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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.

About this comparison →
225Owner complaints

Model-year median: 129

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
176
1995129
1996135
1997225
1998155
1999145
2000133
2001
Compare all Corolla years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
61Structure
24Vehicle Speed Control
18Engine And Engine Cooling
17Seat Belts
17
All reported categories
Steering
17Electrical System
16Suspension
16Service Brakes, Hydraulic
14Fuel System, Gasoline
11Tires
11Power Train
9Exterior Lighting
6Latches/locks/linkages
6Equipment
5Unknown Or Other
5Visibility
5Seats
3Engine
2Fuel System, Other
2Wheels
2Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1Parking Brake
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2011
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WON'T OPEN BOTH FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT THE TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF THE LATCH IN DOOR. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS STARTING TO SHOW THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS OCCURRED SOME 2 YEARS AGO. IT WOULD CAUSE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE WHEN THE OCCUPANT…

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THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WON'T OPEN BOTH FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT THE TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF THE LATCH IN DOOR. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS STARTING TO SHOW THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS OCCURRED SOME 2 YEARS AGO. IT WOULD CAUSE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE WHEN THE OCCUPANT(S) NEED TO BE EVACUATED FROM THE VEHICLE SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN IN EMERGENCY, E.G. FIRE, ROAD HAZARD, CRUSH, ETC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10380092

91,000 miles · Feb 7, 2006
Latches/locks/linkagesSeat BeltsStructure

1998 TOYOTA COROLLA'S DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED AT THE LATCH AREA WHERE IT HOOKS IN . THE TRUNK LOCK BROKE INSIDE THE CYLINDER AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE INSIDE. *TS THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED ALTHOUGH ALL THE OCCUPANTS HAD THEIR SEAT BELTS BUCKLED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10150826

12,547 miles · Feb 15, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages

DOOR LOCKS POP UP AND DOWN FREQUENTLY WHEN PARKED OR DRIVING. I CAN'T LEAVE ANYTHING IN THE CAR. I HAVE NO SECURITY WITH THIS CAR AND DEALER SAYS HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG. DEFECT IN THIS TOYOTA COROLLA.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10058204

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2003
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

ELECTRIC WINDOWS DO NOT WORK WHEN EXTREME TEMP ARISE. COLD WINTER DAYS AMD EXTREME SUMMER DAYS. LOCKS ON DOORS POPPED OUT OF PLACE. WINDOWS SLIPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPARIED

NHTSA ODI #10040973

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages

TRUNK LATCH FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #609267

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Latches/locks/linkagesPower TrainTires

TRUNK LOCK FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #605912

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 →