1998 Toyota Tacoma

◆ Worse than typical

1998 Toyota Tacoma
BUILT 2026-09-02

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

1998: 300 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1995	177
1996	253
1997	131
1998	300
1999	249
2000	210
2001	396
2002	333
2003	359
2004	414
2005	707
2006	782
2007	540
2008	445
2009	519
2010	292
2011	186
2012	294
2013	124
2014	93
2015	101
2016	323
2017	238
2018	202
2019	214
2020	87
2021	78
2022	57
2023	52
2024	144
2025	85
2026	6

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.

STRUCTURE 33%

33% of complaints: structure — 99 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing underbody shields and body.

CRASH

Show complaint excerpts

The contact owns a 1998 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for routine maintenance, the contact was informed that the subframe was severely corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired.

NHTSA ODI report, 20250212

THE PROBLEM WITH MY TRUCK IS THAT THERE IS SEVER CORROSION ON THE FRAME MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOYOTA HAS PREVIOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGED AND ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER THEIR ATTEMPT (UNDERCOATING) FAILED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20171130

AIR BAGS 16%

16% of complaints: air bags — 47 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing frontal and side/window.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

I had an accident over a year ago and the airbags did not deploy then I ask the guy that fixed it told me that it didn't have the sensor on the front of my truck, and I wonder why.

NHTSA ODI report, 20220715

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN. VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY A DRIVER NOT PAYING ATTENTION, SENT AIRBORNE, FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES FORWARD AND SIDEWAYS, THEN HIT A PARKED CAR.

NHTSA ODI report, 20170815

MY TRUCK WAS TRAVELING IN MIDDLE LANE OF INTERSTATE WHEN TRAFFIC ON THE RIGHT WAS SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT AND ANOTHER TRUCK IN THE LANE NEXT TO ME ON THE RIGHT DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND SWERVED INTO THE MIDDLE LANE FAILING TO YIELD CAUSING MY TRUCK TO...

NHTSA ODI report, 20121107

SUSPENSION 10%

10% of complaints: suspension — 30 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing front and leaf spring assembly.

TIRES 10%

10% of complaints: tires — 29 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing tread/belt and sidewall.

SEAT BELTS 8%

8% of complaints: seat belts — 23 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing retractor and anchorage.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 20 MPH HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON.SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD, LOCKED UP. DUE TO THIS DEFECT, IT CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HIT WINDSHIELD ,SHATTERED GLASS. ALSO CAUSED NECK INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI report, 19970930

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 1998 — complaint volume: 300

R 19981116 — air bags

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 REQUES

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL.

Campaign 98V188000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060403 — 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 S

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.

Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060701 — 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 N

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.

Campaign 06E049000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — 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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed