1998 Toyota 4RUNNER Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 2%of 250 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 55,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER, 2% of the 250 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 55,000 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Frequent problem with tail lights on my vehicle have burned out. The stone montain georgia dealership cannot locate the problem but it seems to me to be a dead short in the system. This problem has created a fire in the upper center rear brake warning light and has melted the housing that in-cases the bulb. The brake and tail lights are constantly burning out. I have ceased use of the remote door lock as the flashing of the lights seamed to only make the problem worse and blow light bulbs more often. …”
NHTSA complaint #10003233, filed 2003-01, 1 miles“1998 Toyota 2wd 4runner, driver side rear tail light doesn't function properly. Light comes on when braking, but not when running. Installing new bulbs doesn't solve the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10229627, filed 2008-06, 110,000 miles“I have a 1998 Toyota 4 RUNNER and the tail lights continue to blow. One of the lights is continuously out, but it is usually the left side more than the right. I have noticed that several other 4runners also have blown tail lights. Is this a manufacturer defect/recall?”
NHTSA complaint #10114263, filed 2005-03“The frequent tail light failures on my 4runner is not only a major nuisance but also a latent safety problem. My 1998 4runners (left or right) tail light has failed twice so far and my brother's 1996 4runner has had at least 3 failures. I have seen many other 4runner's on the road with single tail lights out. I have mentioned it to my dealer but they say its just the bulb. Based on my brother and my experience, it is usually the same side bulb that fails subsequent times. It also does not affect the brake lights, only the rear running lights (left or right, never both). …”
NHTSA complaint #743199, filed 2001-03Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 13% |
| 2025 | 1 | 2% |
| 2023 | 3 | 9% |
| 2021 | 3 | 8% |
| 2020 | 2 | 6% |
| 2018 | 1 | 2% |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% |
| 2015 | 1 | 1% |
| 2011 | 1 | 1% |
| 2010 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% |
| 2006 | 2 | 1% |
| 2004 | 2 | 0% |
| 2002 | 1 | 0% |
| 2000 | 2 | 0% |
| 1999 | 3 | 1% |
| 1998 | 6 | 2% |
| 1997 | 3 | 1% |
| 1996 | 1 | 1% |
| 1995 | 2 | 1% |
| 1992 | 1 | 2% |
| 1989 | 1 | 17% |
| 1988 | 1 | 11% |
Other parts of the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER
78 complaintsSuspension
60 complaintsTires
30 complaintsEngine cooling
16 complaintsOther or unknown
16 complaintsBrakes
13 complaintsSteering
12 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
12 complaintsElectrical system
11 complaintsSeat belts
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaintsAir bags
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology