Most common 1998 Mazda B-Series Truck problems
Share of the 67 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda B-Series Truck complaints by model year
Best B-Series Truck years: 2005, 2007, 2006. Years to avoid: 1999, 2000, 1996, 1998, 1997. Compare all years →
1998 Mazda B-Series Truck recalls (3)
Vehicle speed control
On certain trucks equipped with a speed control system, the speed control deactivation switch May, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. An interim notice was sent to owners on September 7, 2007, directing them to have the speed deactivation control switch disconnected temporarily.
Vehicle speed control
Vehicle description: certain 1998-1998 Mazda b-series trucks (b2500, b3000 and b4000) equipped with cruise control and built from January 1998 through March 4, 1999. A cruise control cable can interfere with the speed control servo pulley and not allow the throttle to return to idle when disengaging the cruise control.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cruise control cables. At the present time, the replacement cables are not available. Customers are being advised not to use the cruise control system until a replacement can be made.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: light duty 4x2 and 4x4 pickup trucks equipped with 4.0l engines. The flexible section of the chassis mounted fuel line that connects to the engine was routed too close to the exhaust manifold. The line could contact the manifold.
Remedy: Dealers will install an additional clip to hold the fuel line in the intended design position.
What 1998 Mazda B-Series Truck owners say
Wheels & tires all 20 →
Report s as stolen from Santa Clarita ca newhall. Reporting to the chp.gov [redacted] ca tip line [redacted] Western general insurance, clabasas www.downeynissan.com Management LLC
www.downeynissan.com Titan XD king cab Vin:[redacted]. Mazdaspeed 3 turbo Vin:[redacted]
Speed control & acceleration
Vehicles throttle stick open when released. Cannot slow vehicle down. Only way to slow down is to turn ignition off. Manufacturer said they are aware and had TSB on this during warranty. Took it in and they said they found no problem. Took it in twice since for same problem and they say I now need to pay for the repair. When this situation happens, there is no control of the speed of this vehicle.. Even stepping on brakes doesn't help. I have reported this 3 times to you prior, but with the Toyota problems, I thought you might be more interested in this now. I am also reporting this problem to the local news media, along with a copy of this report.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Mazda b4000. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 99V062002 (vehicle speed control) and contacted the dealer to secure an appointment for recall repairs however, the parts needed to complete the recall repairs had not yet become available. The contact stated that neither the manufacturer nor the dealer informed the contact when or if the parts had become available. The contact called the manufacturer and the manufacturer stated that the recall was closed. The vehicle was never serviced under the recall. The mileage was 181,823. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Engine & cooling
Tl contact owns a 1998 Mazda b2500. While driving 50 MPH and attempting to decelerate, the contact must place the vehicle into neutral and then turn off the ignition. The vehicle's engine overpowers the brakes. The contact feels that this is a safety issue because the vehicle should be stopped by applying the brakes. In addition, the throttle sticks and remains open. The brake failure has been occurring for the last eight years. The vehicle has been taken to the repair shop three times regarding the failure, but no failure was identified. The failure mileage was 35,000.
I have had a head gasket replace on this 1998 Mazda b4000 within 61,000 miles. The first head gasket replacement was 1-21-2008. Now the same thing seems to be happening at 78,100 miles are there any issues with this model? I only drive the Truck to work and back which is only about 5 miles from my home. Also the front end suspension makes a loud squeaking/popping noise when you turn the steering wheel or hit a rough place in pavement. The "key in the ignition" buzzer keeps dinging after you take the key out of the ignition.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Mazda B-Series Truck a good car?
Based on 67 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 B-Series Truck rates avoid: 2.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the B-Series Truck at the same age. It is one of the B-Series Truck years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Mazda B-Series Truck?
The wheels & tires — 20 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year, most often about tread/belt. Next are the speed control & acceleration (13) and engine & cooling (9).
How many recalls does the 1998 Mazda B-Series Truck have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1998 Mazda B-Series Truck, the most recent from August 7, 2007 (vehicle speed control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mazda B-Series Truck?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2007 and 2006. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2000, 1996, 1998 and 1997. See the full Mazda B-Series Truck years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Mazda B-Series Truck problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 14% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.