1998 Toyota Highlander Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Highlander years
- Not enough data 27th of 30 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 1998 Toyota Highlander. That ranks 27th out of 30 Highlander model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 100%), typically at around 14,325 miles. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

- 1owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Toyota Highlander problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 | 100% | 14,325 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
1998 Toyota Highlander recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1998 Toyota Highlander.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Engine seizure (DP02004) — opened Apr 30, 2002, closed Jun 20, 2002.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Door locks keep popping open or shut many times per day. Sometimes when parked, other times when driving. This has been going on for over a year. Each time i take to the dealer, he says he can't find the reason. Toyota has no clue on why this electrical problem exists. I can't leave anything in the…
Other Toyota Highlander years
← 1997 Highlander · 1999 Highlander →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Highlander | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 Highlander | 10 | 4 |
| 2024 Highlander | 43 | 7 |
| 2023 Highlander | 186 | 9 |
| 2022 Highlander | 262 | 5 |
| 2021 Highlander | 531 | 4 |
| 2020 Highlander | 320 | 4 |
| 2019 Highlander | 492 | 3 |
| 2018 Highlander | 268 | 4 |
| 2017 Highlander | 270 | 3 |
| 2016 Highlander | 111 | 2 |
| 2015 Highlander | 192 | 1 |
| 2014 Highlander | 136 | 4 |
| 2013 Highlander | 207 | 3 |
| 2012 Highlander | 182 | 2 |
| 2011 Highlander | 181 | 5 |
| 2010 Highlander | 216 | 10 |
| 2009 Highlander | 134 | 9 |
| 2008 Highlander | 404 | 11 |
| 2007 Highlander | 124 | 4 |
| 2006 Highlander | 278 | 7 |
| 2005 Highlander | 224 | 6 |
| 2004 Highlander | 286 | 5 |
| 2003 Highlander | 258 | 2 |
| 2002 Highlander | 301 | 2 |
| 2001 Highlander | 137 | 3 |
| 2000 Highlander | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 Highlander | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 Highlander | 1 | 0 |
See all Toyota Highlander problems by year, every Toyota model, or the Toyota VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Toyota Highlander?
Owners most often report electrical system problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Toyota Highlander?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1998 Toyota Highlander a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Highlander model years, the 1998 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.