1998 Toyota TACOMA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
228 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
136,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 119 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 228 complaints (13.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 7.5% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 3.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 1.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 1.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 0.9% |
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 | 30 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 30 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 28 |
| Tires | 16 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 14 |
| Seat Belts | 13 |
| Suspension | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
Structure:Body: 30; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 30; Structure:Frame And Members: 28; Tires: 16; Air Bags:Frontal: 14; Seat Belts: 13; Suspension: 13; Unknown Or Other: 13
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 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 35 |
| 150,000 and above | 52 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 35; 150,000 and above: 52
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (52). 109 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 | 40 |
| 2001 | 16 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2008 | 30 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2000: 40; 2001: 16; 2002: 14; 2003: 6; 2004: 4; 2005: 7; 2007: 18; 2008: 30; 2009: 2; 2010: 11; 2011: 6; 2012: 6; 2013: 7; 2014: 10; 2015: 11; 2016: 15; 2017: 13; 2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 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 10015071 · 2003-04-02 (April 2, 2003)
THE CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WENT DOWN A 15 FEET. EMBANKMENT AND LANDED ON THE NOSE OF THE VEHICLE, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015071 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015343 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 30 MPH YET NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015343 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015353 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015353 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030357 · 2003-07-29 (July 29, 2003)
MY HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030357 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034410 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)
FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS CONSUMER HAD BEEN COMPLAINING OF FUEL LEAKING INTO THE OIL OF THE ENGINE. THIS LEAKAGE CAUSED ENGINE DAMAGE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 27,869 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050599 · 2003-12-16 (December 16, 2003)
UPON FRONTAL COLLISION AT 40-45 MPH IN THE FRONT MIDDLE TO LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. OWNERS INFORMATION STATES THE AIR BAG SHOULD GO OFF AT 14 MPH. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065435 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS A RESULT, DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE UPPER BODY INJURIES, AND WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR TWO DAYS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065604 · 2004-04-06 (April 6, 2004)
V6 ENGINE FAILURE ON A TOYOTA PICKUP. THE PISTON DETACHED FROM THE ROD CAUSING INTERNAL DAMAGE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065604 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.
98V188000 · Air Bags:On-Off Switch Assembly
Reported: 1998-08-06 (August 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗