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U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Toyota RAV4 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

50 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

113,250 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 50 complaints (10.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1020.0%
Transmission and shifting510.0%
Engine operation12.0%
Steering behavior12.0%
Fuel system concerns12.0%

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.

Air Bags
5
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
5
Air Bags:Frontal
4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
4
Seat Belts
3
Vehicle Speed Control
3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
Fuel System, Gasoline
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags5
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal5
Air Bags:Frontal4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip4
Seat Belts3
Vehicle Speed Control3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine2
Fuel System, Gasoline2

Air Bags: 5; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 5; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Seat Belts: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
12
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,99912
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 2

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 30 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.

2000
11
2001
9
2002
2
2003
1
2004
3
2005
1
2006
1
2007
2
2008
2
2009
2
2010
3
2011
3
2012
1
2014
2
2016
1
2017
2
2020
2
2021
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200011
20019
20022
20031
20043
20051
20061
20072
20082
20092
20103
20113
20121
20142
20161
20172
20202
20212

2000: 11; 2001: 9; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2014: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 10002458 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL WILL DEPRESS THROTTLE PEDAL, RESULTING IN VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD. CONSUMER FEELS PEDALS WERE DESIGNED INCORRECTLY BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER AND ARE OF SAME HEIGHT. *NLM....*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002458 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10395749 · 2011-04-13 (April 13, 2011)

THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK TWICE AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD INSTEAD INTO DRIVE. THIS WAS AT LOW SPEED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE FIRST BRAKING ATTEMPT FAILED, THE BRAKE WAS PUMPED A SECOND TIME AND IT FAILED TO STOP AND ACCELERATED INSTEAD. FIRM PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL A THIRD TIME AND THIS DID PROMPT THE VEHICLE TO STOP BUT IT WAS CLOSE TO REAR-ENDING ANOTHER CAR ALREADY STOPPED AT THE LIGHT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10395749 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10070884 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

ON JULY 20TH, 2002 MY WIFE TOOK HER 1998 TOYOTA RAV4 IN TO HAVE A RECOMMENDED FLUSHING OF HER OIL, TRANSMISSION, COOLING SYSTEM. A COMPLETE TUNE UP OF THE MOTOR. AT THIS TIME SHE TOLD THE SERVICE PERSON OF A SMOKE DISCHARGE AT START UP ALONG WITH A SLIGHT NOISE. THE SERVICE PERSON SAID IT WAS PROBALLY THE RUBBER VALVE SEATS AND MY WIFE DIDNT HAVE TO WORRY RIGHT AWAY. IN APRIL 2003, AFTER ALL THE SCHEDUALED SERVICE MAINTAINCE WAS PERFORMED, MY WIFE NOTICED THE SMOKE WAS GETTING WORSE AND THE NOISE A LITTLE WORSE SO SHE TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE VA…

Owner-reported narrative. 81,905 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070884 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10198870 · 2007-08-08 (August 8, 2007)

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OVER A TWO WEEK PERIOD, THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF 5TH GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THIS LEADS TO A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN IN TRAFFIC AS IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE MOMENTUM RAPIDLY AND COULD BE EASILY REAR-ENDED. THE LAST EVENT OCCURRED ON 6/7/2007, THE DAY BEFORE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A PRIVATE GARAGE. I HAVE ASKED TOYOTA FOR ASSISTANCE ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT WAS DECLINED. THEY HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THE PROBLEM, BUT THE COVERAGE IS NOT ADEQUATE. THIS PROBLEM CAN OCCUR AT ANYTIME AFTER THEIR COVERAG…

Owner-reported narrative. 99,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198870 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10165643 · 2006-08-16 (August 16, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THERE WAS A VERY LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE STALLED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE HAD FAILED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165643 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10560765 · 2014-01-21 (January 21, 2014)

DURING SLOW TURNS SUCH AS THROUGH INTERSECTIONS THERE IS A KNOCKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2008 AND HAS BEEN GETTING SLOWLY WORSE. DHL TOYOTA IN WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY HAS TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE STEERING CAN GO AT ANY TIME. THERE ARE 2 TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS DATING FROM 2008 ON HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM: T-SB-0308-08 AND T-SB-0318-08. I WAS TOLD TOYOTA WILL NOT PAY FOR IT AND THE FIX IS $2800. SINCE TOYOTA TOLD ME THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THEN THERE SHOULD BE A …

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560765 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10378026 · 2011-01-20 (January 20, 2011)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING SHE WOULD SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK AND FUEL TANK WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,500.

Owner-reported narrative. 117,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10378026 at NHTSA ↗