1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

168 complaints filed with NHTSA.

168
Complaints
9
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE:BODY46
SUSPENSION35
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS19
UNKNOWN OR OTHER14
STEERING6
POWER TRAIN4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC3
SUSPENSION:REAR3
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS3
STRUCTURE3
EQUIPMENT2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
AIR BAGS2

Recent Complaints

20190807CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT AND A REPORT NUMBER: G8J014000216 WAS ISSUED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE AND HAD TO SPEND 6 DAYS IN TWO DIFFERENT HOSPITALS WITH MULTIPLE FRACTURES AND INTERNAL ORGANS INJURIES. TH

Mileage: 109,000

20130613CrashSUSPENSION

TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN A FLAT PAVED ROAD AND MY LOWER BALL JOINT (ATM 1012460) CAME OFF FOR NO REASON CAUSING ME TO SKID TO A HALT. MY TIRE WAS SIDEWAYS AND PUSHED INTO MY FENDER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AND OTHER PARTS. THIS PART (LOWER BALL JOINT) WAS REPLACED 8 MONTHS PRIOR ALONG WITH TIE RODS, AXLE, CONTROL ARM, UPPER BALL JOINT AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS IN THAT AREA. RIEBES AUTO PARTS REPLACED THE FAULTY BALL JOINT, TIRE, FENDER, AND OTHER PARTS THAT WERE DAMAGED. I JU

20130613CrashSTEERING

TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN A FLAT PAVED ROAD AND MY LOWER BALL JOINT (ATM 1012460) CAME OFF FOR NO REASON CAUSING ME TO SKID TO A HALT. MY TIRE WAS SIDEWAYS AND PUSHED INTO MY FENDER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AND OTHER PARTS. THIS PART (LOWER BALL JOINT) WAS REPLACED 8 MONTHS PRIOR ALONG WITH TIE RODS, AXLE, CONTROL ARM, UPPER BALL JOINT AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS IN THAT AREA. RIEBES AUTO PARTS REPLACED THE FAULTY BALL JOINT, TIRE, FENDER, AND OTHER PARTS THAT WERE DAMAGED. I JU

20130613CrashEQUIPMENT

TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN A FLAT PAVED ROAD AND MY LOWER BALL JOINT (ATM 1012460) CAME OFF FOR NO REASON CAUSING ME TO SKID TO A HALT. MY TIRE WAS SIDEWAYS AND PUSHED INTO MY FENDER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AND OTHER PARTS. THIS PART (LOWER BALL JOINT) WAS REPLACED 8 MONTHS PRIOR ALONG WITH TIE RODS, AXLE, CONTROL ARM, UPPER BALL JOINT AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS IN THAT AREA. RIEBES AUTO PARTS REPLACED THE FAULTY BALL JOINT, TIRE, FENDER, AND OTHER PARTS THAT WERE DAMAGED. I JU

20120913FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SMALL FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR 100 MILES. THE CONTACT SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE WIRING HARNESS BUT WAS EXTINGUISHED QUICKLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY A DEFECTIVE VOLTAGE REGULATOR TO THE ALTERNAT

Mileage: 101,000

20110831CrashAIR BAGS

1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. CONSUMER STATES AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT *TGW THE CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, OVERTURNED AND CRASHED WHEN HE TRIED TO AVOID HITTING AN ANIMAL IN THE ROAD. *JB

20110407CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED BUT DID NOT HOLD AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES YET THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT AND THE CONTACT RECEIVED A CITATION FOR THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE CONTACTS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 05/18/11

Mileage: 130,000

20100316CrashFatalSTEERING

TL* THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS SON WAS DRVING THE VEHICLE 55 MPH AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSS CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER INTO THE MEDIAN. THE ACCIDENT WAS FATAL AND THE DRIVER DIED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

Mileage: 60,000

20070326FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN MY CAR ON 3/21/07 THE SOLENIOD OF THE STARTER DID NOT DISENGAGE AND A FIRE COMMENCED IN THE STARTER OF THE CAR. FORTUNATLY, I WAS ABLE TO STOP AND A PASSER BY,ALMOST IMMEDIATLY PROVIDED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. DAMAGE TP THE AUTO WAS RELATIVELY SMALL.*AK

Mileage: 102,560

20070119CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I LOVE MY 1998 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER SR5 - BUT I HATE THE EXPENSE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. IN THE 5 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM PADS, ROTORS, DRUMS, CABLES ETC FOUR TIMES. IT IS NEVER JUST THE PADS. EVERY SINGLE TIME I'VE TAKEN IT IN FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION - THEY ALWAYS NEED TO MACHINE THE ROTORS. AND, NO IT IS NOT MY DRIVING ABILITY. EACH TIME I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR (400-600) THE MECHANICS ALWAYS SAY THE SAME T

Mileage: 142,650

20070119CrashPARKING BRAKE

I LOVE MY 1998 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER SR5 - BUT I HATE THE EXPENSE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. IN THE 5 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM PADS, ROTORS, DRUMS, CABLES ETC FOUR TIMES. IT IS NEVER JUST THE PADS. EVERY SINGLE TIME I'VE TAKEN IT IN FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION - THEY ALWAYS NEED TO MACHINE THE ROTORS. AND, NO IT IS NOT MY DRIVING ABILITY. EACH TIME I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR (400-600) THE MECHANICS ALWAYS SAY THE SAME T

Mileage: 142,650