Used 1998 Toyota 4Runner Consumer Reviews
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Twelve Years Out
WRB, 01/01/2010
1998 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4dr SUV
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Loved this car from the day my parents got it new; I took over in 2001. For its time (gas near $1/gal, economic boom, popularity & size of SUVs exploding, but before "green" went mainstream), it got good MPGs (few less than 1998 Camry). I get close to 15 MPG with a lead foot in city driving. I've found acceleration from a stop or from merging excellent (V6). I even contemplated putting weight in the rear to improve takeoff handling. Interior fit still tight & looks better than Tahoes up to 6 yrs newer. Only standard, elective maintenance. Bottom line: I could be driving a higher-end new or nearly new car, but this is still my first choice; & dad wants first dibs on buying it back.
4runner utopia
Greg Hanna, 10/05/2018
updated 04/17/2020
1998 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4dr SUV 4WD
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Update: I sold my 88 4runner to a close friend. She loves the truck and has not had any problems. This is my third 4runner out of four total. I still own three 4runners, the 1998 with 240,000 miles, a 1988 with 315,000 miles, and a 2000 with only 215,000 miles. The 1998 is being sold tomorrow to a friend who totaled her car. She has been admiring my 4runners for years and has been on many trips in them. During my ownership of this 4runner, I drove 110,000 of the 240,000 miles . I drive a lot of dirt roads - I live on one - and I do Iots of 4wheeling. In the 110,000 miles I put on this vehicle I put on one timing belt, one set of spark plugs, did regular oil changes and air filters, tires, replaced an inner tie rod end, and I had the brake rotors turned, I also had to replace a headlight lens that was broken by a rock on the way to Alaska. I live in a small town with few stop lights, so around town I get about 22 mile/gal. On the freeway going 75 mph I get 19 to 20 depending on how steep the mountains are. All of my Toyotas have manual transmissions. I do all my own maintenance and buy all my parts from Toyota, no aftermarket parts. I own a total of six Toyotas and only one has less then 200,000 miles on it. Needless to say I get a good discount on parts from my Toyota dealer. I am very happy with this truck and I am sad to see it go. But the up side is I will still get to cruise in it, but as a passenger from now on.
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1998 Toyota 4Runner for sale near you
3 of 25 listings
- SR5 4dr SUVMSRP: $5,90013 mi away
- Base 4dr SUVMSRP: $7,49521 mi away
- SR5 4dr SUVMSRP: $4,996177 mi away
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No vehicle has come close
JCM, 03/14/2008
1998 Toyota 4Runner Limited 4dr SUV 4WD
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
This is my second 4Runner. After driving an SR5 for 3 years I decided to lease the Limited. After 3 years of reliability I decide to purchase it. 185,000+ miles later I am still enjoying the reliability of the best vehicle I've ever owned. It has never had any major mechanical problems. I've had to replace the battery twice, brake pads once (always parked outdoors), and only now do I have to replace the muffler. The only electrical problem is the CD player skipping. It has been so reliable I am going to drive it until the wheels fall off.
Just can't get rid of it
barvaz, 04/09/2010
1998 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4dr SUV 4WD
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
Bought it new and have loved owning it. I keep looking to replace it but I just can't. New versions are all plastic. I like steel bumpers. It meets all of my driving needs perfectly. Has manual tranny, sunroof, towing pkg. Repairs through the years include: Antenna mechanism twice. Drivers door mechanism. Clutch. Trailer light converter box. Breaks as needed. Price of gas hurts but it's worth it. I'd buy the exact thing again new if they were available.
Can't kill it!
Val, 02/01/2021
1998 Toyota 4Runner 4dr SUV
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I have a 98 I bought in 2006 for $4,000 it had 159,000 miles on it.Its January 31,2021 still driving it,over 330,000 miles on it. I love this vehicle! Interior looks a little rough has been through 3 kids and 2 dogs runs just as good as ever.
Solid Vehicle
olzama13, 07/01/2003
1998 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4dr SUV 4WD
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Good solid vehicle 4wd is outstanding. I put a perfomance air intake in it and the fuel economy is awesome now and the vehicle have more pick up and go.
loved it now time to trade
4runnerlover, 05/24/2003
1998 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4dr SUV 4WD
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
fire engine red, sr5, w/manual trans. love this vehicle. time to trade up to a 2003 ltd 4wd. Can't say enough about toyota vehicles this is our 7th in 22yrs
My 1998 Toyota 4Runner SR5
Bandit13, 07/02/2009
1998 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4dr SUV
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I've had this SUV since new. The only thing needing replacement was the Antenna Mast. (TWICE} I just can't imagine with all the quality of this vehicle, the the Antenna Mast is a piece of junk. I know I'm not alone, because I belong to a few Toyota 4Runner SR5 sites and almost every person has had at least one or more Antenna Mast replacements. For a 6 cyl. engine it has great power. And comfortable ride. But for a 6 cyl. the MPG. is terrible. 15MPG City 23MPG Hwy. I've never towed anything with this SUV. I'm sure it would hold up to the task. Every 3 years I have the Transmission Fluid Drained and Filled thru the Coolant lines in and out of the radiator. I live in very hot climate.
I named her Baby
Marcy, 10/06/2010
1998 Toyota 4Runner Limited 4dr SUV
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I purchased this vehicle because I always wanted an SUV, but I wanted something reliable! I looked at the Honda CR-V, but being a tall woman 6'0", I wanted something a little roomier! I Loved the 4Runner as soon as I drove it! I know it was overkill to get one so big but oh well! I'm a nurse,so I travel sometimes and need safe/reliable transportation! And this is so it! What can I say, I love it!
Move Over Energizer Bunny
Mjwoodsphx, 12/31/2008
1998 Toyota 4Runner Limited 4dr SUV
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought this car in 2002 with 55K miles on it and paid 21K. The best investment I ever made! I bought this vehicle because I had a 1998 Tacoma and loved it. I dreaded that I gave it up at the end of the lease! The 4Runner is the best quality vehicle I have ever owned. Who owns a car for 7 years and hasn't grown tired of it?? This is one amazing vehicle and you can not beat the value. Sure it does not get great gas mileage, but it still gets better than most NEW SUVs. I average over 20 MPG and I live in Phoenix which has stops lights every mile not to mention terrible rush hour traffic! If you are considering one of these old guys, go for it! You won't regret it!