Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Toyota Tacoma problems
Owners filed 310 complaints about the 1998 Toyota Tacoma with NHTSA between Sep 1997 and Feb 2025. The most-cited component is structure (99).
Complaints
310
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
50
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
29
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Structure99
- Air bags47
- Tires30
- Suspension29
- Seat belts24
- Service brakes, hydraulic18
- Vehicle speed control16
- Engine and engine cooling15
- Steering11
- Power train10
- Exterior lighting6
- Electrical system5
- Wheels5
- Visibility5
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
21
57
40
17
14
7
4
7
0
18
30
2
11
6
6
7
10
11
15
13
3
3
0
2
2
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 21 |
| 1999 | 57 |
| 2000 | 40 |
| 2001 | 17 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2008 | 30 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Structure
99 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 1998 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for routine maintenance, the contact was informed that the subframe was severely corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Campaign: 10030357-0006 (Frame Corrosion-Preventative Compound); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 164,000.”
Air bags
47 reports43 crashes1 related recall
“I had an accident over a year ago and the airbags did not deploy then I ask the guy that fixed it told me that it didn't have the sensor on the front of my truck, and I wonder why. Now I realized the never saw that sensor on my truck, and want to know what is happening with my truck if other vehicles are involved in the same situation. Sincerely: [XXX].”
Tires
30 reports
“MY TRUCK HAD BEEN VIBRATING REALLY BAD I WAS DRIVING WEST BOUND ON I20 WHEN I HEARD A POP THEN IT SOUNDED LIKE MY TIRE BLOW OUT SO I PULLED OVER TO DISCOVER THAT MY TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM MY TIRE AND HAD TORN UP MY PASSAGE SIDE OF MY TRUCK. *JB”
Suspension
29 reports
“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.”
Seat belts
24 reports4 crashes
“THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT STARTED FRAYING AND AFTER WHILE LOCKED UP ,WOULD NOT RETRACTED OR PULL OUT. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE IS FRAYING AND NOW IT IS LOCKED UP, IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE ENGINE IS RUNNING OR NOT IT WILL NOT RETRACTED OR PULL OUT.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
18 reports3 crashes
“MY WIFE STOPPED AT THE EDGE OF OUR DRIVEWAY TO LET A PEDESTRIAN PASS AND THEN PROCEED TO ENTER THE DRIVEWAY BY MAKING A RIGHT TURN. AS SHE ACCELERATED TO ENTERED THE DRIVEWAY, THE TACOMA TOOK OFF WITH THE ENGINE SCREAMING AT A VERY HIGH RPM AND, DESPITE HER EFFORTS TO STOP THE TRUCK BY PRESSING HARD ON THE BRAKE, SHE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE AND EAST WALL OF THE HOUSE. DESPITE THE ENORMOUS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, IT IS A TOTAL, I THINK, THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.OBVIOUSLY THE TACOMA SUFFERED FROM THE SAME ACCELERATOR PROBLEM THAT HAS PLAGUED TOYOTA UNITS. MY WIFE, THE DRIVER, SUFFERED BRUISED RIBS AND A HEADACHE. FIRE AND POLICE RESPONDED TO EMERGENCY CALL. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.