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1998 Toyota 4RUNNER problems

The most common problem on the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER is body and structure, typically around 170,000 miles. It has 2.9 times the complaints of a typical 4RUNNER model year.

Typical year2.9x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
250
Recalls
1
Service bulletins
69
Worst area
Body
Fuel economy
16-19mpg

The worst 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER

Ball joint 27Tire blowout 16Stalling 7Engine failure 5

Recalls 1

SuspensionReported January 18, 2002 · 273,743 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 02V021000 · Recall details

See all 1 recalls for the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER

Technical service bulletins for the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER 69

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 69 bulletins for the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER

1998 Toyota 4RUNNER fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
2.7L 4‑cylRWD17-182219
2.7L 4‑cyl4WD15-172017-18
3.4L 6‑cylRWD161917
3.4L 6‑cyl4WD151816

What 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 4, 2023 · Suspension · VA

The rear end suspension is sagging on my vehicle. When I look up the VIN number on the federal safety agency 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 out to determine if the federal safety agency can help with getting my vehicle suspension checked/repaired. Below is the message/link I receieved from the federal safety agency when I looked up my car's production year. ----- [XXX] January 18, 2002 the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 02V021000 TOYOTA/REAR SUSPENSION THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. the federal safety agency 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 federal safety agency'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Nov 11, 2022 · Body, Suspension · KY

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?

Filed Oct 10, 2022 · Steering · TX

The drivers side front lower ball joint completely sheared off at around 15 miles an hour. The wheel and tire separated from the vehicle.

Filed Dec 3, 2020 · Body · 305,000 miles · IA

Critical frame rust causing trailing arms to detach under normal use.

Filed Nov 8, 2020 · Body · 101,185 miles · MT

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.

Filed Jul 12, 2020 · Body · RI

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.

Filed May 5, 2020 · Body, Suspension · 245,000 miles · KY

The frame has rusted out and the swaybar has broke loose from the frame.

Filed Jan 3, 2020 · Suspension · 150,000 miles · IL

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.

Filed Dec 2, 2019 · Body · 68,000 miles · NY

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

Filed Aug 7, 2019 · Airbags · 109,000 miles · NY · crash · 1 injury

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 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.

Used buying checklistWhat to check on a 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER before you buy

Compare the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER

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Other model years

1990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026

Questions about the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER

Is the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER reliable?

Owners have filed 250 complaints about the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER, 2.9 times a typical 4RUNNER model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER?

Body and structure, with 78 complaints, typically around 170,000 miles. Next is suspension (60).

How many recalls does the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER have?

1 recall, covering suspension.

What year does the Toyota 4RUNNER have the most body problems?

The Toyota 4RUNNER model years with the most body complaints are 2004 (310 complaints), 2003 (284 complaints) and 2000 (256 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER get?

Official estimates for the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER range from 16 to 19 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.7L 4-cyl, RWD) gets 17-18 city and 22 highway.

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