What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

1998 Toyota 4RUNNER

Typical pattern

3.8% of complaints about the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 1998 vehicle — around the middle of the 180 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 13.5 yr in service. The most-reported system is structure (75 complaints), typically at 17.8 yr or about 170,000 miles.

Complaints
261
Median age at failure
13.5 yr
Median mileage
161,000 n=154
Crash / fire / tow
10.7% of reports
Safety recalls
4

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Structure
75 reports · 170,000 mi
17.8 yr
1.3%
Suspension
59 reports · 169,000 mi
14.7 yr
5.1%
Tires
29 reports · 97,595 mi
3.0 yr
3.4%
Other
15 reports · 217,476 mi
18.1 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

09E012000 2009-04-07
Exterior lighting

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.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E049000 2006-05-24
Exterior lighting

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.

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

06E026000 2006-03-23
Exterior lighting

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.

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

02V021000 2002-01-18
Suspension

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.

THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Tires mileage not reported 1.4 yr in service
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 60 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND SHE HEARD A NOISE ON RIGHT REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE. TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF ANY ROAD HAZARD. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #AT, P225/75 R15, AND DOT # W2HHAWB038.*AK *SLC
Tires mileage not reported 2.9 yr in service
FRONT LEFT TIRE BEGINING TO CRACK ALONG TREAD, LOTS OF TREAD STILL ON TIRE. CAN PEAL BACK TREAD1/4 INCH IN PLACES. FRONT RIGHT HAS SMALL CRACKS SAME LOCATION.( DOT NUMBER: W2HH AWB TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )
Tires mileage not reported 2.8 yr in service
THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT (P225/75/R15) TIRE BLEW OUT WITH HOLES IN THREE PLACES BETWEEN THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL. *MJS
Structure mileage not reported 2.7 yr in service
SUPPORT STRUTS ON LIFTGATE UNABLE TO FULLY SUPPORT LIFTGATE WHEN REAR WINDOW RETRACTED DOWN INTO DOOR - APPARENTLY DUE TO ADDITIONAL WEIGHT TOWARDS BOTTOM OF THE DOOR.

Other 4RUNNER model years

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