1998 Toyota 4RUNNER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
130 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
167,043 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 105 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 46 of 130 complaints (35.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 9.2% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 46 |
| Suspension | 35 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 19 |
| Unknown Or Other | 14 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Structure | 3 |
Structure:Body: 46; Suspension: 35; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 19; Unknown Or Other: 14; Steering: 6; Power Train: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Structure: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 20 |
| 150,000 and above | 70 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 70
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (70). 25 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2007: 9; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 6; 2011: 11; 2012: 10; 2013: 10; 2014: 6; 2015: 19; 2016: 16; 2017: 8; 2018: 12; 2019: 9; 2020: 5; 2022: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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 10173658 · 2006-11-16 (November 16, 2006)
***SECOND OCCURRENCE ON SAME VEHICLE*** WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT, A VEHICLE TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF OUR 4RUNNER. WE BRAKED FAIRLY HARD. UPON BRAKING, THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT MADE A WHIRLING NOISE AND COMPLETELY LOST TENSION WHILE UNRAVELING. THIS CAUSED THE REAR OCCUPANT (PROPERLY BUCKLED IN) TO MOVE FORWARD DUE TO THE BRAKING FORCES, AND THE OCCUPANT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY NOT RESTRAINED IN MOVEMENT BY THE FAILING SEAT BELT. THIS SEAT BELT UNRAVELED SO FAR THAT THE OCCUPANT COULD HAVE EASILY SLID UNDERNEATH THE SLACK IN THE BELT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10179153 · 2007-01-19 (January 19, 2007)
I LOVE MY 1998 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER SR5 - BUT I HATE THE EXPENSE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. IN THE 5 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM PADS, ROTORS, DRUMS, CABLES ETC FOUR TIMES. IT IS NEVER JUST THE PADS. EVERY SINGLE TIME I'VE TAKEN IT IN FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION - THEY ALWAYS NEED TO MACHINE THE ROTORS. AND, NO IT IS NOT MY DRIVING ABILITY. EACH TIME I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR (400-600) THE MECHANICS ALWAYS SAY THE SAME THING - "WE SEE THIS ALL THE TIME ON THESE 4WD 4-RU…
Owner-reported narrative. 142,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10179153 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10928399 · 2016-11-28 (November 28, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 161,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10928399 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11089158 · 2018-04-20 (April 20, 2018)
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND I WAS PULLING INTO MY HOME DRIVEWAY TRAVELING ABOUT 5 MPH. THE RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE. THE INITIAL NOISE I HEARD SOUNDED LIKE I HAD DRIVEN OVER A METAL TRASH CAN WHICH MADE ME SUDDENLY STOP MY VEHICLE. WHEN I GOT OUT AND LOOKED TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED, THE ATTACHED PICTURE IS WHAT I SAW. I AM SO THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY!
Owner-reported narrative. 343,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11089158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10239661 · 2008-08-25 (August 25, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. DURING DECELERATION, THE VEHICLE STALLS AND ACCELERATES BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IDLE SWITCH VALVE TWICE, WHICH CORRECTED THE FAILURE FOR A FEW MONTHS. ON AUGUST 21, 2008 WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,100 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 72,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239661 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10350065 · 2010-08-17 (August 17, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. SHE ENGAGED THE BRAKES ABRUPTLY TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000. UPDATED 11/08/10 * BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AT TIMES. UPDATED 11/10/10.
Owner-reported narrative. 152,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10350065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10475327 · 2012-09-13 (September 13, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SMALL FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR 100 MILES. THE CONTACT SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE WIRING HARNESS BUT WAS EXTINGUISHED QUICKLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY A DEFECTIVE VOLTAGE REGULATOR TO THE ALTERNATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10475327 at NHTSA ↗