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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

Structure complaints

24 reports
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106,000 miles · May 26, 2022
Structure

The contact's wife owns a 1998 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while his wife was taking items out of the trunk of the vehicle, the trunk lid closed abruptly. The contact later noticed that the trunk lid driver’s side hinge was fractured. The contact's wife did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was taken to the dealer whe…

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The contact's wife owns a 1998 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while his wife was taking items out of the trunk of the vehicle, the trunk lid closed abruptly. The contact later noticed that the trunk lid driver’s side hinge was fractured. The contact's wife did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the trunk lid hinges needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

NHTSA ODI #11466216

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

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2010
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicStructure

1998 TOYOTA COROLLA. ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. ON AUGUST 20, 1999, THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A RUBBING SOUND IN THE AREA OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED EARLY IN THE MORNINGS. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE DOOR PANELS WERE REPLACED DUE TO THE GLUE COMING THROUGH THE FABRIC. THE DOME LIG…

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1998 TOYOTA COROLLA. ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. ON AUGUST 20, 1999, THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A RUBBING SOUND IN THE AREA OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED EARLY IN THE MORNINGS. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE DOOR PANELS WERE REPLACED DUE TO THE GLUE COMING THROUGH THE FABRIC. THE DOME LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON AT TIMES. THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THERE MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 44 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE AND THEN DECREASE IN SPEED. THE CONSUMER FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. UPDATED 05/26/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #534376

94,000 miles · Sep 23, 2008
Structure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CEILING INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WAS FALLING DOWN. THE FAILURE WORSENS BY THE DAY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE DEALER REFUSES TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ODI #10243237

95,000 miles · Dec 26, 2007
Structure

INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES HAVE CRACKED RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10212701

140,000 miles · Nov 1, 2007
Structure

A PART IN THE DOOR OF MY 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA BROKE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. I COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. I GOT IT FIXED AT THE DEALER FOR ABOUT $300. A FEW MONTHS AGO, SOMETHING IN THE SAME DOOR MALFUNCTIONED. I AM NOW UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. A FEW DAYS AGO, THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM OCCURRED …

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A PART IN THE DOOR OF MY 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA BROKE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. I COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. I GOT IT FIXED AT THE DEALER FOR ABOUT $300. A FEW MONTHS AGO, SOMETHING IN THE SAME DOOR MALFUNCTIONED. I AM NOW UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. A FEW DAYS AGO, THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. I AM NOW UNABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207665

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

65,000 miles · Feb 16, 2005
Structure

THE DOOR FAILED TO OPENED. *JB THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF THE VEHICLE WHICH MEANT THAT THE DOOR COULD NOT BE CLOSED FROM THE INSIDE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10107398

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2004
Structure

THE CD DOOR ON THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR FELL OFF FOR NO REASON. SAFETY HAZARD. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10062342

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2004
Structure

THE DOOR HANDLE STRUCTURE BROKE. THIS WAS SAID TO BE COMMON IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10062341

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.

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