Most common 1998 Toyota 4Runner problems
Share of the 250 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota 4Runner complaints by model year
Best 4Runner years: 2013, 2017, 2024. Years to avoid: 2025, 2011, 2003, 2004. Compare all years →
1998 Toyota 4Runner recalls (1)
Suspension
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…
What 1998 Toyota 4Runner owners say
Body & structure all 78 →
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?
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 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.
Suspension all 60 →
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 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 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. …
Wheels & tires all 34 →
2009 Michelin latitude tour all season luxury tires p265/70r16 were purchased at costco 12/16/09. We went to our mechanic on 2/17/15 for a vibration problem on front end of our 1998 Toyota 4-runner. After inspection he informed us that our tires were cracked on side wall. In addition the road force balance test shows severe runout on front tires and we should replace all 4 tires. We have only put 18,000 miles on these tires. My tires don't fall under the recalls but this doesn't seem right for that kind of failure to occur with such low milage.
4 dunlop radial rovers 235/75 r15 installed 2 or 3 years and 30,000 miles ago on my 1998 Toyota 4runner. I always maintained recommended pressures and just rotated them myself last week after our previous las vegas trip. On our way back from las vegas July 19, 2004 2 pm near fontana the car began to shake progressively until it was undriveable above 45 MPH so I pulled over to a small turnout. I changed the left rear tire that I found had a major bulge (3 inch diameter bubble on sidewall which continued another 3 inches into the tread.) changed it to the spare and car still shook when driven. Found out the front right tire was worse, about 1/3 the circumference was bubbled making the tire look egg shaped from the side. Looks like more than tread separation, possibly broken belts since the bubbles had air pressure. …
1998 Toyota 4Runner engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 22 / 19 |
| 2.7L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 22 / 19 |
| 2.7L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 20 / 18 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 19 / 17 |
| 2.7L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 18 / 16 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 18 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Toyota 4Runner a good car?
Based on 250 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 4Runner rates average: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the 4Runner at the same age. 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 Toyota 4Runner?
The body & structure — 78 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the suspension (60) and wheels & tires (34).
How many recalls does the 1998 Toyota 4Runner have?
There is 1 recall for the 1998 Toyota 4Runner, the most recent from January 18, 2002 (suspension). 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 Toyota 4Runner?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013, 2017 and 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025, 2011, 2003 and 2004. See the full Toyota 4Runner years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Toyota 4Runner problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 158,000 miles; 4% 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.