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1998 Toyota Corolla

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 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

64 reports with mileage · 161 unknown

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 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

36 crash reports8 fire reports24 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

6 reports
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118,000 miles · Jul 14, 2016
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE VERY DIM AND HINDERED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 09E012000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), 08E050000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), 06E065000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), AND 06E026000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE VIN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE VERY DIM AND HINDERED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 09E012000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), 08E050000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), 06E065000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), AND 06E026000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI #10884888

85,000 miles · Jan 26, 2010
Exterior Lighting

HEADLAMPS ON 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA HAVE FOGGED COMPLETELY OVER. THE FOGGING IS ON THE EXTERNAL LENS SURFACE, NOT DUE TO MOISTURE ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. ATTEMPTS TO CLEAN THE SURFACE AR TEMPORARY, WITH THE FOGGING RETURNING AFTER A FEW DAYS. THE FOGGED LENSES ARE A HAZARD AS THE LIGHT IS GREATLY DIMINISHED OVER A C…

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HEADLAMPS ON 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA HAVE FOGGED COMPLETELY OVER. THE FOGGING IS ON THE EXTERNAL LENS SURFACE, NOT DUE TO MOISTURE ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. ATTEMPTS TO CLEAN THE SURFACE AR TEMPORARY, WITH THE FOGGING RETURNING AFTER A FEW DAYS. THE FOGGED LENSES ARE A HAZARD AS THE LIGHT IS GREATLY DIMINISHED OVER A CLEAR LENS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10302399

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2003
Exterior Lighting

HIGH DENSITY HEADLIGHTS CAUSES DISTRACTION FOR CONSUMER.*MR CONSUMER BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE PERMANEATLY BANNED AND MADE ILLEGAL WITH STIFF FINES. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10031366

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2002
Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHTS ON NEWER CARS ARE TOO BRIGHT AND THE LIGHTS ON SUVS ARE TOO HIGH -- BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE INTERFERRING WITH MY ABILITY TO SEE WHEN I'M DRIVING AT NIGHT. THESE NEW LIGHTS ARE TOO BRIGHT AND BLIND ME, EVEN WHEN I SWITCH MY REAR VIEW MIRROR TO THE NIGHT POSITION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #760596

Mileage unknown · May 24, 2000
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE CAR STARTED SMOKING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND SMELLED OF BURNING WIRE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #784653

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 1998
Exterior Lighting

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT SHINE FAR ENOUGH DOWN THE HIGHWAY TO SEE WHAT IS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER CANNOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE ITS THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832765

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