1998 Toyota 4runner

Family: 4Runner · filed with NHTSA as 4 RUNNER, 4RUNNER

Summary

In its first three years the 1998 4runner drew 57 complaints — 1.0× the median of its generation (1996–2002). It does not stand out from the other years of this generation.
These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
Complaints are spread across systems: the largest, Body & Structure, holds 32% of the 240 that name a component.
4 recalls filed for this model year.
No federal defect investigations cover this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints: 250
Recalls: 4
Investigations: 0
NCAP overall: Not rated
Combined MPG: 16–19
Annual fuel cost: $3,300–$3,900
Median mileage at complaint: 158,000 mi (n = 122)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths: 18 / 5 / 21 / 1

What owners report

Body & Structure

78 complaints · 32% of complaints that name a component · median 170,000 mi (n = 57)

Owner report THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR CONTROL ARM MOUNTING BRACKET THAT IS WELDED TO THE FRAME HAS RUSTED AND COMPLETELY FRACTURED OFF OF THE FRAME. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT ON A CITY STREET AT NORMAL SPEEDS. I FELT AND HEARD A LOUD POP, THEN HAD SEVERE REAR END INSTABILITY WHILE DRIVING, R…

Owner report RUSTED FRAME. HOLE RIGHT THROUGH IT. CAN'T SELL, REGISTER OR DO ANYTHING WITH IT. CAR HAS 188K MILES, DRIVES LIKE A TANK, AND HAS YEARS LEFT IN IT, BUT NOT WITH A RUSTED OUT FRAME. NO ONE SHOWED IT TO ME BEFORE I TRIED TO SELL IT. I HAVE OWNED FOR 7 YEARS, 2ND OWNER.

Suspension

60 complaints · 25% of complaints that name a component · median 170,000 mi (n = 41)

Owner report The rear end suspension is sagging on my vehicle. When I look up the VIN number on the nhtsa website it says that there is not a recall, but when I look up my vehicle by year it says that all vehicles of this year should be recalled for rear suspension repair/check. I called usa toyota and they said that they could not…

Owner report 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER STARTING TO SWAY SIDE TO SIDE. THE REAR AXLE SUPPORT FRAME IS RUSTED THRU THE BOX TUBE. CALLED TOYOTA TO REPORT THE ISSUE AND DID NOT SEEM TO BE CONCERNED THAT THE ISSUE IS SERIOUS. NO RECOMMENDATIONS GIVEN.

Wheels & Tires

34 complaints · 14% of complaints that name a component · median 116,400 mi (n = 5)

Owner report 2009 MICHELIN LATITUDE TOUR ALL SEASON LUXURY TIRES P265/70R16 WERE PURCHASED AT COSTCO 12/16/09. WE WENT TO OUR MECHANIC ON 2/17/15 FOR A VIBRATION PROBLEM ON FRONT END OF OUR 1998 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. AFTER INSPECTION HE INFORMED US THAT OUR TIRES WERE CRACKED ON SIDE WALL. IN ADDITION THE ROAD FORCE BALANCE TEST SHOWS S…

Owner report 4 DUNLOP RADIAL ROVERS 235/75 R15 INSTALLED 2 OR 3 YEARS AND 30,000 MILES AGO ON MY 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I ALWAYS MAINTAINED RECOMMENDED PRESSURES AND JUST ROTATED THEM MYSELF LAST WEEK AFTER OUR PREVIOUS LAS VEGAS TRIP. ON OUR WAY BACK FROM LAS VEGAS JULY 19, 2004 2 PM NEAR FONTANA THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE PROGRESSIVE…

4% of complaints name no specific component and are left out of the shares above.

Across the generation (1996–2002)

To compare years fairly, each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 59.

Model year	All complaints	First three years	Note
1996	161	44	not compared
1997	261	44	not compared
1998	250	57
1999	330	59
2000	483	62
2001	185	18	not compared
2002	225	19	not compared

Recalls

Whether a recall has been fixed on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

09E012000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2009-04-07 · 16,270 vehicles

Defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

06E049000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2006-05-24 · 27,176 vehicles

Defect: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

06E026000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2006-03-23 · 61,944 vehicles

Defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

02V021000 · SUSPENSION

Filed 2002-01-18 · 273,743 vehicles

Defect: 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.

Risk: 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.

Federal investigations

None on file.

Engines and fuel economy

Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Fuel cost / yr
4Runner 2WD	2.7L 4cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	18	22	19	$3300
4Runner 2WD	2.7L 4cyl	Manual 5-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	17	22	19	$3300
4Runner 2WD	3.4L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	16	19	17	$3650
4Runner 4WD	2.7L 4cyl	Automatic 4-spd	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	17	20	18	$3450
4Runner 4WD	2.7L 4cyl	Manual 5-spd	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	15	20	17	$3650
4Runner 4WD	3.4L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	15	18	16	$3900
4Runner 4WD	3.4L 6cyl	Manual 5-spd	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	15	18	16	$3900

Fuel cost is EPA's estimate at the fuel prices of its last update, not today's.

Crash test ratings (NCAP)

Variant	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover
1998 Toyota 4Runner 4-DR. 4x4	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated

Service bulletins

Toyota issued 69 service bulletins listed against this model year, most often about equipment.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so one listed here may not be specific to this year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

Date	Component	Summary
2024-01-22	EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL	OBSOLETE NOTICE January 22, 2024: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0057-18.
2023-08-17	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the re…
2022-03-17	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC	TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions
2022-01-12	TIRES	POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any custom…
2021-03-17	AIR BAGS	Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
2021-03-12	SERVICE BRAKES	TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
2021-02-03	EQUIPMENT	TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2021 model year vehicles may be available provided the re…
2020-12-14	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC	TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
2020-12-14	BACK OVER PREVENTION	TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
2020-04-07	EQUIPMENT	TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more often after news coverage or a recall. That is why this page compares a model year only with other years of the same generation, never with other models.

Each complaint is counted once, even when it names several components; a complaint that names several systems appears under each of them. Owner reports are quoted as filed and have not been verified by NHTSA or by us.

Every model year of this 4Runner, including the ones without a page of their own, is listed on the Toyota 4Runner model page.

Sources

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls and investigations (bulk files, data as of 2026-10-28).
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program: crash test ratings.
U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines, transmissions and fuel economy.

MotorAlmanac is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA, EPA or any manufacturer. This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection. Before buying a used car, check its VIN for open recalls and have it inspected.