1998 Toyota 4RUNNER Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 9about this part
- Share
- 4%of 250 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 124,312miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the seat belts of the 1998 Toyota 4RUNNER, 4% of the 250 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 124,312 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, 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.
“***second occurrence on same vehicle*** while traveling straight, a vehicle turned left in front of our 4runner. We braked fairly hard. Upon braking, the left rear seat belt made a whirling noise and completely lost tension while unraveling. This caused the rear occupant (properly buckled in) to move forward due to the braking forces, and the occupant was subsequently not restrained in movement by the failing seat belt. This seat belt unraveled so far that the occupant could have easily slid underneath the slack in the belt.”
NHTSA complaint #10173658, filed 2006-11, 70,000 miles“My 7 year old daughter was sitting in the rear passenger seat with the shoulder belt on. We parked and some how she got tangled up in the belt. When I pushed the seatbelt release button it locked up around her waist and would not loosen to get her out. Every time I moved her to get her out it would lock up more until she was standing in the back seat with the belt so tight around her waist that it was leaving marks and I had to cut the seat belt to get her out. This concerns me as a parent that the belt locks when the car is turned off and in park. …”
NHTSA complaint #10120541, filed 2005-05, 124,312 miles“Rear passenger side sway bar attachment rusted through and snapped from frame. And on other side sway bar link snapped. In addition the frame near it is rotting away. Noticed it while driving it was swaying badly. In addition the driver side seat belt will unlatch occasionally while driving.”
NHTSA complaint #11220136, filed 2019-06, 280,000 miles“When driving 35-40 MPH vehicle was involved in a head-on collision which caused over $5,300 worth of damage, and neither driver's side or passenger side air bags deployed, resulting in injuries to driver's side occupant. Also, seat belt did not lock in place, forcing driver into the steering wheel. Please provide any further details.”
NHTSA complaint #868659, filed 2000-08“Rear passenger seat belt made a loud noise and completely unraveled from its retraction component (mounted on the pillar) while in use. Seat belt now remains extended, and will not retract, even with assistance.”
NHTSA complaint #10062703, filed 2004-03Seat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 2% |
| 2023 | 2 | 6% |
| 2022 | 3 | 8% |
| 2019 | 2 | 3% |
| 2018 | 2 | 3% |
| 2017 | 1 | 3% |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% |
| 2015 | 1 | 1% |
| 2011 | 1 | 1% |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% |
| 2006 | 2 | 1% |
| 2005 | 1 | 0% |
| 2004 | 7 | 1% |
| 2003 | 3 | 0% |
| 2002 | 2 | 1% |
| 2001 | 2 | 1% |
| 2000 | 1 | 0% |
| 1999 | 6 | 2% |
| 1998 | 9 | 4% |
| 1997 | 5 | 2% |
| 1996 | 3 | 2% |
| 1995 | 3 | 2% |
| 1993 | 1 | 2% |
| 1990 | 1 | 1% |
| 1989 | 1 | 17% |
| 1988 | 1 | 11% |
| 1986 | 1 | 13% |
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 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaintsAir bags
7 complaintsExterior lighting
6 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