Known Recalls

Model year record

1998 Toyota RAV4

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 92 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 20V033000

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module

Component
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected
138,842
Reported to NHTSA
2020-01-22
Owners notified
2020-08-28

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

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. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall is 20TB01 and 20TA01.

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V212000

Service brakes, air: disc: rotor

Component
Service brakes, air: disc: rotor
Manufacturer
TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
780
Reported to NHTSA
2000-08-09
Owners notified
2000-09-25

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTOR, WHEN EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, CAN DEVELOP STRESS FRACTURES IF THE LUG NUTS ARE TIGHTENED WITH EXCESSIVE TORQUE.

Safety risk

THE DISC ROTOR COULD BREAK (WHERE IT MOUNTS TO THE WHEEL), RESULTING IN A LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION ON THAT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DISC BRAKE ROTORS. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND STEEL WHEELS WITH NEW DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND NEW ALUMINUM WHEELS. IN ADDITION A CAUTION LABEL THAT READS, "USE NEW GENUINE TOYOTA ALUMINUM WHEELS." WILL BE AFFIXED. VEHICLES ALREADY EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS WILL ONLY REQUIRE CAUTION LABEL INSTALLATION.

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V211000

Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch

Component
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch
Manufacturer
TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
756
Reported to NHTSA
2000-08-09
Owners notified
2000-09-25

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. IF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE REPEATEDLY PARKED BY PLACING THE SHIFT LEVER INTO THE "P" POSITION WITHOUT APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE, THE PARKING LOCK ROD, A COMPONENT OF THE TRANSMISSION PARKING LOCK SYSTEM, COULD BREAK.

Safety risk

THIS CONDITION CAN RENDER THE SYSTEM INOPERATIVE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING LOCK ROD.

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V278000

Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module

Component
Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module
Manufacturer
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS
Vehicles affected
1,960
Reported to NHTSA
1998-10-19

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS (TDS) SUPPLIED BY AUDIOVOX CORPORATION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN 'OPEN CIRCUIT' CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.

Safety risk

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS AND/OR HVAC FAN SPEED CONTROLS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RUN SMOOTHLY AND COULD STALL.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Air bags: frontal7—
Vehicle speed control671,300 mi
Air bags5105,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal5400,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission4132,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip4—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components4—
Seat belts3105,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder3—
Unknown or other3—
Engine and engine cooling: engine294,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline2—
Fuel system, gasoline2117,500 mi
Power train242,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission299,600 mi
Service brakes2—
Structure: body2—
Vehicle speed control: linkages2—
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module1—
Child seat1—
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery1—
Electrical system: ignition1—
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers1—
Engine1149,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling181,905 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner1—
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.1—
Exterior lighting: brake lights1—
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch1—
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap1—
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch1106,000 mi
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical1—
Power train: driveline: differential unit1103,000 mi
Power train: driveline: driveshaft1—
Seat belts: front: retractor1109,000 mi
Service brakes, air: disc: rotor1—
Service brakes, hydraulic1120,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist1—
Steering180,000 mi
Steering: column locking: anti-theft device1—
Structure: frame and members1117,565 mi
Suspension1—
Suspension: front1—
Suspension: rear: shock absorber1—
Tires1—
Tires: sidewall1—
Visibility: power window devices and controls1—
Wheels1—

The 1997 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. The 1999 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.