1998 Toyota Tacoma Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 46about this part
- Share
- 15%of 300 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 166,894miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 46 complaints about the air bags of the 1998 Toyota Tacoma, 15% of the 300 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 166,894 miles. 42 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My truck was traveling in middle lane of interstate when traffic on the right was slowing down to exit and another truck in the lane next to me on the right did not slow down and swerved into the middle lane failing to yield causing my truck to strike his truck causing an accident and totaling my truck. During this accident that crushed the front passenger side of the vehicle the air bags did not deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10483591, filed 2012-11, 287,000 miles“My son was in an auto accident. An SUV ran a red light when he had a green light. His truck was smashed in the front and was totaled. The air bag did not deploy. Vehicle was a 1998 Toyota Tacoma pre-runner. I've heard that the air bag will not deploy at 35 MPH. I don't know if this is true.”
NHTSA complaint #10358832, filed 2010-10, 200,000 miles“I collided with a vehicle that failed to yield the right of way when making a left turn. My 1998 Toyota Tacoma collided with the right side of a 1998 chevrolet blazer. In spite of extensive damage to the front of the Tacoma, neither air bag deployed.”
NHTSA complaint #10093943, filed 2004-10, 71,000 miles“My wife stopped at the edge of our driveway to let a pedestrian pass and then proceed to enter the driveway by making a right turn. As she accelerated to entered the driveway, the Tacoma took off with the engine screaming at a very high RPM and, despite her efforts to stop the truck by pressing hard on the brake, she crashed into the garage and east wall of the house. Despite the enormous damage to the front end of the vehicle, it is a total, I think, the air bags never deployed.obviously the Tacoma suffered from the same accelerator problem that has plagued Toyota units. …”
NHTSA complaint #10425071, filed 2011-09, 133,788 miles“Vehicle was stopped in traffic attempting a left turn. Vehicle was rear ended by a driver not paying attention, sent airborne, flipped several times forward and sideways, then hit a parked car. Air bag never deployed, resulting in major injuries to driver of vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11015435, filed 2017-08, 200,000 milesRelated recalls
- 98V188000Aug 6, 1998Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The statement required in the owner's manual that "...the on-off switch should only ben used when a member of a…Covers: Toyota Tacoma 1998
Related service bulletins
- 10244113Aug 17, 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most…
- 10190460Mar 17, 2021Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
- 10132410Jul 20, 2017TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 20, 2017 Rev1: Applicability has been updated to exclude 2007 ? 2017 model year Avanza vehicles. Some hazardous material treatment and handling…
- 10131961Jan 14, 2014Toyota vehicles are equipped with Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury…
- 10132055Nov 4, 2013Beginning in 1998, Toyota introduced side airbags as optional equipment. Toyota does NOT recommend replacement of original seat covers with non-Toyota leather or other seat cover…
- 10133915Jan 3, 2013Toyota vehicles are equipped with SRS, including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury in a collision. If a customer…
- 10042555Sep 6, 2011Toyota: information provided for replacing the seat covers for vehicles equipped with side airbags.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 2 | 1% |
| 2023 | 8 | 15% |
| 2022 | 8 | 14% |
| 2021 | 7 | 9% |
| 2020 | 4 | 4% |
| 2019 | 4 | 2% |
| 2018 | 3 | 1% |
| 2017 | 13 | 5% |
| 2016 | 5 | 2% |
| 2015 | 11 | 11% |
| 2014 | 8 | 9% |
| 2013 | 10 | 8% |
| 2012 | 9 | 3% |
| 2011 | 17 | 9% |
| 2010 | 16 | 5% |
| 2009 | 13 | 3% |
| 2008 | 29 | 6% |
| 2007 | 44 | 8% |
| 2006 | 76 | 10% |
| 2005 | 46 | 7% |
| 2004 | 15 | 4% |
| 2003 | 28 | 8% |
| 2002 | 19 | 6% |
| 2001 | 20 | 5% |
| 2000 | 25 | 12% |
| 1999 | 38 | 15% |
| 1998 | 46 | 15% |
| 1997 | 5 | 4% |
| 1996 | 16 | 6% |
| 1995 | 10 | 6% |
Other parts of the 1998 Toyota Tacoma
98 complaintsTires
29 complaintsSuspension
28 complaintsSeat belts
23 complaintsBrakes
21 complaintsOther or unknown
16 complaintsVehicle speed control
16 complaintsEngine cooling
15 complaintsSteering
12 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsExterior lighting
6 complaintsElectrical system
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Toyota Tacoma
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