NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Toyota RAV4. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
TAPE PLAYER/STEREO IS NOT WORKING. YH
ENGINE FAILS REPEATEDLY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON BUT DOES NOT REGISTER ANY CODES.
SECURITY (ANTI THEFT) ALARM FAILED. YH
BATTERY FAILED. YH
REAR WINDOW POWER FAILED. YH
CRUISE CONTROL.
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
BRAKE SWITCH RELEASE HANDLE FAILED. *YC
THE VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE LEFT INTERMITTENTLY & THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL GET'S VERY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR SERVICE. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *YC
BRAKING SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE, AND ON WET PAVEMENT AT 20MPH THE BRAKES LOCK UP. DEALER AND INSURANCE COMPANY CONTACTED. AFTER REPAIR WORK HAD BEEN DONE, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *AK
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
INTERMITTENTLY THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE "HARD" AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE SLID, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK TOYOTA DECIDED TO TAKE VEHICLE BACK AND GIVE CONSUMER A NEW ONE. *SLC
LEFT FRONT QUARTER PANEL ENGINE FUSE FAILED. YH
BRAKES FAILED.
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL WELL FLAP WAS MISSING A BOLT THAT SHOULD HAVE ATTACHED TO THE BODY CAUSING FLAP TO BE LOOSE AND RUB ON THE TIRE WHICH WORE A HOLE THROUGH THE FLAP.
REPLACED BRAKES 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE, PADS TWICE A YEAR, REPLACED ROTORS TWICE. BRAKES ARE ALWAYS SQEAKING. CURENTLY, STRUTS ARE LEAKING. *AK *SLC
1998 TOYOTA RAV4. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST 7 OF THE 11 YEARS SHE HAS OWNED IT. WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS AT A FULL STOP, AND PROCEEDED TO STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGAN TO MOVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED WITH EXTREME FORCE, SO THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD OR WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED UP AND DOWN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD. THE SERVICE CENTER LUBRICATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *JB
POWER ASSISTED FRONT DISC AND REAR BRAKE DRUMS FAILED.
NO INFORMATION PROVIDED.
AIR BAG LIGHT FAILED. YH
BRAKES SQUEAK. *YC
AIR CONDITION CONTROL SWITCH FAILED. MJS
TOYOTA STATES THEY CANNOT INSTALL AN ACHOR FOR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *AK
THE ENGINE IDLEING SPEED SOMETIMES GOES UP TO OVER 2000 RPM. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN CONCORD, NH WHO SAID I NEEDED A NEW COMPUTER COSTING $1300 BUT IT WOULD BE WEEKS BEFORE IT WAS AVAILBLE. NEXT DAY THE IDLING RETURNED TO NORMAL. SO I TOLD TOYOTA THAT IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO GET THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM REOCCURS AND SEEMS TO RIGHT ITSELF. HAVING THE REVS SO HIGH CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. PERSONALLY, I THINK THE PROBLEM IS IN THE FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM BUT I'D HAVE TO SPEND THE $1300 ON THE NEW COMPUTER FIRST TO PROVE THIS.
WHILE PASSING A TRUCK BRAKES LOCKED UP. DEALER WAS CONTACTED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR ,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE AFTER BRAKES ARE APPLIED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
TS