 at NHTSA ↗