The 1998 Toyota RAV4 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 142,338 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 92 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS20V0330002020-01-22138,842 affected
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…
Consequence
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.
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,…
POWER TRAIN00V2110002000-08-09756 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN RENDER THE SYSTEM INOPERATIVE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING LOCK ROD.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR00V2120002000-08-09780 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
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.
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…
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…
Consequence
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.
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…
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
7
7crashes5injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
6
2crashes
AIR BAGS
5
3crashes7injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4
1crashes
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
4
1crashes
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
4
1crashes
SEAT BELTS
3
1crashes3injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
2crashes
Total complaints92
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 toyota rav4. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the vapor canister and the vacuum switching valve (vsv) needed…”
“Tl* the contact owned a 1998 toyota rav4. The contact stated while making a left turn at an intersection, another vehicle crashed into the front passenger side of their vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact stated that two people in the vehicle sustained…”
“My vehicle is being recalled for takada air bags.”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 rav 4. The contact was notified through local emissions that the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign number: 20v033000 (air bags). The vin tool confirms that the vehicle was subjected to the recall. Neither a dealer nor the manufacturer was made aware of the issue.…”
“Even after I replaced the brake pads while doing maintenance, the brakes are still loose at times, mostly after running on the highway.”
“Re: safety recall for rear outboard seatbelts. I first became aware of the the recall in feb. 2016. In early march, we scheduled normal maintenance for our rav4. When we inquired about the seatbelt recall, the dealership had no knowledge of the issue. I have now been driving my 6 and 8 year old…”
“Excessive oil use, tried to have dealer fix at 149,000, would not check. Warenty enhancement, now 200000 miles 1 qt+ 1200 miles. Took to dealer 2/27/17 said I had to pay 3000+ to fix. Toyota new it was bad pistons or rings and admit it. But I pay? Always took care of vehicle”
“During slow turns such as through intersections there is a knocking in the steering wheel. This has been present since I purchased the car in 2008 and has been getting slowly worse. Dhl toyota in wappingers falls, ny has told me that this is a safety issue and the steering can go at any time.…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 Toyota RAV4 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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