1998 Toyota RAV4
JT171SC1000188415
Vehicle record for the 1998 Toyota RAV4 (VIN JT171SC1000188415). Black, wagon / suv, gasoline / lpg. 5 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year. Free specifications, registration region and recall data.
No photo of this model yet1998 Toyota RAV4 · Black on the registration record
Full vehicle history report
Everything below is in the paid report for VIN JT171SC1000188415, compiled live from NMVTIS and licensed providers the moment you unlock it. Not every vehicle has every record type — the report shows what is on file, and says so when nothing is. The 5 recall campaigns for this model year are shown free further down.
📜 Title & ownership
- Title statusClean, salvage, rebuilt, junk, flood or lemon — from the national title database (NMVTIS)🔒
- Title brand historyEvery brand ever applied, by state, with what each one means🔒
- Title & registration recordsHow many times it has been titled, where, and the years-per-owner pace🔒
- Decode consistency checkThe provider's decode cross-checked against ours — a mismatch is a cloned-VIN warning sign🔒
🛞 Odometer
- Odometer timelineEvery reported reading with its date and state, drawn as a timeline🔒
- Rollback checkFlags any reading that goes backwards🔒
- Miles per yearThis car's pace against the US average🔒
💥 Damage, loss & theft
- Total-loss recordsInsurance total-loss declarations, with the reporting insurer type and date🔒
- Salvage & junk-yard recordsSalvage, junk and auction dispositions, including export flags🔒
- Theft screenActive and recovered theft records🔒
- Accident indicatorsDamage events reflected in title data (NMVTIS does not carry police crash reports)🔒
- Flood-exposure checkTitle activity in a disaster area soon after a major flood or hurricane🔒
💰 Liens & value
- Liens, impounds & exportOpen liens with the lender, tow/impound and export records🔒
- Market value for this exact carRetail adjusted for its mileage and state, trade-in, loan value, auction low/avg/high and retail by condition🔒
- DepreciationDrop from original MSRP, yearly rate and a one-year projection🔒
- Sticker vs dealer invoiceWhat it cost new, and what the dealer paid🔒
🧰 Factory warranty & equipment
- Remaining warrantyBasic, powertrain and rust coverage left, estimated from the first title date and odometer🔒
- Standard equipment & coloursWhat this trim came with from the factory, and the colours it was offered in🔒
🚨 Recalls on this VIN
- Per-VIN recall statusWhether each campaign has been repaired on THIS car, remedy availability, do-not-drive and stop-sale flags, dealer labour time🔒
History reports cover US-titled vehicles only. This car is registered in Ukraine, so title, salvage and odometer records from the US national title database (NMVTIS) don't apply to it. The registration record, specifications and recall data on this page are free.
At a glance
Vehicle identity & specifications
🧾 Window sticker / build sheet → All 1998 Toyota RAV4 data →
📋 All factory specifications on file8 more fields from the manufacturer's VIN record (NHTSA vPIC)
🏭 Manufacturing & other
Values are as reported by the manufacturer for this VIN pattern; blank or "not applicable" fields are omitted.
What's a 1998 Toyota RAV4 worth?
What comparable 1998 Toyota RAV4 vehicles are listed for — a quick gut-check before you negotiate.
Is the seller's price fair? Get this exact VIN's current market value — retail, trade-in & loan value — in the full report.
Exact-VIN valuations are part of the history report, available for US-titled vehicles.MPG & running costs
U.S. EPA fuel-economy estimates for the 1998 Toyota RAV4.
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 8 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages. Actual mileage varies with trim and driving conditions.
Crash-test safety ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1998 Toyota RAV4.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program, tested as the 1998 Toyota RAV4 4-DR. 4x4. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 1998 Toyota RAV4 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Dimensions & weight
Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1998 Toyota RAV4 — ranges cover the 4 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Investigations & service bulletins
Manufacturer service bulletins 79
Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be free. Showing the 10 most recent of 79.
OBSOLETE NOTICE January 22, 2024: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0057-18.
Bulletin T-SB-0043-14 · Equipment · Jan 2024TSB: 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 crit…
Bulletin TSB003220 · Air Bags, Vehicle Speed Control, Equipment · Aug 2023TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions
Bulletin TTT063620 · Back Over Prevention, Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Mar 2022POL: 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.…
Bulletin Toyota PRO19-02 · Tires, Wheels, Equipment · Jan 2022Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
Bulletin Toyota Safety Re · Air Bags · Mar 2021TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
Bulletin T-TT-0636-20 Rev · Service Brakes, Back Over Prevention · Mar 2021TSB: 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 ? 2021 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the crit…
Bulletin T-SB-0032-20 Rev · Equipment · Feb 2021TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
Bulletin T-TT-0636-20 · Back Over Prevention, Service Brakes · Dec 2020TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
Bulletin T-TT-0636-20 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Dec 2020TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates
Bulletin T-SB-0304-17 Obs · Equipment · Apr 2020Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the RAV4. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
Canadian recalls 1
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1998 Toyota RAV4. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.
Airbag
Issue: On certain vehicles, exposure to moisture over time could cause the driver-front airbag not to inflate properly in a crash. In some cases, this could cause an airbag not to fully inflate, while in others it could cause it to deploy with more force than normal. It could also cause the inflator to rupture. If the airbag inflator ruptures, small pieces of metal could be pro…
Transport Canada #2020018 · Jan 2020Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
About the Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 is a compact crossover SUV produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. Having sold over 15 million units worldwide as of 2025, the RAV4 is the best-selling SUV of all time. The car is credited with popularizing compact crossover automobiles, often credited as the first modern compact crossover SUV. In February 2025, the RAV4 replaced the Ford F-150 as the best-selling car in the United States, after nearly four decades of the latter's reign.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.
Safety recall campaigns 5
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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 …
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
NHTSA Campaign #20V033000 · manufacturer #20TB01/20TA01 · 22/01/2020POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING LOCK ROD.
NHTSA Campaign #00V211000 · 09/08/2000SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
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.
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 AFF
NHTSA Campaign #00V212000 · 09/08/2000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: AFTERMARKET THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS USED ON 1998-1998 TOYOTA RAV4, AVALON, AND SIENNA MODEL VEHICLES 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…
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,
NHTSA Campaign #98E035000 · 19/10/1998ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
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 PLU…
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,
NHTSA Campaign #98V278000 · 19/10/1998Note: recall data comes from the U.S. NHTSA and covers the US-market version of this model. A car registered in Ukraine may have different campaigns — check with the manufacturer's local importer.
These are NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year, last checked 7 Oct 2026. They don't show whether this particular car has had the repair done — check this VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.
We'll email you the moment a new safety recall is issued — no spam, unsubscribe any time.
Common problems & what to inspect
Based on all 89 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Toyota RAV4, here are the most-reported problem areas — and what to check before you buy.
💥 20 involved a crash 🚑 12 reported injuries
🔍 Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
🔍 Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
🔍 Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
🔍 Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
🔍 Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
🔍 Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Pre-purchase checklist
- Match the VIN on the dash, door jamb and title — they must be identical.
- Cold-start the engine; listen for knocks and check for blue or white exhaust smoke.
- Test-drive through all gears at low and highway speed — no slipping, shudder or pulling.
- Confirm every warning light clears at startup (none should stay on).
- Check fluids — oil, coolant, transmission — for level, color and leaks.
- Look underneath for rust, fresh undercoating or signs of collision repair.
- Always get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.
Owner complaints 89
Complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of the 1998 Toyota RAV4.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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 TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFAC…
NHTSA ODI #11413379AIR BAGS
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 INJURIES. THE PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT SUSTAINED A BLACK …
Crash · 2 injured · NHTSA ODI #11403564AIR BAGS
MY VEHICLE IS BEING RECALLED FOR TAKADA AIR BAGS.
NHTSA ODI #11374940AIR 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. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PA…
NHTSA ODI #11311119SERVICE BRAKES
EVEN AFTER I REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS WHILE DOING MAINTENANCE, THE BRAKES ARE STILL LOOSE AT TIMES, MOSTLY AFTER RUNNING ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA ODI #11041468ENGINE
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
NHTSA ODI #10968427SEAT BELTS
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 CHILDREN AROUND IN A VEHICLE WITH RECALLED SEATBELTS FOR 2 M…
NHTSA ODI #10854226SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO COME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE ROTOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RE…
NHTSA ODI #10618588+ 81 more complaints on record.
