← New search

1991 Toyota Corolla

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1991 Toyota Corolla do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 129.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Corolla years →

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 6 of 71 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 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

71 reports
200,000 miles · Jan 7, 2014
Latches/locks/linkages

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 INSID…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10558770

89,800 miles · Aug 18, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

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 …

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10350417

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2010
Interior LightingPower TrainSeat BeltsCrash

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 REV…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10314802

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2010
Electrical SystemPower TrainSuspensionCrashInjury

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. B…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10313976

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2007
Seat Belts

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. TH…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10196038

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2005
Seat Belts

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

NHTSA ODI #10124543

17,104 miles · Dec 8, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

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 A…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10094898

82,500 miles · Feb 25, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #10059795

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2004
Air Bags

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

NHTSA ODI #10053905

110,703 miles · Nov 19, 2003
Tires

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…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10048362

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