Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Toyota Tacoma, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Structure98
- Air bags46
- Tires29
- Suspension28
- Seat belts23
- Service brakes, hydraulic17
- Unknown or other16
- Vehicle speed control16
- Engine and engine cooling15
- Steering12
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 29 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 70 1998 Tacoma vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 53 people died inside them, and 22 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Toyota Tacoma failed the safety check 2.36% of the time — 38% more often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 189,609 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 6 variants: combined 11.0–14.8 L/100 km (about 16–21 mpg US), CO₂ 253–340 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma · Pickup truck: Small · Regular gasoline | 12.2 | 9.5 | 11.0 |
| Tacoma · Pickup truck: Small · Regular gasoline | 12.6 | 10.4 | 11.6 |
| Tacoma 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 14.9 | 11.9 | 13.5 |
| Tacoma 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.2 | 12.5 | 14.0 |
| Tacoma 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.7 | 13.0 | 14.5 |
| Tacoma 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.1 | 13.3 | 14.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Toyota told its dealers about the 1998 Toyota Tacoma: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 622728 | INFORMATION REGARDING SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR TAPE SET. *JB |
| 621316 | ELECTRONIC MAIL REGARDING EXTERIOR MIRROR ASSEMBLY. *TT |
| 618300 | INFORMATION ON WATER LEAK FIELD-FIX REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. *JB |
| 616050 | SUBJECT REGARDING WATER LEAK FIX REPAIR. *TT |
| 614201 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT MUDGUARDS FOR VEHICLES STARTING WITH VIN 4TAPM62N*YZ653866. *TT |
| 612536 | SUBJECT ON DELAYED UPSHIFT TO OVERDRIVE WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. *MJS |
| 610976 | SUBJECT REGARDING 5VZ OXYGEN SENSOR IMPROVEMENT. *TT |
| 610958 | INFORMATION INTRODUCING CHANGES MADE TO IMPROVE THE ADJUSTABILITY OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR ON VEHICLES STARTING WITH VIN 4TAWN72N9XZ564100. *TT |
| 610061 | INFORMATION INTRODUCING DESIGN CHANGES TO THE 5VZ OXYGEN SENSOR TO REDUCE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CONTACTING THE CERAMIC ELEMENT. *TT |
| 610052 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE LOCATION OF THE GREASE FITTINGS FOR THE PROPELLER SHAFT JOINTS AS WELL AS THE TYPE OF GREASE TO USE WITH EACH FITTING LOCATION. *TT |
| 610045 | INFORMATION REGARDING A NEW ANTI-CHIP TAPE DEVELOPED TO HELP PREVENT REPEAT OCCURRENCES OF PAINT CHIPPING ON THE REAR QUARTER PANELS. *TT |
| 609187 | SUBJECT REGARDING 5VZ OXYGEN SENSOR IMPROVEMENT. *TT |
| 609182 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A RADIATOR LEAK FROM THE COOLANT OVERFLOW PIPE HOSE. *TT |
| 6088661 | SUBJECT REGARDING RADIATOR LEAK FROM OVERFLOW PIPE. *TT |
| 6088659 | THIS SERVICE BULLETIN PROVIDES THE LOCATION OF THE GREASE FITTINGS FOR THE PROPELLER SHAFT JOINTS. *TT |
| 6082124 | INFORMATION ON MINIMIZING CLUTCH PEDAL SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSING OR RELEASING THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. *TT |
| 608124 | INFORMATION TO MINIMIZE CLUTCH PEDAL SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSING OR RELEASING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. *TT |
| 607877 | SOME VEHICLES STARTING WITH VIN 4TAVL52N*XZ469062 MAY EXHIBIT A RATTLE NOISE CAUSED BY THE FRONT LOWER WINDOW GLASS FRAME. *TT |
| 606186 | SUBJECT REGARDING 5VZ OXYGEN SENSOR IMPROVEMENT FOR VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE CERTAIN VIN RANGES. *TT |
| 605350 | SUBJECT REGARDING UPPER AND LOWER RADIATOR HOSE. *TT |
| 605164 | EXPERIENCING TICKING NOISE IN THE CABIN IN COLD TEMPERATURE (0.F.). *TT |
| 604667 | SUBJECT REGARDING TOYOTA DINGHY TOWING GUIDE. *TT |
| 604644 | PRODUCTION CHANGES TO THE COWL TOP LOUVER AND HEATER UNIT HAVE BEEN MADE TO IMPROVE RESISTANCE TO SNOW ENTRY INTO THE HEATER UNIT AND IMPROVE DURABILITY OF AIR MIX DOOR ON VEHICLES WITHIN CERTAIN VIN RANGES. *TT |
| 603195 | EXPERIENCING A TICKING NOISE INT HE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE IN COLD TEMPERATURES ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BEFORE VIN WZ139300. *YC |
| 602845 | REDUCING INTERIOR SQUEAKS AND RATTLES ON SOME 1998 VEHICLES. *YC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)