The 1998 Toyota 4Runner has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Frame rust, perforation and fracture.” Toyota's owner's manual splits service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1 because it covers short trips, extreme temperatures, dusty roads, or heavy idling. The intervals below reflect Schedule 1 — the schedule Toyota recommends for typical real-world use.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1998 Toyota 4Runner.
STRUCTURE
88 NHTSA complaints · 2002-03 → 2020-12
“CRITICAL FRAME RUST CAUSING TRAILING ARMS TO DETACH UNDER NORMAL USE”
“AFTER MULTI-POINT INSPECTION, DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE "FRAME IS VERY RUSTED AND IS ROTTING OUT WHERE REAR SUSPENSION MEETS FRAME”
“PARKED IT AND GOT TO LOOKING AND THE FRAME ON DRIVERS SIDE BROKE IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL BY THE LOWER STRAIT TO REAR END”
SUSPENSION
10 NHTSA complaints · 2001-03 → 2022-10
“The drivers side front lower ball joint completely sheared off at around 15 miles an hour”
“1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LEFT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT FAILED CAUSING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO BECOME DISENGAGED, BREAKING THE TIE RODS AND THE FRONT HALF AXLE”
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER BALL JOINT FAILED”
TIRES
10 NHTSA complaints · 2000-10 → 2004-07
“WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH TREAD ON RIGHT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED, TIRE SIZE P26570R16, TIRE MILEAGE 46,000, ORIGINAL MANUFACTURED EQUIPMENT ON A TOYOTA, 4 RUNNER, 1999”
“WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING IN AN UNCONTROLABLE WAY”
“WHILE DRIVING LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND DAMAGED THE REAR FENDER OF THE VEHICLE”
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
5 NHTSA complaints · 2001-05 → 2009-11
“BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES DUE TO WARPING”
“FRONT BRAKE VIBRATION. 2ND FAILURE DUE TO WARPED ROTORS”
“WITHIN YEAR ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED, UNDER WARRANTY”
SUSPENSION
11 NHTSA complaints · 2002-05 → 2023-10
“THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT WAS TAKING TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS DONE”
“CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE LOST DIRECTIONAL STABILITY IN WHICH IT EXPERIENCED A ROLLOVER AND WAS TOTALED, CONSUMER LATER RECEIVED RECALL 02V021”
“RECALL 02 V 021 000/REAR SUSPENSION: RECALL REPAIRS CAUSED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS; WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL AT 15 MPH OR MORE IT CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL, AND AT SUDDEN STOPS FRONT END WOULD BOTTOM OUT”
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
7 NHTSA complaints · 2001-02 → 2011-06
“WHEN THE CONSUMER SHIFTED TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD”
“MY 1998 TOYOTA SURGES AT STOP LIGHTS”
“THE CONTACT WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED”
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5 NHTSA complaints · 2003-01 → 2012-09
“WHILE PARKED A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL”
“OUR TOYOTA 4RUNNER CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT ANY WARNING”
“THE CONTACT SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1, or 10,000 miles under Schedule 2. Toyota covers the first 2 oil changes through ToyotaCare.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends rotation at every oil change to maximize tire life on FWD and AWD models.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends measuring pad thickness at each service.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 36 months. Critical for the integrity of the ABS, VSC, and brake assist systems.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Earlier under Schedule 1 if driven on unpaved roads.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Toyota labels ATF as 'lifetime fill' on most automatics, but recommends inspection and replacement every 60,000 miles under severe service. Use Toyota WS or Type-IV — no substitutes.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
Toyota iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated for 120,000 miles. Earlier replacement reduces fuel economy and can cause misfires on direct-injection engines.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Toyota SLLC (pink): first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000 miles. Do not substitute green or orange coolant — it will damage the cooling system seals.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace the cabin air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner in dusty climates. Located behind the glove box on most Toyota and Lexus models.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Inspect the serpentine belt and tensioner every 60,000 miles. Toyota uses long-life EPDM belts that rarely fail before 100,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$195–$235
Shop
~$135–$165
DIY
~$20–$50
DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.
Toyota's 2AR-FE, 2GR-FKS, A25A-FKS, and most Toyota engines built since 2010 use a timing chain rated for the life of the engine. No scheduled replacement.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Pro only
Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
422 crashes 1990–2024
How the 422 occupant deaths break down
286
driver deaths
134
passenger deaths
2
not recorded by seat
422
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 1998 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
19
complaints mentioning a crash
6
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 1998 Toyota 4Runner reflects Toyota's published service intervals and the Maintenance Required Light system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.