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1997 Toyota Corolla

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Toyota Corolla do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 129.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 21 of 135 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.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports5 fire reports16 injury reports

Structure complaints

7 reports
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200,000 miles · Oct 30, 2016
Exterior LightingStructureWheels

ON MARCH 23, 2013, I PURCHASED FOUR NEW COOPER TIRES FROM SEARS AUTO CENTER IN LIMA, OHIO, FOR MY 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE SPECIFIC TIRES INSTALLED WERE COOPER RESPONSE TOURING M+S 175/65R14, DOT U9EX LRC 4110, A08. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE DRIVEN LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THE TIRES AND MAINTAINED APPROPRIATE TIRE PRESSURE, MAINT…

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ON MARCH 23, 2013, I PURCHASED FOUR NEW COOPER TIRES FROM SEARS AUTO CENTER IN LIMA, OHIO, FOR MY 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE SPECIFIC TIRES INSTALLED WERE COOPER RESPONSE TOURING M+S 175/65R14, DOT U9EX LRC 4110, A08. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE DRIVEN LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THE TIRES AND MAINTAINED APPROPRIATE TIRE PRESSURE, MAINTENANCE, AND ALIGNMENT. IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THIS MORNING (OCTOBER 30, 2016), THE TIRE TREAD OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND FORCING ME OFF THE ROAD. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON I-475 NORTH TRAVELLING AT THE SPEED LIMIT, IN THE MIDDLE LANE. IT TOOK LESS THAN TEN SECONDS TO COAST TO A STOP. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES TO IMPACT OURS BEFORE REACHING THE SHOULDER. ADDITIONAL DAMAGE FROM THIS TREAD SEPARATION INCLUDE DESTROYING THE WHEEL WELL, BODY DAMAGE, LAUNCHING THE HEADLIGHT APART FROM THE CAR, SPONTANEOUS RELEASE OF WIPER FLUID ON TO THE WINDOW AS THE TREAD RIPPED OFF FROM THE TIRE, AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO TOYONLY, 1050 VIJAY DRIVE, CHAMBLEE, GA 30341. WHILE THE TREAD SEPARATION HAS CAUSED THE AFOREMENTIONED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, THE VEHICLE IS OTHERWISE MECHANICALLY SOUND. I AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM COOPER TIRES.

NHTSA ODI #10920129

Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2000
Interior LightingStructure

NO TRUNK LIGHT FOR THE VEHICLE. YH

NHTSA ODI #552583

Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 1999
Structure

DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK SWITCH WAS INOPERABLE WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND WAS REPLACED BY DEALER AT THEIR COST. *AK

NHTSA ODI #714665

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Structure

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #6900285

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Structure

BAD SEAM CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO PASSENGER AREA IT ALSO HAVE MOLDY SMELL WHEN FAN BEGINS TO RUN. YH

NHTSA ODI #607405

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 1998
StructureSuspension

DOOR RUBBER MOLD GUARD HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO BE INSTALLED DUE TO MISALIGNMENT.

NHTSA ODI #534480

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 1997
Structure

A WATER LEAK FLOODED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FLOOR IN THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE STEERING SHAFT TO RUST. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SEEN BY DEALER 3TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #816257

Official recalls

1

97V043001 · Air Bags

Mar 20, 1997

IF THE AIR BAG COMPUTER IN A SUBJECT VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A MECHANICAL SHOCK (I.E., RAPIDLY MOVING THE FRONT SEAT BACK AGAINST THE STOPS OR A SUDDEN RELEASE OF THE PARKING BRAKE) WITHIN A VERY SHORT TIME AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED, THE AIR BAG CAN DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE AIR BAG COMPUTER.

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.

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