1998 Toyota RAV4: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 77 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (17% of complaints); the 1996 and 2000 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jan 2020
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 77 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VAPOR CANISTER AND THE VACUUM SWITCHING VALVE (VSV) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,734. Consumer stated vehicle has been repaired.*JB”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Apr 2021
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 rav 4. The contact was notified through local emissions that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 20v033000 (air bags). The VIN tool confirms that the vehicle was subjected to the recall. Neither a dealer nor the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2020
“Even after I replaced the brake pads while doing maintenance, the brakes are still loose at times, mostly after running on the highway.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Oct 2017
Show 7 more owner reports
“Re: safety recall for rear outboard seatbelts. I first became aware of the the recall in feb. 2016. In early march, we scheduled normal maintenance for our rav4. When we inquired about the seatbelt recall, the dealership had no knowledge of the issue. I have now been driving my 6 and 8 year old children around in a vehicle with recalled seatbelts for 2 months. Today, april 7, is the first notification I have received from toyota and the notification states that toyota still has no "remedy". Toyota is putting my children in danger everyday and I have lost all trust in toyota.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Feb 2016
“Excessive oil use, tried to have dealer fix at 149,000, would not check. Warenty enhancement, now 200000 miles 1 qt+ 1200 miles. Took to dealer 2/27/17 said I had to pay 3000+ to fix. Toyota new it was bad pistons or rings and admit it. But I pay? Always took care of vehicle”Owner report · Engine · Jan 2016
“During slow turns such as through intersections there is a knocking in the steering wheel. This has been present since I purchased the car in 2008 and has been getting slowly worse. Dhl toyota in wappingers falls, ny has told me that this is a safety issue and the steering can go at any time. There are 2 toyota technical service bulletins dating from 2008 on how to fix this problem: t-sb-0308-08 and t-sb-0318-08. I was told toyota will not pay for it and the fix is $2800. Since toyota told me this is a safety issue, then there should be a safety recall and toyota should fix it at their expense. *tr”Owner report · Steering · Jan 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 toyota rav4. The contact was driving 60 mph and attempted to avoid a tractor trailer. While switching lanes, the rear of the contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle, causing the contact to spin out of control, crash into the tractor trailer and then into the guard rail. The vehicle was destroyed. The air bags did not deploy. Each of the three passengers were wearing seat belts however none of them locked on impact, causing injury to each of the three passengers. The vehicle was neither repaired nor inspected for the cause of the air bag failure. The failure and the current mileages were 105,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 toyota rav4. The contact stated that while driving 25 mph, the brakes were applied and there was an abnormal noise. In addition, the vehicle was difficult to come to a stop. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the front driver's side rotor was replaced. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in any recalls. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The mileage was unavailable.”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Sep 2011
“The brakes failed to work twice and the vehicle lurched forward instead into drive. This was at low speed when attempting to come to a complete stop at a red light. When the first braking attempt failed, the brake was pumped a second time and it failed to stop and accelerated instead. Firm pressure was applied to the brake pedal a third time and this did prompt the vehicle to stop but it was close to rear-ending another car already stopped at the light. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Apr 2011
“Tl*the contact owns a 1998 toyota rav4. The contact stated that after refueling she would smell a strong odor of fuel inside of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they informed her that the fuel tank filler neck and fuel tank were completely corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 117,500.”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Jan 2011
When filing, owners marked a crash in 19 of these complaints and injuries in 12 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: AFTERMARKET THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS USED ON 1998-1998 TOYOTA RAV4, AVALON, AND SIENNA MODEL VEHICLES DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN "OPEN CIRCUIT" CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS (TDS) SUPPLIED BY AUDIOVOX CORPORATION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN 'OPEN CIRCUIT' CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.
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.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and owners will have the option to self-inspect, or have a dealer inspect the steering wheel on their vehicle to determine if their vehicle may be equipped with an affected inflator. Potentially affected steering wheel serial numbers will be inspected by a dealer. Based on the inspection, dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate one, as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 28, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall is 20TB01 and 20TA01.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. IF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE REPEATEDLY PARKED BY PLACING THE SHIFT LEVER INTO THE "P" POSITION WITHOUT APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE, THE PARKING LOCK ROD, A COMPONENT OF THE TRANSMISSION PARKING LOCK SYSTEM, COULD BREAK.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING LOCK ROD.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTOR, WHEN EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, CAN DEVELOP STRESS FRACTURES IF THE LUG NUTS ARE TIGHTENED WITH EXCESSIVE TORQUE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DISC BRAKE ROTORS. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND STEEL WHEELS WITH NEW DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND NEW ALUMINUM WHEELS. IN ADDITION A CAUTION LABEL THAT READS, "USE NEW GENUINE TOYOTA ALUMINUM WHEELS." WILL BE AFFIXED. VEHICLES ALREADY EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS WILL ONLY REQUIRE CAUTION LABEL INSTALLATION.
How other years compare
Check your exact RAV4 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
NHTSA has 77 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 1998 Toyota RAV4. The most complained-about area is air bags (17% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1998 Toyota RAV4 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 113,250 miles or less.
Does the 1998 Toyota RAV4 have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.