1991 Toyota Corolla

Routine

Owners filed 71 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure › body › door. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Structure › Body › Door11
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe9
000
Tires5
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission5
000
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly4
101
Seat Belts4
201
Electrical System › Ignition3
000
Vehicle Speed Control2
100
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor2
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch2
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Suspension10E002000
Filed Feb 11, 201012,657 vehiclesRide Control, Llc

Defect. RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.

Risk. THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Jan 7, 2014200,000 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING THE COLD WEATHER, SHE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK HER DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. THE CONTACT STATED DUE TO THE COLD, AND THAT THE DOOR LOCK DID NOT HAVE RIDGES, SHE WAS UNABLE TO PULL THE LOCK IN THE UPWARD POSITION AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAPPED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE UNTIL LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVED AND UNLOCKED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 18, 201089,800 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 TOYOTA COROLLA DX SEDAN. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK AT 3 MPH. THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE MORE RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT THEN ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE THEN INDEPENDENTLY DECREASED IN SPEED BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND DIRECTED HIM TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER LODGED THE CONTACT'S COMPLAINT BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN THE VEHICLE ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,800.

SteeringCrash
Filed Feb 27, 2010NH

I HAVE A TOYOTA COROLLA. I WAS PULLED OVER ONE TIME BY THE NASHUA POLICE IN 2007 ALLEGING THAT MY VEHICLE WAS SWERVING. I COULDN'T FEEL IF IT DOES..BUT COUPLE WEEKS AGO I OBSERVED IT VERY CLOSELY.AND YES IT DOES SWERVED. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THE LIST OF MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT THAT THE SECOND TIME THAT MY CAR ACCELERATED IN REVERSE MOTION COULD ALSO BE ATTRIBUTED TO STEERING MECHANISM. WHY ? I WAS ENGAGED IN REVERSE , WHILE CUTTING THE WHEEL TO MAKE A 90 DEGREES ANGLE BACKING BUT MY CAR WENT INTO A DONUT SPIN. AS A WOMAN WHAT DO I KNOW ABOUT CARS. ALL I KNOW IS THAT IT IS TOO IRONIC THAT THE SIMILARITIES OF THESE INCIDENTS ARE TOO FARFETCH TO IGNORE. THEY ARE IDENTICAL TO EACH OTHER. I AM SCARED TO RIDE IN IT SINCE THEN. I REMEMBER THE FIRST CAR I HAVE WAS A CELICA,THAT TOO CROSS A MIDDLE ISLAND WHILE I WAS MAKING A U TURN. AND THE RUST INSIDE MY TRUNK . WHY WOULD THE RUST IS INSIDE THE TRUNK. THE SEATBELT DOESN'T WORK. THE SEAT ARE TOO LOW THAT IF I DON'T REINFORCE IT WITH PADDED PILLOWS I COULD HARDLY SEE THE FRONT & THE BACK. I SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON THIS CAR BECAUSE I GET ATTACHED TO IT. ALSO THE HEADLIGHTS I HAVE CHANGED IT LIKE YOU WON'T BELIEVED. *TR

Electrical SystemCrash2 injured
Filed Feb 24, 2010NH

MY CAR ACCELERATED ON REVERSE WHEREIN INSTEAD OF MAKING A 90 DEGREES ANGLE THE CAR WENT SWIPING IN 180 DEGREES. BOTH TIMES WAS RAINY. BOTH TIMES THE HEADLIGHTS & THE WINDSHIELD WIPER & THE BACK WINDOW DEFOGGER IS ON. DURING THIS BACK UP WHEN I TURN MY HEAD , THE REAR BACK WINDSHIELD WAS VERY BLURRY & TWICE THIS HAPPENS TO ME. BOTH TIMES I WAS MAKING A REVERSE LEFT SIDE CORNER. WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR THE LEFT BACKLIGHT IS DAMAGED. I PUT THINGS TOGETHER THAT MAYBE THE SAME THING HAD HAPPEN TO THE FIRST OWNER OF MY CAR. I HAVE DRIVEN IN ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR 18 YEARS, WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT HAPPENED TO ME IN THE HIGHWAYS BUT THE ONLY TWO ACCIDENT I HAVE WITH SO FAR IS ON THIS CAR IN MY OWN BACKYARD, ON THE SAME EXACT MOTION, SAME WEATHER CONDITION. THE CAR WAS ON REVERSE. THE TWO TIMES IT HAPPENED WAS VERY IDENTICAL TO EACH OTHER.

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Jul 11, 2007CA

AFTER BUYING A USED 1991 TOYOTA COROLA I NOTICED 3 OUT OF 5 SEAT BELTS IN THIS CAR WERE DEFECTIVE. THE RETRACTOR ON THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LATCH WHEN I PULLED ON IT QUICKLY. MY WIFE AND I DID NOT EVEN NOTICE WHEN WE WERE TEST DRIVING THE CAR. THEY APPEARED TO BE FINE. I BELIEVE THERE WERE MANY OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD. THESE SEAT BELTS WERE JUNK AND NEEDED TO BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA, AND THEY NEED TO REPLACE THEM WITH PROPERLY WORKING ONES FREE OF CHARGE BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT OR KILLED. I CALLED TOYOTA AND ASKED THEM TO FIX THEM FREE OF CHARGE. THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL NOT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS WAS A VERY URGENT SAFETY ISSUE. TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THEM FREE OF CHARGE. I CALLED A TOYOTA DEALER, AND THEY WANT $600 FOR 3 SETS OF SEAT BELTS, AND THAT DID NOT NOT EVEN INCLUDE LABOR TO INSTALL THEM. TO MAKE THINGS WORSE THEY WERE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO WORK ON. THEY MADE IT DIFFICULT ON PURPOSE SO THAT THE CONSUMERS GOT STUCK WITH A HUGE BILLS IF THEY WANTED THE SEAT BELTS FIXED. I WISH TO HAVE AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Jun 8, 2005NY

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE DOOR MOUNTED SEAT BELT. THE SHOULDER BELT COMES TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND CONNECTS TO THE DOOR. THE DOOR OPENS UP, AND CONSUMER IS NOT BELTED IN.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Dec 8, 200417,104 milesWI

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND AS THE VEHICLE HAD TAKEN AN EXIT, A LOUD NOISE ALONG WITH SMOKE, STEAM, AND LIQUID WAS POURING OUT OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS LEFT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ON THE EXIT RAMP WHILE ON AN INCLINE. CURRENTLY THE ROD BEARING IN THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED. *SC

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Feb 25, 200482,500 milesIN

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ACCELERATOR CONTROLS. VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE DRIVER. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND IT WAS CHECKED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUR PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Jan 13, 2004DC

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REGARDING HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATED WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.*MR *CB *JB

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Nov 19, 2003110,703 milesCA

REAR PASSENGER TIRE SUFFERED TIRE TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. *MR THE CONSUMER HEARD A SLAPPING/BANGING NOISE THAT HAD COME FROM THE REAR UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND DISCOVERED THE REAR TIRE HAD COME OFF AS IF IT WERE SLICED. THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER CONCLUDED THE TIRE WAS BEING OPERATED FOR AN UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME WITH INSUFFICIENT AIR PRESSURE *SCC *JB

Tires
Filed Dec 6, 2002147,161 milesCA

CONSUMER STATED ALL 4 TIRES SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING. TS *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 23, 2002FL

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Tires
Filed May 17, 2002OH

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT, WHILE CONTINUING TO DRIVE, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME UNDRIVEABLE, VEHICLE CAME TO A REST ON THE RIGHT BERM, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE, NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN, OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *TT

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 9, 2002MA

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING FRONT END LOCKED UP. CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING.*AK

Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly
Filed Sep 28, 2001CT

RIGHT FRONT OUTER TIE ROD CAME OUT AND SEPARATED. WHEEL TURNED A 90 DEGREE ANGLE CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *YH

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Jul 2, 2001FL

DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LATCH IN BUCKLE HOUSING MECHANISM, PREVENTING OCCUPANTS FROM USING SEAT BELTS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Jul 2, 2001VA

THE DOOR STRUCTURE MECHANISMS HAVE PERSISTENTLY FAILED ON THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE FIVE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE DOOR MECHANISM FAIL TWICE IN SUCH AS WAY THAT THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE AND WHEN THE WINDOW IS PUT DOWN, THE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURY. LUCKILY, I HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE DOOR HAS UNEXPECTEDLY POPPED OPEN. THE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE AND TOYOTA SEEMS UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS WITH THE CREATION OF HIGHER QUALITY DOOR PARTS.*AK

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Jun 25, 2001VA

FIVE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES AND ONE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE HAD BROKEN OFF. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST. VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Feb 15, 2001CA

DEFROSTER HASN'T WORKED SINCE PURCHASE DATE; EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED 3 TIMES. *AK

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Feb 15, 2001CA

THE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLES W/SPRINGS NEED TO BE RECALLED. AT $25 A DOOR HANDLE, IT'S OBVIOUS TOYOTA MADE THEM THAT WAY TO MAKE MONEY! I LOVE THIS CAR AND HAVE GOTTEN MY MONIES WORTH, BUT THE MANIFOLD AND DOOR HANDLES NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED. THE SPRING IN THE DOOR HANDLES DO NOT HOLD UP. THE HANDLES BREAK IF THE PERSON DOESN'T GRAB & GRASP THE HANDLE TOGETHER. IT'S NOT WEAR & TEAR EITHER. MY BACK DOORS OF MY 4 DOOR ARE RARELY USED BY ANYONE,. YET , I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEM BRAKING LIKE THE FRONT HANDLES. TO DATE AND SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW, I HAVE GONE THROUGH A GOOD 12 DOOR HANDLES. AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE MANIFOLD CRACKED WHILE UNDER THE WARRANTY, ONCE UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOW I FIND THAT IT'S BEEN CRACKED AGAIN FOR SOME TIME AND THAT THE NOISE I HEAR IS ONCE AGAIN FROM A CRACKED MANIFOLD!!!!!!!! NHTSA PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THIS MANIFOLD REPLACING IS COSTLY. THE DEFROSTER AND INSIDE ROOF LIGHT HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY BUT I JUST THOUGHT SOMETHING ELECTRICAL WAS OFF. AGAIN, MY CONCERN NOW IS THE MANIFOLD AND DOOR HANDLES THAT QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE NHTSA. *AK

20 of 71 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2009
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202615100Routine
202531010Routine
202463201Fatalities reported
202373310Routine
2022100000Routine
2021185120Routine
2020305311Fatalities reported
2019202511Fatalities reported
2018133351Fatalities reported
2017178310Routine
2016214110High concern
2015219110High concern
2014269231Fatalities reported
2013201510Above average
2012446510Above average
2011584920Above average
20101,24417100High concern
20091,45913122Fatalities reported
2008314611Fatalities reported
2007836673Fatalities reported
20068391080High concern
20058531041Fatalities reported
20044771334Fatalities reported
20037201391Fatalities reported
2002117510Routine
2001133430Routine
2000145531Fatalities reported
1999155450Routine
1998225480Above average
1997135650Routine
19961296130Routine
19951767121Fatalities reported
1994172851Fatalities reported
1993130651Fatalities reported
199263230Routine
1991 — this page71130Routine
199027100Routine

Compare every Corolla year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Feb 11, 2010. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.