1998 Toyota 4RUNNER: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10179267 · 2007-01-21 (January 21, 2007)
REAR BUMPER HAS A DESIGN FLAW CAUSING IT TO ACCUMULATE DIRT ON INSIDE "LIP". IF NOT CLEANED OUT PROPERLY, WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO, RUST WILL START TO EAT THROUGH THE BUMPER FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THIS CAUSES AN UNSAFE CONDITION BECAUSE THE INTEGRITY OF THE BUMPER IS COMPROMISED LEADING TO A LACK OF PROTECTION FROM THE REAR, NOT TO MENTION ONE UGLY SIGHT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10179267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10179495 · 2007-01-23 (January 23, 2007)
TL *- THE VEHICLE IS 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 02V021000 IN DECEMBER. THE CONTACT STATED HAD APPROXIMATELY 4 APPOINTMENTS, AND EACH TIME THE PART DID NOT COME IN. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALER TOLD HIM THEY WILL CALL HIM WHEN THE PART ARRIVED. THE CONTACT STATED HE HEARD A NOISE WHEN HE TURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10179495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10180646 · 2007-01-24 (January 24, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #02V021000. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO TWO DEALERS, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CALL WHEN THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAS ATTEMPTED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER SINCE 2003. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE PARTS AND WOULD CALL THE CONTACT WHEN THEY ARRIVED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10180646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182806 · 2007-02-16 (February 16, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED RECALL 02V021000 ON JAN. 2 2007 FOR THE 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. HE WENT TO BERKELEY TOYOTA IN BERKELEY CALIFORNIA AND HAS YET TO HAVE REAR SUSPENSION FIXED.THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT WAS TAKING TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS DONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68550 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT HAD A FAILURE TO DATE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10182806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184882 · 2007-03-12 (March 12, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH 80000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 15 MPH THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF. THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TOWED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE SHEARED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,870. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184882 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186153 · 2007-03-26 (March 26, 2007)
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN MY CAR ON 3/21/07 THE SOLENIOD OF THE STARTER DID NOT DISENGAGE AND A FIRE COMMENCED IN THE STARTER OF THE CAR. FORTUNATLY, I WAS ABLE TO STOP AND A PASSER BY,ALMOST IMMEDIATLY PROVIDED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. DAMAGE TP THE AUTO WAS RELATIVELY SMALL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 102,560 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186153 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V021000 · Suspension
Reported: 2002-01-18 (January 18, 2002)
ON CERTAIN 2-WHEEL-DRIVE (2WD) AND 4-WHEEL-DRIVE (4WD) 4RUNNER SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF HEAVY LOADING (SIMULTANEOUS LOADING TO REAR GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING AND GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING) AND SEVERE STEERING MANEUVERS COULD CAUSE THE 2WD 4RUNNER TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY.
Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE REAR SUSPENSION PARTS. ALTHOUGH THE 4WD 4RUNNERS DO NOT EXHIBIT THE HANDLING CONDITION, TOYOTA WILL RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO AVOID ANY PUBLIC CONFUSION AS TO WHICH VEHICLES SHOULD RECEIVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA campaign record ↗