Worst 1998 Toyota RAV4 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Air Bags:Frontal
Unintended Acceleration
Airbags
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Toyota RAV4.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 7 | 7 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 6 | 2 | — | 71,300 mi | |
| Airbags | 5 | 3 | — | 88,333 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 5 | — | — | 400,000 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 1 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Toyota RAV4. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 1998 Toyota RAV4
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~138,842 vehicles.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 1998-2000 RAV4, 1998-1999 RAV4 EV and Celica and 1997-1998 Supra vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Other Toyota RAV4 Years
1998 Toyota RAV4 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
What are common problems with the 1998 Toyota RAV4?
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Toyota RAV4?
How safe is the 1998 Toyota RAV4?
Does the 1998 Toyota RAV4 have any recalls?
Should I buy a 1998 Toyota RAV4?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Toyota RAV4 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Toyota RAV4
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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