Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1998 Toyota Tacoma. 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/FMVSS 208
- Summary
- 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.
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 (300)
300 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 300 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 98 | 32.7% |
| Air bags | 46 | 15.3% |
| Tires | 29 | 9.7% |
| Suspension | 28 | 9.3% |
| Seat belts | 23 | 7.7% |
| Service brakes | 19 | 6.3% |
| Unknown or other | 16 | 5.3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 16 | 5.3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 15 | 5% |
| Steering | 12 | 4% |
How 1998 compares with other Tacoma years
Best and worst Tacoma years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 177 | 2 |
| 1996 | 253 | 1 |
| 1997 | 131 | 0 |
| 1998 | 300 | 1 |
| 1999 | 249 | 0 |
| 2000 | 210 | 0 |
| 2001 | 396 | 4 |
| 2002 | 333 | 3 |
| 2003 | 359 | 3 |
| 2004 | 414 | 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 21 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,200
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 423 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Pickup Trucks
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 / 25 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 / 22 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.7 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 22 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 3.4 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 22 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 3.4 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 22 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 3.4 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 21 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
| 2.7 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 20 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
| 2.7 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 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 Tacoma 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 Tacoma FAQ
How many recalls does the 1998 Toyota Tacoma have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 98V188000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1998 Toyota Tacoma problems?
Owners filed 300 complaints with NHTSA. Structure (98), Air bags (46), Tires (29) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1998 Toyota Tacoma get?
EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 19 city, 25 highway and 21 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1998 Tacoma compare with other years?
Among the 1995–2004 Toyota Tacoma model years at least five years old, the 1997 drew the fewest complaints (131) and the 2004 the most (414). The 1998 drew 300. 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.