1998 Toyota Rav4 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags:frontal (7) · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal (5) · Vehicle Speed Control (5)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Rav4 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
20 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2020-01-22 · campaign 20V033000 · 138,842 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant, and increases the risk of serious injury or death.
Fix: 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. Owne
Service bulletins (66)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2024-01-22 · T-SB-0043-14 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
obsolete notice january 22, 2024: this bulletin is now obsolete. please see t-sb-0057-18.
Vehicle Speed Control 2023-08-17 · TSB003220 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: 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 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this service bulletin. fo
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 2022-03-17 · TTT063620 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tt: some toyota vehicles installed with toyota complete maintenance care (tcmc) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions
Wheels 2022-01-12 · Toyota PRO19-02 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pol: this consolidated tire warranty guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by toyota. this information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. customers can find this information
Air Bags 2021-03-17 · Toyota Safety Re · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
toyota safety recall and service campaign - technician certification requirements
Service Brakes 2021-03-12 · T-TT-0636-20 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tt: some toyota vehicles installed with toyota complete maintenance care (tcmc) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
Showing the 6 most recent of 66 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
No detailed complaint narratives on file.
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.