Three problems related to rear seat belt have been reported for the 1998 Toyota 4Runner. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
***second occurrence on same vehicle*** while traveling straight, a vehicle turned left in front of our 4runner. We braked fairly hard. Upon braking, the left rear seat belt made a whirling noise and completely lost tension while unraveling. This caused the rear occupant (properly buckled in) to move forward due to the braking forces, and the occupant was subsequently not restrained in movement by the failing seat belt. This seat belt unraveled so far that the occupant could have easily slid underneath the slack in the belt.
My 7 year old daughter was sitting in the rear passenger seat with the shoulder belt on. We parked and some how she got tangled up in the belt. When I pushed the seatbelt release button it locked up around her waist and would not loosen to get her out. Every time I moved her to get her out it would lock up more until she was standing in the back seat with the belt so tight around her waist that it was leaving marks and I had to cut the seat belt to get her out. This concerns me as a parent that the belt locks when the car is turned off and in park. I contacted the Toyota dealer and they are going to order me the seat belt we will be negotiating who is going to pay for this.
Rear passenger seat belt made a loud noise and completely unraveled from its retraction component (mounted on the pillar) while in use. Seat belt now remains extended, and will not retract, even with assistance.