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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

Power Train complaints

9 reports
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1,380,000 miles · Dec 29, 2016
Electrical SystemPower Train

SAFETY ISSUE!!! THE LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE HAS A STRANGE ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SEEMS UNABLE TO REPAIR! 139000.0 MILES THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY REFUSE TO START. T THE KEY UNLOCKS BUT ONLY SO FAR IT REFUSES TO ENGAGE THE STARTER OR ALLOW THE AUTO GEAR SELECTOR TO WORK! STRANDS MY WIFE IN THE BAD PARTS OF TOWN AND CAUSES DISTRESS…

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SAFETY ISSUE!!! THE LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE HAS A STRANGE ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SEEMS UNABLE TO REPAIR! 139000.0 MILES THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY REFUSE TO START. T THE KEY UNLOCKS BUT ONLY SO FAR IT REFUSES TO ENGAGE THE STARTER OR ALLOW THE AUTO GEAR SELECTOR TO WORK! STRANDS MY WIFE IN THE BAD PARTS OF TOWN AND CAUSES DISTRESS AND DANGER BECAUSE OF THE STRANDED VEHICLE CONDITION! NO CODES GENERATED AND TWICE TOYOTA HAS HAD FOR TWO DAYS AND NO FIX! CORPORATION HAS CASE OR INCIDENT REPORT OPEN BUT NOT FIXED. SO FAR IGNITION REPLACED BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE FOLLOWING COULD BE ISSUE? 1. IGNITION KEY CYLINDER 2. IGNITION ELECTRICAL SWITCH AND OR RELAY, 3. TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK SWITCH, 4. GEAR SHIFT LEVER BUTTON? GEAR SHIFT LINKAGE ADJUSTMENT TO ENSURE CAR IS IN PARK PROPERLY FOR INTERLOCK SWITCH TO WORK. EACH TIME IT COSTS OVER $200.00 AND A NEW $200.00 OR MORE WORTH OF PARTS! WOULD THIS NOT BE A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE WITH GEARSHIFT NEUTRAL INTERLOCK OR SOMETHING? MY ALTERNATIVE IS TO KEEP DRIVING A GAS HOG SUV THAT IS AT LEAST SOMEWHAT RELIABLE? SO MUCH FOR SAVING FUEL OR THE ENVIRONMENT IF A CAR IS NOT RELIABLE OR ACCORDING TO TOYOTA FIXABLE WITHOUT THROWING CASH AT MECHANICS OR DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX WITHOUT JUST GUESSING AT RANDOM PARTS REPLACEMENTS? THE VEHICLE IS AT REST AFTER DRIVING AND IS IN PARK WITH KEY ENGAGED PROPERLY WITH BRAKE ENGAGED PROPERLY TO START THE IGNITION PROCESS THAT INTERMITTENTLY ENGAGES SOLUTIONS ... MAKE A NEW KEY?, REPLACE KEY AND CYLINDER OR ANY NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS? NEVER A RENTAL OR LOANER SO LOJACK NOT AN ISSUE, NO BLUETOOTH, NO GPS DISABLER TO MY KNOWLEDGE IF ONE EXISTS IT IS A CRIMINAL ACT TARGETING MY WIFE OR MYSELF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10938531

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2003
Power Train

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS STILL IN THE DRIVE GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10014652

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2002
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL POP OUT OF 5 TH GEAR INTO NEUTRAL INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME. PLEASE ADD FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8003983

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 1999
Power TrainSteering

TRANSMISSION AND DOOR PROBLEM FIXED, STEERING WHEEL STILL NOISY (I GIVE UP). *AK

NHTSA ODI #713611

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 1999
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

HIGH SPEEDS CAR HARD TO CONTROL, CORNERS HORRIBLY,PITCHING MOTION OVER BUMPS, CRUNCHING NOISE ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT

NHTSA ODI #712862

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Power Train

TRANSMISSION--PRESSED ON GAS PEDAL AND ENGINE REVED UP BUT VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE.

NHTSA ODI #609127

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 1999
Power Train

THE CAR SLOWS OR RUNS FASTER THAN WHAT THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWS. YH

NHTSA ODI #547691

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

TRUNK LOCK FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #605912

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1998
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AND WHENEVER VEHICLE IS ON A UPGRADE OR HILL THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS WHILE VEHICLE IS SET IN DRIVE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER. NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WAS CONSIDERED A NORMAL CONDITION FOR THAT VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827638

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