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1989 Toyota Corolla

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1989 Toyota Corolla are lower than the model-year median of 129.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
23Owner complaints

Model-year median: 129

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1989 Toyota Corolla

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 23 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 5 reports
  • Power Train: 4 reports
  • Electrical System: 3 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3 reports
  • Vehicle Speed Control: 3 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
3
198614
198726
198823
198927
199071
199163
1992
Compare all Corolla years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
5Power Train
4Electrical System
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Vehicle Speed Control
3
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
2Seat Belts
2Seats
2Tires
2Structure
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 23 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports5 fire reports2 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

IN 1991, DRIVING ON HWY 5 IN CAL, SUDDEN MY CAR TACKED OUT, ACCELERATING BEYOND ANYTHING I'VE EXPERIENCE. THIS CAR IS BEFORE THE CURRENT RECALL. I BRING THIS UP, BECAUSE, AT THE TIME, I KNEW IT WAS NOT THE PEDAL. IT SEEMED TO ME AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS IN THE WIRING OR COMPUTER. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, IT COMPLETELY TACKED OUT…

Read full complaint

IN 1991, DRIVING ON HWY 5 IN CAL, SUDDEN MY CAR TACKED OUT, ACCELERATING BEYOND ANYTHING I'VE EXPERIENCE. THIS CAR IS BEFORE THE CURRENT RECALL. I BRING THIS UP, BECAUSE, AT THE TIME, I KNEW IT WAS NOT THE PEDAL. IT SEEMED TO ME AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS IN THE WIRING OR COMPUTER. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, IT COMPLETELY TACKED OUT, RISKING THAT IT WOULD THROW A ROD. THEN I TURNED THE KEY, AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AS I DRIFTED OFF THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE DON'T LET TOYOTA GET AWAY WITH SAYING THIS IS JUST PEDALS, IT WAS NOT FOR ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10304661

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

CONSUMER WANTS NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE PROBLEM WITH THE ADJUSTABLE FOOT PEDAL. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER READ ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE ADJUSTABLE PEDAL IN WHICH DRIVERS COULD HIT THE WRONG PEDAL DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. *NM

NHTSA ODI #566215

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

TOYOTA WAS BEING DRIVEN THROUGH A PARKING LOT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707383

Recall campaigns

1

16V396000 · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler

Jun 2, 2016

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.

Go deeper into Toyota Corolla problems

Toyota Corolla electrical problems →Toyota Corolla transmission problems →