1998 Toyota Rav4: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 92 complaints
92
Total Complaints
109,000mi
Median Mileage
Frontal
Top Issue
22
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
99,600
25th Percentile
109,000
Median Mileage
121,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Frontal
7
Vehicle Speed Control
6
Accelerator Pedal
5
Air Bags
5
Automatic Transmission
4
Foundation Components
4
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
4
Seat Belts
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Master Cylinder
3
Severity Assessment
22
Crashes
0
Fires
15
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AT ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE AIRBAG S DID NOT DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK"
"POWER ASSISTED FRONT DISC AND REAR BRAKE DRUMS FAILED."
"CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES AND WAS IMPACTED BY A HEAD-ON COLLISION OF A 75 CHEVROLET NOVA. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, SHREDDING THE STEERING WHEEL COVER, INJURING THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED DURING THIS CRASH. *AK"
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 21
NY: 9
PA: 8
FL: 8
OH: 4
TX: 4
IL: 4
MI: 3
MD: 3
AZ: 2
Who Files Complaints?
47.8%
Original Owners
52.2%
Second+ Owners
Toyota Rav4 — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (5)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Inflator Module
Campaign 20V033000 | 22/01/2020
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.
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
Rotor
Campaign 00V212000 | 09/08/2000
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.
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 A
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
Campaign 00V211000 | 09/08/2000
THIS CONDITION CAN RENDER THE SYSTEM INOPERATIVE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING LOCK ROD.
Control Module
Campaign 98V278000 | 19/10/1998
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.
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
Control Module
Campaign 98E035000 | 19/10/1998
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.
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
Airbag Safety
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Check for open airbag recalls at NHTSA.gov using your VIN
- Never ignore the airbag warning light — get it diagnosed immediately
- Don't install aftermarket steering wheel covers that block the airbag
- Keep the area around airbag deployment zones clear of accessories
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28