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: 15 of 129 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.
Air Bags. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
31 crash reports13 fire reports21 injury reports
What owners actually said
129 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2003
Exterior Lighting
1996 TOYOTA COROLLA - WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON AND YOU STEP ON THE BRAKES, THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHT GOES OUT. IT IS DANGEROUS AS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, IT APPEARS TO THE DRIVER BEHIND YOU THAT YOU ARE SIGNALING FOR A RIGHT TURN. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS AND IT WILL APPEAR OK, THEN BEGIN MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. THERE MUST BE AN ELECTRICA…
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1996 TOYOTA COROLLA - WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON AND YOU STEP ON THE BRAKES, THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHT GOES OUT. IT IS DANGEROUS AS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, IT APPEARS TO THE DRIVER BEHIND YOU THAT YOU ARE SIGNALING FOR A RIGHT TURN. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS AND IT WILL APPEAR OK, THEN BEGIN MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. THERE MUST BE AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION PROBLEM IN THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COROLLAS ON THE ROAD THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10030249
67,500 miles · Jul 13, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
BRAKES FAILED WHILE APPROACHING CARS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10025991
120,000 miles · Jul 3, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT AND THERE WAS A DELAY WITH THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING, WHICH CAUSED INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. *AK *CB
NHTSA ODI #10022171
55,350 miles · Apr 22, 2003
Seat Belts
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FOR TOYOTA COROLLA '96 MODEL IS DEFECTIVE: THIS BELT CANNOT BE PULLED OUT BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE RELEASING MECHANISM. I COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT NEAR THE DRIVER'S SIDE SET. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10016301
Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2003
Exterior Lighting
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL #99V103000 HEADLIGHTS, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10011867
Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2002
Seat Belts
THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT WILLNOT LATCH INSIDE WHEN THE TOP OF THE BELT IS CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM HALF. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
NHTSA ODI #8023825
Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2002
Exterior Lighting
REAR TAIL LAMP SOCKET CONTACTS ARE WORN/LOOSE WHICH CAUSES PARKING LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO SHOW INTENTION TO BRAKE AND INTERMITTENTLY WORK. REPAIR OR REPLACE BULBS AND/OR BULB RESEAT ADJUSTMENTS DO NOT HELP OR ONLY TEMPORARILY FIX ISSUE. SAME PROBLEM AS CAMRY'S OF THE SAME YEAR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V037000). …
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REAR TAIL LAMP SOCKET CONTACTS ARE WORN/LOOSE WHICH CAUSES PARKING LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO SHOW INTENTION TO BRAKE AND INTERMITTENTLY WORK. REPAIR OR REPLACE BULBS AND/OR BULB RESEAT ADJUSTMENTS DO NOT HELP OR ONLY TEMPORARILY FIX ISSUE. SAME PROBLEM AS CAMRY'S OF THE SAME YEAR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V037000). ALL 92-97 COROLLA'S I WITNESS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM/ISSUE WITH FAILED TAIL LAMPS BUT THE FILAMENTS ARE STILL INTACT/OPERATIONAL. REQUESTING THAT TOYOTA REPLACE SOCKETS. DT
NHTSA ODI #769548
Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2002
Exterior Lighting
I HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS BULBS TO FINALLY BE TOLD IT'S THE CASING OR BULB HOLDER THAT'S DEFECTIVE AND THEY HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH REAR LIGHTING IN THIS MODEL COROLLA. DT
NHTSA ODI #769232
Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2002
Electrical System
INTERMITTENTLY THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WILL BLOW OUT. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SOCKET AND THE CONDITION IS REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
NHTSA ODI #8017928
Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING. THE SERVICE STATION HAS REPLACED THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. *JB *YH
NHTSA ODI #8014697
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
1
EA97015 · Turn Signal Failures
Opened Jul 22, 1997 · Closed Sep 21, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
Illustration