1998 Toyota RAV4 problems
Owners have filed 92 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Toyota RAV4. Brakes is the most reported problem area, at 21% of complaints. After that come air bags (14%) and cruise control (14%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 92 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 21% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 22 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 15 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 109,000 miles 21 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 1 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 1 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 7 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 21 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 109,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 22 complaints mention a crash; 15 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 88% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 24th most-complained-about out of 30 model years of the Toyota RAV4 with enough data (53 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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.
Vehicle rear ended another vehicle at about 40 MPH. The driver / passenger side airbags deployed. Dealer has not seen vehicle.
I purchased a used 1998 toyota rav4 in october 2009. The vehicle has 42,000 miles. When driving home on the interstate the truck began to jerk and loose power. We got off on the nearest exit and made it home safely. The truck continues to do the same. I took it to the toyota dealership and was told there was nothing they could do because there was no check engine light on. The truck has done this and 4 occasions. It puts my daughter at risk for being rear ended.
Toyota rav4 2000 has a transmission problem. Transmission is making noises and acting strange. Problem presented first in highway 15 in connecticut, without any warning. Very dangerous without warning incident. No accident occurred, but very frightening. After incident transmission start slipping and making strange noises. The car is parked and I do not know what is the problem. I saw an article in the ny times indicating this site for recording complaints.