Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Toyota Tacoma
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Toyota Tacoma has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 300 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E049000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V188000 TOYOTA/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Structure 98 complaints
- Air Bags 46 complaints
- Tires 29 complaints
- Suspension 28 complaints
- Seat Belts 23 complaints
- Unknown or Other 16 complaints
Of the 300 complaints on file, 49 report a crash; across all 300 complaints, owners report 29 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Toyota Tacoma is an average performer in terms of reliability, with many issues primarily related to safety recalls for exterior lighting and airbag systems. Structural integrity and suspension receive frequent owner complaints, suggesting moderate ownership challenges.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| structure | 100,000–150,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | common |
| suspension | 80,000–120,000 miles | $400–$1,200 | common |
| air bags | N/A | $200–$800 | occasional |
| service brakes | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$700 | occasional |
| tires | 40,000–80,000 miles | $400–$800 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- oil change every 5,000 miles
- replace air filter yearly
- inspect and replace brakes
- coolant flush every 30,000 miles
- replace spark plugs every 30,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- uneven tire wear
- noisy suspension
- rust in frame
- brake pedal vibration
- hard steering effort
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Toyota Tacoma at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.