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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
124,317 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Toyota 4Runner brakes problems

brakes problem

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1998 Toyota 4Runner Owner Comments

problem #3

Mar 312011

4Runner 6-cyl

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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

- Independence , MO, USA

problem #2

May 142009

4Runner

  • 100,300 miles
I am an owner of a Toyota 4 runner (1998), and certainly a safety issue exists with this vehicle. If depressed the brake pedal in an emergency (harder than normal operations), the rear seal (passenger side) will break, leaving only three (3) wheels brakes to stop the vehicle. Had to replace both rear seals at 68K miles. Again at 105kmiles the same issue. I strongly believed that the Toyota rear seal is not within specification of the pressure delivered to the brake lines. Please look into this matter, since a safety issue exists. Thanks

- Bellerose, NY, USA

problem #1

Jan 102007

4Runner 4WD 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 142,650 miles
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 thing - "we see this all the time on these 4WD 4-runners - they just don't design the braking systems properly for this type of truck". twice I have run off the road in order to avoid hitting someone in front of me because of complete failure, once while only going 20 mph. Toyota Tacoma's appear to not have this type of problem - I think after thousands of dollars in brake system repairs and two very near accidents - someone at Toyota should evaluate this braking system and either offer an alternative or offer a warning to potential buyers.

- Austin, TX, USA

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