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)
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.
- Body78
- Suspension60
- Tires30
- Engine16
- Brakes13
- Steering12
- Transmission12
- Electrical11
- Seat belts9
- Acceleration8
- Airbags7
- Lights6
- Wheels5
- Locks2
- Seats2
- Fuel system1
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER
Recalls 1
Suspension
- 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
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.
- Obsolete notice
- Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN...
- TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a...
- POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground...
- Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign
- TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a...
- Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN...
- Obsolete notice
- Supersession notice
- Obsolete notice
1998 Toyota 4RUNNER fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7L 4‑cyl | RWD | 17-18 | 22 | 19 |
| 2.7L 4‑cyl | 4WD | 15-17 | 20 | 17-18 |
| 3.4L 6‑cyl | RWD | 16 | 19 | 17 |
| 3.4L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 15 | 18 | 16 |
What 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
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 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.
Compare the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER
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Other model years
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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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