IllustrationWHEN GAS IS PUMPED INTO THE FUEL TANK(IF OVERFILLED, THE GAS WOULD NOT GO TO GROUND, IT WOULD GO TO BOTTOM VEHICLE SHUT OFF VALVE DID NOT OPERATE, DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Corolla years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
825–50K
1450–75K
1875–100K
11100–150K
7150K+
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
What owners actually said
225 reportsFIVE DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, WHILE DRIVING 55-60MPH ON FREEWAY, VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL DURING A LANE CHANGE. CAR ENDED UP FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. DEALER DENIED PROBLEM. THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A FRONT STABILIZER BAR WAS NEVER MENTIONED DURING SALE OR AFTER SPIN OUT. I AM SUFFERING FROM SEVERE WHIPLASH AND EMOTIONAL DISTRESS…
Read full complaint
FIVE DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, WHILE DRIVING 55-60MPH ON FREEWAY, VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL DURING A LANE CHANGE. CAR ENDED UP FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. DEALER DENIED PROBLEM. THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A FRONT STABILIZER BAR WAS NEVER MENTIONED DURING SALE OR AFTER SPIN OUT. I AM SUFFERING FROM SEVERE WHIPLASH AND EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. DEALER WILL NOT RETURN MONEY. I REFUSE TO DRIVE UNSAFE CAR AND CAR HAS REMAINED AT DEALER SINCE DAY OF SPIN OUT. I LEARNED OF NEED FOR STABILIZER BAR FROM APRIL 98 ISSUE OF CONSUMER REPORTS (WHICH STATES 98 CE MODELS DO NOT HANDLE WELL, AND FARED POORLY ON EMERGENCY HANDLING TESTS). STABILIZER BARS WERE MADE STANDARD IN ALL MODELS AS OF APRIL 1998. THE COROLLA WAS REDESIGNED IN 98, SO ALL VE AND CE MODELS BUILT AND SOLD PRIOR TO APRIL 98 LACK THIS CRUCIAL SAFETY FEATURE. I BELIEVE A DEFECT/RECALL INVESTIGATION IS NEEDED.
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
CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, HIT BY ANOTHER CAR WHILE GOING ABOUT 55MPH, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK
BRAKES MAKE NOISE.
THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 35 MPH, HIT THE DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. WHENEVER CONSUMER MANEUVERS THE STEERING WHEEL, IT MAKES A VERY LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
DRIVER WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AT A CONSIDERABLE SPEED IN SUCH THAT THE DOOR WAS BENT AWAY FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE, THE SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND LEFT SHOULDER (STRAINED MUSCLES AND LIGAMENTS).829522 DUP OF 781500; POSTED ON 09-07-1999. *AK
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEM'S WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THE SEAT WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AND THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES WHILE SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE TRACK, AND SEAT WOULDN'T LOCK.
DRIVER'S SEAT TILT MECHANISM FAILED DURING A REAR END COLLISION.
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.