Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1998 Toyota 4Runner. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗TOYOTA/REAR SUSPENSION
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (250)
250 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The structure is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 250 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 78 | 31.2% |
| Suspension | 60 | 24% |
| Tires | 30 | 12% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 16 | 6.4% |
| Unknown or other | 15 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 5.2% |
| Power train | 12 | 4.8% |
| Steering | 12 | 4.8% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 4.4% |
| Seat belts | 9 | 3.6% |
How 1998 compares with other 4Runner years
Best and worst 4Runner years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 64 | 1 |
| 1995 | 172 | 1 |
| 1996 | 161 | 2 |
| 1997 | 261 | 1 |
| 1998 | 250 | 1 |
| 1999 | 330 | 0 |
| 2000 | 483 | 0 |
| 2001 | 185 | 1 |
| 2002 | 224 | 1 |
| 2003 | 695 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 19 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,550
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 468 g/mi
- EPA class
- Special Purpose Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 19 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 22 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 2.7 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 22 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 2.7 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 20 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
| 3.4 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 19 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
| 2.7 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 20 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
| 3.4 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 18 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
| 3.4 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 18 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1998 4Runner for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1998 Toyota 4Runner FAQ
How many recalls does the 1998 Toyota 4Runner have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 02V021000 (suspension). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1998 Toyota 4Runner problems?
Owners filed 250 complaints with NHTSA. Structure (78), Suspension (60), Tires (30) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1998 Toyota 4Runner get?
EPA rates the 2.7 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 18 city, 22 highway and 19 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1998 4Runner compare with other years?
Among the 1994–2003 Toyota 4Runner model years at least five years old, the 1994 drew the fewest complaints (64) and the 2003 the most (695). The 1998 drew 250. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.