Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Toyota Tacoma owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 1998 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while inspecting the subframe of the vehicle, he noticed that there was a hole in the rear passenger side wheel well. The contact stated that the failure had increased significantly. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as an unknown recall had expired. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
I recently bought my 98 Toyota Tacoma extended cab 44. I knew nothing of any frame rust problems or any other problems that Toyota's had. Now I am the proud owner of a good looking truck that I just found out is not only unsafe to drive off road but on road also.yesterday I found that the rear shock,where it mounts on top,had broke throw the frame and after inspecting and doing a quick welding repair just to make it home,that the frame had previously been repaired in other places but only welded new metal over the existing rusting frame.no one has made any attemy to inform me of any problems and from what I'm seeing now it's past the 15 yr deadline. I bought a Toyota because of its dependability but what good is it to have a dependable engine when the frame wasn't prepared to hold up to normal conditions without rusting into.
My vehicle's frame is dangerously rusting out. I heard there was a recall and when I called Toyota about two years ago the said I had just missed the cut off. Since then it had gotten progressively worse. The body mounts have separated from the frame and where the leaf spring is attached is getting ready to separate. These are also holes in the frame. If anybody has any advise would be greatly appreciated. Does not seem right that they could have a recall and I was never contacted and when I contacted them that they told me I missed it by only months?
When checking to see if my shocks need to be replaced I find I have a rusted frame above right rear wheel and in front of left front wheel. This was the first I had any knowledge of it. A friend advised me there was a recall so I called Toyota. I was advised they still had the previous owners information even though I purchased it from a dealer on 2/11/2005. I never received a recall notice and never heard anything about it and was told they would not do anything to fix it. Is there anything you can do to help. The truck is still a good 4wd truck.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Toyota Tacoma. While driving at various speeds, there was a loud abnormal noise coming from the vehicle. The contact observed that the frame was completely rusted and fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000. Updated 8/31/15 the consumer stated Toyota had not honored the promise to replace the rusted frames. Updated 10/14/2015
This truck is the center piece of my life. My 1998 Toyota Tacoma was the perfect vehicle for me. I still own mine but it is tough to drive knowing that if I was in a crash my life could be threatened due to the lack of frame rigidity. I need this truck to last me until I am out of college because there are no funds for me to purchase a different one. This defect was brought to by attention during a recent snowstorm when driving home from one of many jobs. I ran over a shallow pot hole and heard a clunk. The vehicle began to drive very oddly causing concern to me. I had my mechanic look it over the next day and he explained that he has seen many of these trucks with the same type of issue. My isolated issue involves the attaching site of the rear leaf spring. The mechanic quoted my $1000 dollars with no guarantee of repair. …
Hello, my vehicle is a 1998 Toyota Tacoma. It has approx. 152,000 miles on it. The issue I am having with the vehicle is primarily frame rust, the frame is beginning to look like "swiss cheese." the frame of the vehicle is in terrible shape, the spare tire even fell out due to rust. I called Toyota to inquire about the frame rust and was told that there is no warranty to cover this. I searched online and it says that 1995-2000 Toyota Tacoma's were under recall for frame rust because the rust would make the vehicles unsafe to drive because the structural integrity of the vehicle would be compromised. So I searched around and found that my vehicle is currently 15 years, 4 months old and that Toyota would not cover the vehicle. I believe that rust is an ongoing issue and takes several months/years to develop, it is not something which occurs overnight. …
There is an accelerated and abnormal amount of corrosion and rust showing up on undercarriage of the vehicle. Rear leaf springs have lost rubber bumper due to rust, and suspension/frame make noises due to stress on frame which is the result of rust/corrosion. I am the original owner to this vehicle, having purchased it new and having always had it in colorado a mostly dry climate not conducive to rust/corrosion. I have it at the same dealership I bought it from multiple times per year for service, and it is still under 150K orig miles. I have never been informed by the Toyota dealership reps. About concerns with rust/corrosion issues, nor has any company staff ever acknowledged any concerns over these issues, or has the company reached out to inform me of potential problems. In no way, shape or form has Toyota ever advised me of any recall, concerns or problems. …
Purchased 1998 Toyota Tacoma 4wd truck October 2012. Vehicle had been recalled for frame rust and was serviced by a Toyota dealership 05/25/2011 and frame and under carriage was inspected, cleaned, prepared and coated with undercoating. Dealership advised the problem was corrected. Mileage at time was 161,757. In late 2012 rust spots developed again and continued to worsen until the frame completely rusted through and broke above the right rear wheel in the vicinity of the shock absorb-er bracket which also was rusted through. There are various other rust problem areas on the frame and suspension parts and another frame rust through is evident on the left side of the vehicle above the rear tire at the shock absorb-err bracket.. …
I own a Toyota Tacoma, 1998 model. One of the rear leaf springs broke. Part of it shifted sideways in its location and began to puncture the fuel tank. Upon searching for a replacement on the used market, I learned that number one, all of these tacomas develop broken leaf springs, and number two, all used springs have been absorbed to repair broken ones on trucks still in use. Number three, Toyota changed the configuration of the rear spring assembly from a three leaf to a four leaf assembly to try to deal with the problem, but made the retrofit a cost borne by the consumer. Even a parts employee of a Toyota dealership agreed that Toyota should have had a recall of the Tacoma for defective leaf spring design/engineering. The breakage creates an unstable suspension subject to loss of control and if the spring shifts sideways does puncture the fuel tank.
Suspension complaints in other Tacoma years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 1998 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the suspension of the 1998 Toyota Tacoma, 9% of the model year's 300 complaints. The component named most often is front (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Toyota Tacoma suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 1998 Toyota Tacoma, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Toyota Tacoma suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 168,000 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.