- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
1998 Toyota 4RUNNER Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 264 complaints about the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER with NHTSA, most often about the body, doors & structure (83) and the suspension (60). Those complaints describe 19 crashes, 6 fires, 21 injuries and 1 death. It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in April 2009 for the exterior lighting. For comparison, the 1997 has 264 and the 1999 has 332.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical 4RUNNER year, for its age
#31 most complained-about 1998 vehicle
- Complaints
- 264
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 19
- Fires
- 6
- Injuries
- 21
- Deaths
- 1
Most common 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER problems
Share of all 264 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1998 Toyota 4RUNNER recalls 4
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- This may result in a loss of control and could increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- 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.
What owners say
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264 complaints about the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 11.
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 send the ticket to my local toyota dealership to for repair because my vehicle was imported from japan to canada. I have tried calling canada toyota but they have not picked up their phone. Reaching...
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out to determine if the nhtsa can help with getting my vehicle suspension checked/repaired. Below is the message/link I receieved from NHTSA when I looked up my car's production year. ----- [[redacted]] January 18, 2002 NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V021000 TOYOTA/REAR SUSPENSION THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V021000 Manufacturer TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. Components SUSPENSION Potential Number of Units Affected 273,743 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. 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. Notes TOYOTA RECALL NO. SSC 20A. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The frame is rusting out and broke while driving. The frame is almost totally destroyed from rust . The rear started swinging violently but luckily got it stop without crashing. The entire frame is a joke. I can't believe it hasn't been recalled STILL. The body is in perfect shape but a frame that can snap at any moment....I thought Toyota put safety first?
The drivers side front lower ball joint completely sheared off at around 15 miles an hour. The wheel and tire separated from the vehicle.
Critical frame rust causing trailing arms to detach under normal use.
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, requiring me to "limp home" to maintain control of the vehicle.
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.
The frame has rusted out and the swaybar has broke loose from the frame. *Tr
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.
The frame of my vehicle is rusting out to the point of being unsafe. The vehicle only has 68k miles. The rear trailing arm bracket has a hole inside
Tl* the contact owned a 1998 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while attempting to make a turn traveling at approximately 30 mph, another vehicle crashed into the front driver side of the vehicle. The front driver side air bag deployed, but the side air bag did not. The police was present and a report number: g8j014000216 was issued. The contact was taken to the hospital by ambulance and had to spend 6 days in two different hospitals with multiple fractures and internal organs injuries. The vehicle was towed...
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to an impound lot and later labeled as destroyed by the insurance company. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000.
When braking from 20 mph, the seat rocks forward, and then in coming to a halt, rocks backward. Very unsafe. Feels like the seat mount is about to break off from floor pan. 07/24/2019
Excessive frame rust caused rear driver side control arm mount to rust right off the frame while my daughter was driving it. At the time her speed was slow as she was pulling into grocery store plaza.
Rear passenger side sway bar attachment rusted through and snapped from frame. And on other side sway bar link snapped. In addition the frame near it is rotting away. Noticed it while driving it was swaying badly. In addition the driver side seat belt will unlatch occasionally while driving.
I was on my way to the store with my wife and all of a sudden the truck started to sway wildly , good thing there was no oncoming traffic at the time since the truck swerved into the opposing lane , I pulled over and thought at first the lug nuts came lose but when I crawled under the truck I had found that the frame is rotted away, apparently toyota has an issues with there frames and I was asked by people online if I got a recall notice which I did not , I had bought the truck used from a used car dealer so im...
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not sure if it was in the system , in any event I would like to know what are my options on this , the rest of the truck is in great shape and runs fine , I should not have to ensue a financial lose if this was a known issue , thank you
CAN NOT GET INSPECTION BECAUSE OF FRAME RUSTED
The toyota 4 runner is unstable and has the body of the vehicle making noise. After inspection, the frame is completely rusted thru in several areas.
While on a city street with a 45mph speed limit, when the accelerator was pressed the back end of the car started to fishtail to the side. The vehicle was taken to a toyota dealership where they discovered the frame of the vehicle had rusted and broke where the rear control arm to the driver side rear axle attached. The vehicle had been well maintained by the only owner and the body is in near excellent condition with no accidents.
The frame is rusting terribly despite all efforts to curb it.
My 1998 toyota 4runner frame is comprised and deemed unsafe and undrivable due to severe frame rust. I had to remove it from the road since the body rocks on the frame and is unsafe to drive.
Sent my vehicle for safety inspection and it was failed. Badly rusted frame was sited as one reason.
Taken my 4runner for annual maintenance and my mechanic found extreme rust damage on left rear frame support. Advise me it was unsafe to drive due to a 2 1/2 foot long rust hole in the frame. Pictures attached. Checking to see if toyota has implemented recall on your defective frame material. It looks like the rust issue has been occurring for many years.
Left ball joint broke while driving after it was serviced at a toyota dealership. Then they told me my frame was rusted after they inspected it. I heard there was a recall on rusted frames.
Excessive frame rust open holes and cracks over time.
I was driving home from work and I was pulling into my home driveway traveling about 5 mph. The right lower ball joint failed and separated from the steering knuckle. The initial noise I heard sounded like I had driven over a metal trash can which made me suddenly stop my vehicle. When I got out and looked to see what had happened, the attached picture is what I saw. I am so thankful that I was not driving on the highway!
Was told by local dealer, who has serviced this truck since purchased, in march 2018, that the frame had rust through and was unsafe to drive. This was the first time I had heard of this common problem with our tacoma. The dealer had never presented us with the option of replacing or being bought out or buying an extended warranty on the frame. We understand that this is an old truck, but given the local dealer never told us of any potential problem, we were unaware of any potential safety problems. In fact, just a...
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year earlier the we had the truck in for basic service (oil change), and told the service rep that my wife was planning a 1,000 trip and asked if the truck was okay for the trip, and was told it was fine - how it been fine a year ago, when this year the frame is rusted through. Iplease advise. Thank you for your consideration. *Js
Toyota 4RUNNER: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 251 | 3 | F |
| 2001 | 190 | 3 | D |
| 2000 | 493 | 2 | F |
| 1999 | 332 | 2 | F |
| 1998 | 264 | 4 | F |
| 1997 | 264 | 4 | F |
| 1996 | 165 | 5 | D |
| 1995 | 175 | 4 | D |
| 1994 | 71 | 4 | C |
1998 Toyota 4RUNNER vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER | 264 | 4 | F | |
| 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 1,429 | 10 | D | Compare |
| 1998 Dodge Durango | 976 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 1998 Chevrolet Blazer | 734 | 3 | F | Compare |
| 1998 Jeep Wrangler | 265 | 6 | C | Compare |
| 1998 Nissan Pathfinder | 149 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 1998 Subaru Outback | 127 | 2 | B | Compare |
| 1998 Ford Bronco | 2 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1998 Toyota Highlander | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER
Does the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER: exterior lighting (April 2009); exterior lighting (May 2006); exterior lighting (March 2006); suspension (January 2002). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the body, doors & structure (83), suspension (60), wheels & tires (36).
How many complaints has the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER had?
264 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on September 28, 1997 and the latest on October 4, 2023. Of these, 19 describe a crash and 6 a fire, and together they report 21 injuries and 1 death.
Is the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 20 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Toyota 4RUNNER year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Toyota 4RUNNER years have the most complaints?
2003 (708), 2004 (678), 2000 (493). See every Toyota 4RUNNER year compared.
What should I do if my 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data