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1990 Toyota Corolla

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Toyota Corolla are lower than the model-year median of 129.

About this comparison →
27Owner complaints

Model-year median: 129

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
14
198726
198823
198927
199071
199163
1992130
1993
Compare all Corolla years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
8Tires
6Power Train
5Seat Belts
4Equipment
1
All reported categories
Interior Lighting
1Seats
1Steering
1Structure
1Unknown Or Other
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: 1 of 27 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 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2000
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAR JERKED. THEN IT JERKED AGAIN, AND SOON AS CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD, TRANSMISSION LOCKED AND VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #870268

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2000
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH HEARD A LOUD NOISE ,TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. CAR SKIDDED TO HALT ON ROADWAY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE DIFFERENTIAL RUNNING OUT OF FLUID. THE DIP STICK FOR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SHOWED FULL. THERE WAS NO…

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WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH HEARD A LOUD NOISE ,TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. CAR SKIDDED TO HALT ON ROADWAY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE DIFFERENTIAL RUNNING OUT OF FLUID. THE DIP STICK FOR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SHOWED FULL. THERE WAS NO DIP STICK FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL. SO THERE WAS NO WAY TO CHECK THE FLUID, IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #857899

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP/FAILED 4 TIMES. ALSO, REPLACED ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #517614

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 1996
Power Train

WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH IT STICKS INTERMITTENTLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN MORE DETAIL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #982351

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 1995
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, VEHICLE SIEZED WITHOUT WARNING. TT

NHTSA ODI #968251

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Toyota Corolla problems

Toyota Corolla electrical problems →Toyota Corolla transmission problems →