Hearth Record

Air bags: on-off switch assembly (Toyota)

Vehicle recall 98V-188. NHTSA received TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.’s report on Aug 6, 1998.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.’s report on Aug 6, 1998. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 2026.

Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

IF THE AIR BAG SWITCH IS “OFF,” THE SEAT OCCUPANT WHO IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE PASSENGER RISK GROUP WOULD BE SUBJECT TO INCREASED INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.

THE STATEMENT REQUIRED IN THE OWNER’S MANUAL THAT “...THE ON-OFF SWITCH SHOULD ONLY BEN USED WHEN A MEMBER OF A PASSENGER RISK GROUP IDENTIFIED IN THE REQUEST FORM IN APPENDIX B......IS OCCUPYING THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEATING POSITION...” IS MIS-STATED.

THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 208, “OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.”

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Air bags: on-off switch assembly.

What should you do?

OWNERS WILL BE SENT A CORRECTED OWNER’S MANUAL.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 16, 1998.OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE CORRECTED OWNER’S MANUAL WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 84,323 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Toyota Tacomaand 1998, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD..
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
  • Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
  • This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

Source:

Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 20, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

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Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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